The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-02
The Meeting in the Sixth District
Court Yesterday.

|
such a gathering of the bench and bar on an
occasion to pay tribute to deceased attorney
as was yesterday seen in the Sixth District
Courtroom. The meeting was for the pur-
pose of evldencing the feeling of the legal
fraternity on the death of Glspard James,
who had for over twenty years been employed
as clerk about the Court House. Judge L.
| Wharton ColIens presided. M jor j. Fl. New
then arose and addressed those present as fol-
lows:
| We ere often called together to give ex-
| preston to our sorrow at the loss of an ASSOC
ciate, a member of the bar. So often, in
deed, our sensibilties become sluggish, and
we pass the customary resolutions as volley
| is fired over soldiers grave, and go our sew
eral ways, in little while TO forget almost the
name of our companion.
| To-day We are here to mourn the loss of
one who for quarter of century was an
officer of the courts of New Orleans. So that
the feeling we IN .nifest is not the reflection of
another's grief; it is not blow received by q
| friend, in which we share by sympathy.
There is not member of our profession in
this city, young or old, who does not deeply
| lament the deprivation our courts sustain in
| the death of Gaspard James, for the loss is
| personal.
The position of Minute Clerk, so long filed
| by our friend in the Second Fifth, Seventh
| and Sixth District Courts, OF the Parish of Or
| leans, is one not only second in importance
| to the Judge, who presides in the administra-
| ton of justice, but it is one whose duties
| bring its occupant into daily contact with
every practicing lawyer. And upon the Skill
accuracy and experience Of this officer, both
the court and the attorneys equally rely.
| There is no one of US of SO vide and varied
opine few OF us are Independent of the aid to
be derived from his kindly and timely sug-
gestions. The machinery of a court ordina-
rily moves so smoothly, we do not consider
the operation of it's controlling forces We
present our pleadings to the court, we per-
| form our portion of the labor in the examina-
ton of Witnesses, and in the framing of argu-
ments, but. the faithful record of all that
| transpres in case ; the accurate dock
! citing of the innu nerable rules, motions
and orders; the maintenance of the proper
position of every suit that is flied !;
the legal entering and writing of the
judgments; the prudence and care displayed
in checking the zeal OF attorneys in their pre-
mature claims; the contamination aud COM
pletion of what we but begin, is due to that
off ser whose place in this court is now
vacant. Who does not recall, in the many
years we have known Gaspard James, his I'M
failing courtesy, his genial manners, his ready
aid to inexperienced, his frmness in the dis
charge of his duty, his faithfulaess to the
court, and his prompt, accurate and able
per ormance of every task confded to him -
twenty-five years Clerk Of one of our
courts? B 1t think Of the s ore of acquant-
ance with the varying fortunes of mon he
must have acquired Consider the struggles
of right with wrong he must have recorded !!
What coming and going of clients What
rise and fall of lawyers What changes in
our laws, society and government, he must
have Witnessed OF the stars who lighted the
armament of our profession when first he
sat behind the desk of the Second District
Court, some have set in the ocean of eternity;
some, under alien skies, are as brilliant as in
their native cline; while only few still
hover above the horizon, the wonder and
admiration of their followers.
And when, at the close Of the summer ses-
sion OF this court, he turned his tired eyes
on the faces of the lawyers assembled be-
| fore him. their gaze rested on men who were
boys when he began his labors, and on
whitened locks that then were brown.
la all that period Of tims, early and late,
Gaspard James Was ever at the post OF duty.
In spite of falling health, he still persisted in
standing up to his work.
| Pride, ambition and honor, stimulated by
affection for the dear ones at home, held him
| to his place when his waning strength plead
ed for repose.
| For long time we have seen the gradual
giving way of the vital powers. We have
watched the cheek grow thin, the eye dull,
and the voice weaken and when the doors
OF this room closed in vacation, we hardly
expected, on their opening, to greet our
friend again in his place.
| Oar apprehensops have been realized
The last entry is made. The record is
complete. The book is closed.
And on this day, devoted to commemqD(
ton of those who are gone, ell of us here -
sembed, judges, lawyers and clerks, unite
in a common grief a. the absence of one we
respected, esteemed and loved.
The following preamble and resolutions
were unanimously adopted:
| Whereas, 1t has pleased an allwise Provi-
dence to remove from cur midst Gaspard
James, late Minute Clerk of the Sixth District
Court for the Parish of Orleans and whereas,
this meeting is being held to pay suitable
tribute to his memory,
RESOLVED, That his untimely death has
stricken US with profound sorro ., and, in the
sense of this meeting, will prove great loss
to the bar, the bench, and the clerical corps
of our judiciary.
Rescued, That We bear testimony to the fact
that nature had endowed our lamented friend
with very macy noble qualities, prominent
among which were genial courtesy, gentle
manly manners, unspotted integrity, and re-
markabls intelligence, coupled with punctu
ality, zeal and modesty in the discharge Of
his varied aud arduous duties.
Resolved further, That copy of these reso-
luiions be transmitted by the president oil
this meeting to the f4mily of the deceased,
as the expression of our sincere coincidence
in their bereay ement; and the same be spreat
on the minutes of this court.