The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-23
rfsE DEAD JUDGE.
Arrangements for the Funeral %
Take Place To-Day.

Take Place To-Day.
NOTICEABLE TRAITS OF JUDGE GUlGoN's
cHARACTER-EvIDENC OF HIS FIRM
NESS AND pECIsToN-HIs MANNER OF
TRANsACTIHG BUsINEss-HIs ANSWER TO
| THE cIyIL-RIGHTs rEoPLE-PERsoNAL
ApPEARANCE-PREPAR FOR THE
FUNERAL; TO TAKE PLACE FROM MoNu-
MENTAL LCHURCH-MEETINGo OF MEMBERS
| OF THE BAR TO-DAY
Little else than the death Of Judge Gui-
gon was talked about OH the streets and at
thea Capitol yesterday. Members Of the
General Assembly and officers of the Gov
ernment had the highest respect for his
sterling worth, and the constant express
sions indicated an appreciatiye sense Of the
great loss the city and State have suffered.
With the people generally Judge Guigon
was popular. In court he laid down
his rules and required that they should be
observed. he permitted no familiarifies
there. 1t matterednot whether it was law
yer, Juror, witness, or spectator who DISC
beyed, he was promptly rebuked, aud,
| ii the enormity Of the offence justified IT.,
was punished by fine.
But this stern and resolUte Judge was,
when among his friends, one Of the most
sociable and agreeable of men. he was an
entertaining conyersationaliSt. He de-
| lighted in teld-sports, and was thoroughly
familiar with the habits, business, plea
sures, and wants Of the people in whose
| midst he dwelt, and with whom he had a
| lifelong identity. Richmond he loved
dearly, and in many of the reforms he in
stituted he had to contend with prejudice
and with decided disapproval from some.
But he was absolutely independent OF such
| influence. He. was seli-reliant and deter
| mined. Believing himself right, it did not
| trouble him to know what others thought.
His moral courage was superb. There was
no hesitation in him about taking action
because it might not meet with the favor OF
others. His decision OF character made
| him q great favorite. There is no claim
that he never made mistakes. Probably he
made plenty, but his course was guided by
discretion, desire to do the right, and to
execute the laws; and more no man could
| do.
In the very beginning OF bis judicial
career he was called upon to decide
the .Jetterson-W Ward ballot-boX-smashing
face of a strong and loudly.eXpressed pub
lie opinion he decided against his own par
| ty and ordered new election. There was
much murmuring OF discomfort for awhile,
but the gentlemen most Immediately affected
saw that he was doing what he thought
right. They honored him for it and gloried
in his spunk, and all OF them were after
wards, rs before, counted as among his best
friends.
BUSINESS HABITS.
Something has already been said of his
business habits. By requiring promptness
in oil who attended his court, by refusing
to listen to trivial excuses Of witnesses and
Jurors, by declining to continue causes
from one term to another except for most
| weighty reasons, he did an almost incredi-
BILE amount OF business. Last year was not
as busy o one as usual for him, but the re-
cord shows the following:.
Whole number of criminal cases tried and
| disposed Of, 511.
Felonies tried and convicted, 100; fell
onies tried and acquitted, so.
Misdemeanor cases convicted, 81; misde-
meanor cases acquitted, 234. Total, 511.
! The msdemeanor cases were almost eX-
clusively for violations OF the revenue laws
against persons for transacting business
without licenses. These prosecutions were
| for the proper enforcement Of the payment
to the State of the revenue. When the
parties procured their licenses and produced
| their receipts for the same the cases were
dismissed. Hence the large number OF
| cases discharged-the misdemeanors Of a
| criminal nature being disposed Of in the
| Police Court.
| The whole amount Of fines imposed by
| this court for the violations Of the criminal
laws during the year 1877 were s., ,465.05 !;
amount collected, $4,444.05; no effects,
$3,O21-total, 81, ,465.05.
| The above amount Of S4,444.05, which
was collected by the clerk and sergeant, has
been paid into the Treasury to the Auditor
OF Public Accounts.
In this court the December term closed
| its session with not single criminal case
| upon its docket.
| Whole number of civil cases disposed Of
in this court during the year 1877, SIG;
cases removed from Police Court, 315; gar
nishee summonses, 112; forfeited forthcom-
ing bonds, As; miscellaneous motions, % ;
appeals (ciyiD from Police Court, 16.
| Civil cases remaining undisposed OF on
the docket OF this court-Yiz., cases re-
moved from the Police Court, s; garnishee
summonses, 8; forfeited forthcoming
bonds, S; miscellaneous motions, IL; ap-
peals (civiD from Police Court, 8; total, 80.
Now, take into consideration the thou
sand and one matters which cannot be re-
corded, and you will receive some idea OF
the weight OF his responsibility and how
we'll be discharged his duties.
His influence was felt far out OF his court,
and we are indebted to him for many re-
forms, which will be among his most endu-
ring, us they are among his most valuable,
works.
DECISION.
For many years to come members Of the
Richmond bar will delight to tell anecdotes
of Judge Guigon illustrating his firmness
and outspoken disposition.
He never attempted to conceal his
thoughts. He hadn't that sort OF policy.
Once when a Jury brought in verdict
which he regarded as absurd he said to the
summon them here again.
But, on the other hand, no Judge delighted
in or appreciated more attentive, intelligent,
and thoughtful jurors, and he was ever dis
posed to be kindly regardful OF their COM
fort. Professional jurors" he did not
like. Generally those who occupied the
box there were among the best OF our citl-
zens.
The Judge put the curb upon some Of our
mettlesome lawyers by, fning them for un-
becoming language. A pert witness, who
told smutty joke to illustrate what he con-
sidered the drunken condition Of man,
had an attentive listener in the Judge, who.
upon the witness conclusion, quietly re-
marked: Mr. Clerk, entera fine against