Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-06
GEN. JAMES l.. REYNOLDS.
Action of the Bar Hc.araina Him.


to the death of Gen. James L. Reynolds,
one of their number.
On motion Of Amos Slaymaker, esq.,,
Hon. Thos. E. Franklin was made chair
man. Mr.. Franklin, upon taking the
chair. thanked the bar for the honor, but
said that on account of illness he would
not be able to take any active part in the
he had come to the meeting
for the purpose Of expressing his apprecia
tion of the worth and character of the dc
ceased.
J. Hay Brown and Robert B. Risk, esqs.,
were appointed secretaries.
On motion of Amos Slaymaker, the
chair appointed Hon. II. G. Long, H. 3.
Swarr. Hugh NJ. North, N. Ellmaker and
Amos Slaymaker, esqs., 4 committee to
draft resolutions.
The resolutions which were reported
and adopted are as follows:
1. That the bar of Lancaster has heard
with deep regret of the death of General
James l.. Reynolds.
2. That though for some years past lie
had retired from the general practice of his
profession: yet by his contemporaries and
those of his juniors who have seen him on
the rare occasions ON which has recently
appeared rs practitioner at the bar, he
has always been recognized as possessin.
such professional qualifications as contnu
ously exercised would not have failed Sc
cure for himself the highest professional
emnence.
3. That to the community at large
his fine intellect, large store of in
formation, bold and independent
character, and devotion to truth and right
rendered him, although not holding official
position, a judicious and influential cOun-
cillOr. in it's affairs while from his special
friends those same qualities, combined
with entire sincerity and IN unwaverinS
steadfastness of attachment, secured
corresponding warmth of regard which
must cause his death to be felt, among them
as leaving void which may not readily,
if ever, be filled.
4. That the bar attend his funeral in u
body.
5. That the proceedings Of this meeting
be entered on the minutes of the court ard
be published in the newspapers of this city.
6. That copy of the resolutions of the
meeting be transmitted to the surviving
brother and sisters of Gen. Reynolds.
George NJ Kline, esq, was the first
speaker. He said the deceased, within
the past 25 years, had not been active in
practice, and was therefore stranger to
many members of the bar. Many years
ago there was great contest in the bar of
Pennsylvania, over the matter Of account
ing between tenants, in the Cornwall
mines, in which there was Il great diversity
Of opinion among the legal minds of tic
state. TO remedy the matter
law was passed in 1850, by the
legislature, which was framed by MIR.
Reynolds, giving common pleas courts
jurisdiction in matters of accounts, cover
ing cases of the nature mentioned above.
From the time Of his admission to the bar
the deceased was counsel for one branch of
the Coleman family, and he took the
ground that the estate could not be
divided. AS an equity lawyer i'll accounts
he had a great deal of experience. The
deceased was great lover of music and
the speaker related an interesting
of himself and Mr.. Reynolds to
Lebanon, illustrating that fOndness.
II. Z. Swarr, esq.,, first knew the de-
ceased when he attended the old Lititz
academy, and was a fellow student with
him at Lebanon. An intimacy then sp,ang
up between them and it continued through
life. In 1856 the speaker was delegate
with the deceased to the Democratic ma
tional convention, which nominated Mr.
Buchanan president. Through Mr.. Rey-
nolds's influence the speaker was appoint
ed postmaster of Lancaster. He had been
associated with the deceased on many oc-
casions, and his arguments before the su-
prcme court and the court in banc were
always presented in very mastery style.
IL. NJ. North, esq, first saw the deceased
in 1919 he soon became acquainted with
him and always regarded him as a man of
colossal intellect and that was the impress
sion made by him everywhere. His father
was grandson of Robert Coleman, and
that gave Mr.. Reynolds considerable adj
vantage at the beginning Of his profess
sional career. Success came to him with
out effort he was capable of taking care of
every case which came to him, before any
court. Everything he wrote made an i'm
preston and was respected, whether OIL
legal or political subjects. In 1853 Mr..
Reynolds was offered position OH the SUI
preme bench by Governor Packer, but he
declined the honor he was very modest,
and as he seldom referred to this matter,
but few persons were aware of it. He
always showed marked ability and was
one of the kind of men who gave rcputa-
tiOn and standing to a bar.
j. Hay Brown, esq, said that he was not
acquainted with the deceased, in a profess
sional way, but had met him on many So
cial occasions, and always found that he
had strong attachments for his friends.
Hon. Thomas E. Franklin regretted that
on account of his voice he would not be
able to say great deal. but he would add
his warm testimony to what had already
been said. He, with Mr.. Kline,
had been associated with Mr.. Rey-
nolds, who always showed marked
knowledge of the law. He had logical
mind his physique was marked and his
declination Of the offered judgeship showed
that he was not ambitious.
After the speaking had been concluded,
Newton Lightner, George NJ. Kline, and