The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-09-01
Judge J. p. Reed.
News and Courier.

The Hon. J. ?. Reed, who died at
his residence in Anderson on Thurs
day night last, was born in Anderson
County in 1914, and was at the time
of his death in the sixty-sixeh year Of
his age. He was elected a member of
the House Of Representatives in lS4S,
and served in that body sntil 1850,
when. he was elected Solicitor of the
District now comprising the Eighth
judicial Circuit. He held the Office
of Solicitor until the breaking out of
the war, and during His term of Office
ably and successfully discharged its
duties.
In3S68 Judge Reed was elected to
Congress as member from the Third
District his majority over S. L. Hoge,
(Republican) being 3,0OS. Being
unable to take the iron clad oath,
Judge Reed could not qualify, and
Hoge retained the seat to which he
was not elected.
At the State election in 1874 the
Democrats declined to nominate can
didates for State Offices, and deter
mined to support Judge Green (Re-
publican) who had been nominated by
the Betting Republicans against D. H:
Chamberlain. Judge Reed conceived
that, as q: Democrat, he was equally at
liberty to support Chamberlain. This
he did, and continued to act af-
terwards with the Republican par
ty in this State, although denying,
we believe, that he was mem
ber of the party. However this
may be, he was elected Judge of the
First Circuit on December 2, 1874, to
Eli the vacancy caused by the death Of
Judge R. F. Graham, In December
the Legislature elected ". J. Whip
per, a notoriousy corrupt and incapable
negro, Judge of the First Circuit,
claiming that Judge Reed had been
elected for merely SO much of the four
years for which Judge Graham was
elected as Was unexpired at the time
of Judge Graham's death. Governor
Chamberlain refused to commission
Whipper. It was time of great ex-
citement in the State, and Judge
Reed took at once, in response to a
letter from the Bar of the Circuit, the
pronounced position that Whipper
was not entitled to the Office to which he
claimed to have been elected, and that
he should not and would not be reeog-
nized as Judge within the Circuit. In
the proceedings subsequently, had, the
Supreme Court decided that Judge
Reed was entitled to hold for four
years.
In 1878 7hen the Supreme Court
decided that the election Of the Cir
cult Judges was invalid because not
held by ballot as required by the Con
stitutiou, Judge Reed resigned his
commission and was succeeded by
Judge B. G. Presley, who was elected
on February IA, 1878.
During Judge Reeds term of Office
as Judge it fell to his lot to pass upon
many question of vital Importance to
the financial interests of Charleston
County. A number of JUDI -aents
had been obtained against the county
with. the conniVance of the officers
representing the State. When the
mater was brought before him by the
citizens Judge Reed set aside the YER
dict that had been rendered against
the eountys and referred the cases, up
On the petition of a number of taz-
PAYERS, to Col. 4. e. Brown, as refe-
rec for examination. The order was
set aside by the Supreme, Court as far
as it related to those judgment credi-
tors who had appealed in consequence
of 10 notice having been given to the
parties, but the result of his ruling
upon a large number Of cases, IN
which their was noappeal, was to save
the. county a very large amount Of
money. It was this action on the
part of Judge Reed which led to the
final investigation and purging Of the
debt Of the county BY a Commission
appointed BY the Legislature. Judge
Reed also about this time, gave an op-
portunity to bring to light the frauds
Of Sheriff G. C. Bowen. By his order
Mr. c. r. Miles gas appointed adviser
of the Grand Jury, and the result of
his investigation showed mp in bold
relief the monumental rascality of the
subject. .....
An eloquent and attractive orator
Judge Reeds greatest successes were
won at the bar. On the bench he
could not always sink the pleader in
the judge, and he was undoubtedly
wanting in the courage which crys
talizes impulse into settled and peril
nacious action. But his intentions
were good, and he was big hearted.
generous, charitable man, loved and
appreciated best, perhaps, BY those
who. knew him in his personal reIa-
tions alone.
After his resignation from the bench
Judge Reed resumed the practice Of
law, but became great sufferer from
a complication of diseases which fpally
undermined his vigorous constitution.
He passed away in sleep, without ap-
pearance of pain. The many warm
freinds he retained sympatize sincerely
with his family, and will remember
only his many good qualities of heart
and head.
The Silence ofCol. Cash.