The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-09-01
Judge ]. 2. Reed
News and Courier.

The Hon. J. 7. Reed, who died at
his residence In Anderson On Thurs
day night last. was born in Anderson
County in 1914, aud was at the time
Of his death in- the si1tY-sixth year Of
his age. he was elected a member Of
the House of Representatives in lS46,
and served ~ that body antil 1850,
when he was elected Solicitor Of the
District now comprising the Eighth
Judicial Cireuit: 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.
Iua4ses Judge Reed was elected to
Congress as member from the Third
District his majority over S. L. Hoge,
(Republican) being 3,00S. Be!ug
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 of6ces, and deter
mined to support Judge Green Re
publican) who had beer nominated BY
the Boiling Republicans against D. H.
Chamberlain. Judge Reed conceived
that, as Democrat, he vas equally at
liberty to support Cham berlain. This
he did. and continued to act af
terwards with the Republican par
ty in this. State, although denying.
we believe, that he was a mem
Der of the party. However this
may be, be was elected Judge Of the
First Circuit on December 2, 1874, to
fiji the vacancy caused by the death Of
Judge r. F. Graham. In December
the Legislature elected ". J. Whip
per, uotoriousy 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. 1t was time Of great ez
citement in the State, and Judge
Reed took at once, il response to L
letter FROM the Bar Of the Circuit, the
pronounced position tha: Whlpper
was rot entitled to the Office to which be
claimed to have been elected, and that
he should not and weuld cot be reeog-
n;zed as Judge within the Circuit. In
the proceedings subsequently, had, the
Supreme Court decided that Judge
Reed was entitled to hold for four
years.
To 1873 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. c. Presley, who was elected
on February "A, 1878.
During Judge Reeds term Of Office
as Judge it feH - is lot to pass upon
many question CT vital importance to
the fnancial interests of Charleston
County. a number of judgments
had been obtained against the county
with the conniVance of the officers
representing the State. When the
matter was brought before him by the
citizens Judge Reed set aside the YER
dict that had been rendered against
the county, and referred the cases, up
OF the petition of number Of tax
PAYERS, to Col. 4. II. Brown, as refe-
rec for examination. The order was
set aside By the Supreme Court as far
as it related to those judgment csedi-
tors who had appealed in consequence
Of DO notice having been given to the
parties, but the result of his ruling
upon large number Of cases, IN
which their was noappeal, was to save
the. county a very large amount of
money. Il 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 tine, gave an op-
portunity to bring to light the frauds
Of Sheriff C. c. Bowen. BY his order
Sir. c. r. Miles vas 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 ID
the judge, and he was undoubtedly
wanting in the courage which crys
talizes impulse into settled aud peril
naeious 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 rela-
tions alone.
After his resignation from the bench
Judge Reed resumed the practice OF
law, but became great sufferer from
complication of diseases which fnal!y
undermined his vigorous constitution.
He passed away in sleep, without ap'
pearapce of pain. The many warm
freinds he retained sympatize sincerely
with bis family, and will remember
only his many good qualities of heart
and head.
The Silence ofCOl. Cash.