Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-06-19
DrATH or 4 PRoM1N5ENr LAWYER


DEATH OF A PROMINENT LAWYER
Captain Orlando Smith, the well-known
and popular lawyer of the firm of Smith y
Elder, died very suddenly at his residence,
corner of Lewis and johnson streets, on
Wednesday morning last. He had been in
delicate health for some months past, and
in the last few days had an attack which
confined him TO the house. On Wednes-
duy morning he was sitting in his chamber
conyersing cheerfully with his wife and
Rev. W. @. Hullihen, who had called to
see him, when he coughed, remarking to
his wife that he believed he was having a
serious hemorrhage, was seized with a
spasm and died almost instantly without a
word. Captain Smith was native Of Lu-
nenburg county, Va, 80 years OF age, and
was son of Ghas Smith, distinguished
LAWYER. of whom it was said that at col
lege he was the equal of Silas Wright, who
was his class mate. On the breaking out
of the war Captain Smith was in the Lu-
nenburg cavalry, and his health being i'm
paired by q wound, he was transferred to
the Quartermaster's department and was
stationed in Staunton in that service. AT
the close of the war he concluded to re-
main where he had become very popular,
and commenced life anew here, though
like everybody else financially broken up.
With talent, great energy, public spirit, a
high integrity that was never questioned,
he soon won prominent place in the COM
munity,, and to the day of his death in
creased his hold on the love and esteem Of
our people. He leaves q widow. and
eight children. His life was insured for
$4,000, of which 5000 was in the Life In
surance Company of Virginia, and $4,000
in the Brooklyn. On Wednesday evening
the bar held meeting at the court house,
presided over by Hon. A. I'll. H. Stuart,
with Major II. M. Bell as secretary. The
chair appointed Gen. John Echols, Hon.
n K. Trout and Judge HI. W. Shelley, a
committee, who reported the following
resolutions
The members of this Bar, arrested in
the midst of the proceedings of their Cir
cult Court, and appalledby the announce
ment Oh the sudden death of their Com
panion and brother, Orlando Smith, have
assembled for the purpose Of giving fitting
expression to their grief at this melancholy
and distressing bereavement, and to place
on record in some enduring form, their es-
timation OF his character, as a member of
the legal profession, and as Christian
gentleman. His loss is no ordinary one to
this whole community, and especially to
our bar, OF which he was a most honored
member. He was known to all, among
whom he lived, as an honest man. which,
it has been truly said, is Goods noblest
work = man of high intelligence, of
wonderful energy, of the Strictest integri-
ty, and Christian of the greatest sim
plicity and devotion of character. He
will be long remembered and lamented by
those who knew him, and loved him for
the manly traits, which endeared him so
much to us all.
were we all bear witness, are ended, and
it is only left to us to emulate his example
and cherish the memory of his virtues.
AS a tribute to- our deceased friend
We Resolve, l. That the Bar and the
whole community of Staunton, have sus-
tanned an irreparable loss in the death Of
our Brother, Orlando Smith. ~ Is
2. That, in his private life, he was ten
der and confding, and one of, the most
generous Of men. Few, who lead so unob-
trusive a life, have ever attached more de-
voted personal friends. or have ever de-
scended to the grave with fewer enmities,
OF more deeply lamented. j
8. That we sympathize most deeply with,
and tender to his crushed and stricken
family, our most profound condolements
upon their affecting loss.
4. That, as tribute of respect to the
memory OF the deceased, the members of
this Bar will wear the usual badge Of
mourning for thirty days, and will, in
body, attend his funeral.
s. That the chairman of this meeting
transmit to the family OF the deceased
copy of these proceedings.
s. That the Judges of the Courts Of this
county and city be requested to have the
proceedings of this meeting spread upon
the minutes of their Courts, and that the
city papers be requested to publish the
same.
Gen. John Echols delivered an eloquent
eulOgy on the deceased. and mentioned the
fact that this was the third circuit court,
in the midst of the proceeding Of which
the hand OF Death had made an assem-
blage such as he addressed necessary.
Judge H. w. Sheffey delivered a pecu-
liarly fitting eulogy, speaking OF Captain
Smith as an active, earnest, public spirited
man, sincere in character, the soul of hon
or, and punctilious in integrity.
The resolutions were adopted, and the
meeting adjourned.
The remains Of Captain Smith were in
tered from Trinity Episcopal church, on
Thursday afternoon, the funeral being at
tended by large concourse of citizens.