The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-03
AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE.
TRIBUTES PAID TO THE MEMORY OF
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE EGANIN
THE SUPREME COURT,


room. there was most impressive ceremony
At II o'clock Gen. John l.. Lewis in a solemn
voice announced to the large attendance of the
bar present. The Chief Justice and As socate
Justices" With becoming dignity the Chief
Justice, followed by justice Mari Spencer and
DeBlanc hle1 out Of their chambers and
assembled the bench. When each member OF the
Supreme Court had reached his seat tho Chief
Justice bowed to the standing lawyers. which
courtesy was returned by them. After the read
ing Of tho minutes Attorney General Ogden In
q feeling and sympathetic voice. arose and said:
If 1t plense the court. IN Saturday last. at q
nesting Of the bar Of this city. which was
called for the purpose Of giving expression to
the feelings with which the members Of the
profession had received tho news Of the death
q Judge Egsn series 2, resolutions h, Were air
charge the mournful task OF presenting them
to tho court.
Those resolutions are az follows
Whereas. the Bar Of New Orleans and the
State of Louisiana. recognizes great loss In the
death Of the Hon. William B. Egan. Asso--
ciHle Justice of tho Supte Court. his z eat
ability ~ Judge. bis purity 81 CHARACTER a. o
man, aud tho great zeal displayed by him In the
discharge Of the duties Of his office. therefore.
Resolued. That, rs a tribute Of respect to the
memory Of the deceased tho Attorney General
of the State be requested In b half of tho msm-
bers OF the Bar 10 present this Or nmble and
these resolutions to the honorable tho Su
| and hat the court bs asked to adjourn.
| And be Il further resolred. That the secretary
| If this meeting be directed to send copy OF
| these resolutions TO the family of tho deceased.
| LII the court please. In presenting these re-.
| solutions. desire TO say a few words In regard
to their subject, am aware that in this pres
| encs 1t Is work OF supererORation to speak in
praise Of Judge Egan. This court, during his
occupancy Of that chair. and the members Of tho
| bar, during the long course OF his professional
practice have had ample opportunity to study
| and admire his characteristic traits. and that
vacant chair appeals more eloduentlg than
| possibly could to the feelings which animate US
| all. Not II single lawyer itJnere here who can
| not by his memory FIJI that chair not one who
cannot recall the enaeiated form sitting there
all kindness all at entipp 10 the speaker bef re
| him and the members Of this court, In the
| na'it Of daily meeting him in consultation
want no auloglum Of hun at my hands.
In whatever light va look upon Judge Fgan,
wa find ample cause tor admiration and respect
| II was my T. lyilnge to know him wei IN prl-
vnte as In public lite, and In all the relations in
| viii Ii met ham his demeauor was ever thai Of
| what Is termed II gentlema OF the Old school,
| showing the Same refinement. tho same polite
ness. the same courtesy to all upon all OCca-
i sious. And, though il may be invading the
sanrtity OF nome, | cannot 1orbear 10 allude to
| the daap In preston fbade upon me by his con
| duet toward his ynngrable father. never falling
| in the smallest duty. In the least Iesuet for
him. ana ever striving ny NJ the means n his
| pow, T to render that fathers lilo happy Newer
Ia all my cNperienco, have j known y man ~
careful to have his conduct conform in all
/ hinga to tho maxim. Do unto others rs you
would have thom do unto You.
