The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-31
JUDGE C.. p. HESTER.

HIS EARLY CAREER-HIs EARLY POSITION AT
THE INDIANA BAR-HIs SETTLEMENT IN
CALIFoRNIA-HIs ENvIABLE REPUTATION
HIS PERSONAL CHARACTER.
The following admirable sketch of the late
Judge Hester is furnished by a gentleman
of culture, his warm friend:
Judge G. P. Hester, LII. D., died at his
residence, at San Jose, California, February
Is. 1874, about the age of seventy-seven
years. Judge Hester might almost be called
a native of Indiana, his parents having come
to this state and settled at CharlestOwD,
Clark county, when the subject OF this
sketch was a mere lad. His early advan-
tages were quite limited, but he acquired
good common English education, which,
with lis love of knowledge and studious
habits soon ripeued into a well educated
man. He was a great lover of the law as
science and chose it for his profession. He
read dis profession with Judge James Scott,
one of Indiana's first supreme court judges.
Soon aner his admission to the bar, Judge
Hester removed to Bloomington where he
continued to reside until he emigrated to
California in 1s49, with the party from this
state, headed by the Rev. Mr.. Owen. After
a tedious and dangerous journey of five
months they landed on the Pacific slope,
and after stopping at different points for
short periods, he finally settled permanent
" at the place where he died in Santa Clara
valley, one of the most desirable and beau
tiful in all the wide world. Judge Hester
took rank among the first class lawyers of
this state before he left it. AS close, ana
lytical lawyer, he had few equals, and then
his professional pride was sharpened and
quickened by constant contact and compe-
tition with such men as the late Judges
Charles Dewey and' Isaac baylor, John w.
Payne, Charles J. Thruston, the late Judge
David Mcdonald, Governor James Whit
comb, and others Of perhaps equal celibri-
ty. His moral and mental PHILOSOPHERS was
taught him by that great, learned and good
man, the late Reverend Doctor Andrew
WILEY, for many years president ofthe state
university. The first time the writer of
this met Judge Hester was at the Novem-
Der term, 1882, of the Clark circuit court.
Judge John III. Thompson presiding. There
were present besides the resident attorneys
John w. Payne, of Corydon, Randall Craw-
ford and Major Henry p. Thornton, OF New
Albany, Judge Joseph g. Marshall, of Madi-
son, Major Henry Hurst, of Jetfersonville,
James Guthrie, afterwards United States
senator, Garnett Duncan, Charles j. Thrus-
ton, Major Henry p. Tommason, and Hum
phrey Marshall, from Louisville, Kentucky.
During the court passage at arms came OF
between Judge Hester and Mr.. Thruston, it
being the argument of demurrer. Judge
Dewey, the writer, and others listened to the
debate with great interest and close atten
ton; az the close Of the argument Judge
Dewey remarked to the writer: An abe
argument by both Thruston exhibited the
most polish, cultivation and varied learn
ing, but for clear and forcible argument OF
the law question before the court, Hester
had the advantage" Upon settling in Cali
fornia, Judge II. took high rank in the pro-
fession and entered at once upon an extern
tensive and lucrative practice, which con-
tinued until he went on the bench, where he
labored for eighteen years, bringing to the
discharge of his duties as judge great legal
learning and ability, incorruptible honesty,
integrity and fidelity. He retired from the
bench and never afterward resumed the
practice. In 1870 he visited his friends and
relatives in this state. He was received by
his old neighbors and friends at Blooming
ton with marked attention, and with a
warm and hearty welcome. The trustees
of the state university being in session, and
knowing the assiduity with which he Ia
bored for the institution in its infancy, they
conferred upon him the honorary degree
off LII D., as we'll deserved compliment
to his great legal learning. Judge Hester,
in all the relations of life, was model
man. As husband, father, citizen. a
lawyer, and as a judge. He was scrupu-
lously honest. He was frugal and economi.
cal in his habits; was one of the closest OF
students, and with his clear analytical mind
and uprightness OF heart, he was eminently
qualitied as a lawyer and a judge. In his
family he was kind and indulgent, and it
will be there that his loss will be most
severely felt. There a void has been
made that will never be filled The de-
ceased was member Of the NJ. E. church
for more than fifty years before his death.
He was practical man, and mis- was a
practical religion; he lived it, regulated his
conduct in ali OF life's duties by II. During
the latter years OF his life he EMPLOYED most
of his time in the study of theological ques-
tons and to the reading of religious works.
But he has passed from among us. ale has
gone TO the undiscovered country from
whose bourne no traveller returns" "Peace
to his ashes' w
THE TERRELL HOMICIDE