A. citizen Judge Egan Was by understand
iuk and education; not by impulse alone,
ciiz d, he performed them thoroughly and on
eysry occasion Of danger was prominently to
the front; HIS constitution united hin L t9s
| time his attention and his talent to the pubic
business. Carefully trained by bis father,
tho venerable Dr. Bartholomew Egan.
whose life binds, together, two distant
periods in thu history Of this eoun-
Try. and whose mind WAS formed In that ancient
t.Hp ntneF, uh..Q trnn lodi h
for principles because they were principles,
Judge E.an was fully inbued with and con
formed himself to those Ideas and Views.
| As n lawyer he was devoted to his profession
and tho Interests of his clients showing tn re
the same eatnestness that he exhibitor in tho
other walks Of life; Asa Judge he was careful
conscientious. upright anu diligent
In, any AMI every aspect Of his excellent
mans character we find no. hing but what emil
ties him to esteem and regard. As n Christian
he was 4 faithful and devoted member Of the
Episcopal Church and his life daily r.fuia' ion
u !he old maxim. Bonus jurtstd. mah1S Gfots-
i In fine. ] know of no man tho memory q
whose character should be more carefully pro
served: # no man whose record Is Of more
value 10 the memIo,s OF his profession aud tc
The community IN which he lived.
The key Stone to the arch Of this admirable
character, that which gave 1t consistency and
power. was evidently bis profound love of duty
ltis noral nature moved always in thi. orbit
and in obedeuce 10 that great law which. cor
responding to the law of gravitat n In The
ply steal world. holds society with all Of it,
/
1t roper. the fore. that the bar should hay,
taken ihe action which II took. and emnentiJ
proper that this court should signify it, appre
cation If thu decease4 In the manner sugges
I'D by the resolutions.
, D. III Justic" Manning answered ns follows
| M. Attorney Geuer'nl and Gentlemen Of me BdI
w. 10 eiSad the ti'iu4s 1T our a-soctht ~
death vi gr"Ht sorrow. This sorrow WAS nom
: he less because the Nv. nj WIS IN some sort an
tlCiuated. His fccbl' hculth during our ins
rm, aud it continuance through the summed
ana autumn gave 10 "a, who wer5 t"gniz1nt o
his IN ea@ing ailments. warning Of probab'
fatal trrtnin ton W0 respond to the & nti
= m,.nts which have been SO falicityualy express
81 ny tho AT orney General In Presenting ~
, resolutions II the bar touching Ihe loss whl"i
III" profession, In common with this court, Ia
: sustained.
Mr. Justice Fgan was trained for the bar i
Virginia. whence he came in early manhooi T.
this Stete ana Immediately entered upon ~
professional life Twice called to the Distrt@
bench, he discharged the duties of thht positi"i
in such manner. 8 To single him ont Tor furtho'
prnferment 81 that when elevated to tho plac
he occupied beside IA. he brought with him "
appruha ion of those who knew his eminent III
There il great oxpressIveness IN tho phrase
9 CONSCIENTIOUS and upright Judge. an our de
q ceased brother wa we'll eutltel To have IT M
- piled to him. lie was patent Of npriRhtnes
J ant purit careful in investigation. weighln
2 vol MI that had been said by or c%4nse
: on the one side or tho other; bu
? always looking straight forward 70 find q
G where the right lay, and steadily following tia
? right when bis mind WIS satisfied He was
o man Of extraordinary frmness. and when hl
: own ,nvictions were fixed and had been ike
ny patient hearing and delbsrae thought =
Q could brave without qualling any obloduv !
!, maintaining them. When he had convinced h
d Judgment on the law of any case his indepent
\, en- . and courage assumed the dignity Of mori
\ herosm and from that moment he confronte
II consequences unflinchingty and wi q sort
t. proud eelance that exulted in the conscious
l. ness of his own rectitude. He was. 1ndee
brave as a lion and In all respects above r.
IL proach
T.. One Of the conspicuous qualities OF his mir
ii was caution rs courtesy was q marked chara
t-ristic OF his manner. He had that suave ar
gentle poiteness which was formal ,Witho'
ieganeraing into Journalism, and which We q
accu stoned to hear called the manner OF II
- Old school. and which, certainly. In son
u res pect-. deserves imitation. lis personal ca
y. riage was dignihed and graceful. and his put
Is utterancas were always In good taste and
y VA unite with our brethren Of the bar
" rendering to the family of the deceased o.