Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-11-17
REMARKS OF JUDGE WIN. oKEY
On the Death Of Judge WIN. Kennor,
Gen. G. W. Hoge and James Weir.

tions in open court on Wednesday of
last week, relative to the members of the
Bar who have recently died, eloquent
and feeling remarks were made by J. B
Smith and J. NJ. Reese. Esqs., Of Bellaire,
after which Judge Okey, in ordering
the resolutions to be spread upon the
journal of the court, said:
JUDGE KENNoN.
1t is now the almost universal practice
of the members of the bar to assemble
together upon the death of one of their
fellow members, and give expression to
their feelings, and put in form, and have
recorded, their appreciation Of the vir-
tues Of their deceased brother.
This is practice that meets my ap-
proyai. Whilst it does not benefit the
deceased, it tends to stimulate the living
especially the younger members-of
the bar to try to avoid the faults and i'm
state the virtues Of the deceased. And,
il their deceased brother has been honor
ed and has attained eminence in his pro-
fession, that they. too. may have record
and name, showing that they had liv-
ed for purpose, and that their lives
may be worthy of imitation.
We are all Fastening to the grave,
from whence there is no return to earth.
Some of US are already nearing its brink,
and a short time hence our record on
earth will be completed. May it not be
said of any of us that we have lived in
vain; but rather that the world has been
little better for our having for time
occupied place therein
But to speak of our deceased brother,
and of the resolutions offered for record /:
Ny acquaintance with Judge Kennon
began more than forty years ago. Ny
more particular acquaintance with him
commenced in April, 1910, when be was
circuit Judge of this circuit, under
the old Constitution. was then Clerk
of the Courts of Monroe county, and had
an opportunity to be with him more,
and to know more of the character of
the man. My first impression of Judge
Kennon was that he was not an advo-
cate, but that he was a great lawyer,
learned in the law. This impression was
formed while be was on the bench; but
after he left the bench and came to the
bar, my impressions of him we're some
what changed. l then found that he
was not only a profound lawyer, but a
great advocate.
remember bis speech in defense Of
| Foreman, on trial for murder in our
county, case in which the late Judge
| Cowenwas associated with him. The trag-
ic circumstances of that case called forth
one of the greatest efforts of his life, and
his argument on that occasion was one
| of the finest / ever heard. The late
Judge Cowen spoke to me more than
once about this argument of Judge Ken
mons, and he always said that he had
never heard it equalled any place.
Judge Kennon possessed the power of
concentrating his mind upon one sub
ject to an extent have never known
excelled. A subject once brought to his
mind would be retained until ne had
fully mastered it in all its details.
Judge Marsh, now of Denver, related
70 me, some years ago. an incident in the
life of Judge Kennon, which will Illus
trate this Characteristic of his mind
The two Judges chanced to meet at the
Mcclure House. in Wheeling. They were
then in the full practice of their profess
sion. Judge Marsh, having at the time
an important case in GAINESVILLE, sought
the opinion of Jodge Kennon on the
questions involved. With his usual
kindness and courtesy, he requested
Judge Marsh to give him statement OF
the case. The Judge did SO; and, after
hearing a recital of the facts, Judge
Kennon arose and left the room, without
making any reply. He continued to
walk in the hall for time. and then re-
tired to his room. On meeting next morn
ling, Judge Kennon said that he was then
lready to give an opinion on the case, re-
marking that he had not gone to bed the
night before, but that he had walked his
room and thought it out. Judge Marsh
depressed regret that he had given him
So much trouble, and caused him to lose
a nights rest: but the Judge replied that
he was glad he had given him the op.
portunity to examine such an interesting
and difficult question. Judge Kennor
then proceeded to examine the questions
presented in the case, and to elucidats
them with great force and clearness
The opinion there given, wrought out OF
the resources of his own mind, was full
and convincing, and Judge Marsh in
formed me that the case was finally set
tied in accordance with that opinion.
Judge Kennon had naturally a great
mind, and he had added to its greatnes!
by deep and earnest thought. His uni
form cheerfulness, in the latter years O
; his life, showed him to be a true philos
I lopher.
recollect when boy at school, m,
teacher wrote me this copy: ITO be goos
is to be happy" On taking my bool
home, my mother explained to me tn
copy. Judge Kennon was not only
} great man, but be was also good MAJ
in every sense Of the word.
The resolutions have my unqualifie.
approval, and the report of the commit
tee is ordered to be entered at lengtl
, on the journals of the Court.
r GEN. HoGE.
+ In ordering to record the report an
, resolutions of the committee appoints
at the meeting of the members of tn
bar on the occasion of the decease o
3 Gen. Hoge, late member of the Belmon
j county bar, desire to add a few word
! in testimony Of my appreciation of tn
! life and character of the deceased, who's
! sudden death sent chill of sadness +
] the hearts of all his acquaintances. NJ
first acquaintance with Gen. H0ge VIA
meeting him here when he was in th
practice of the Law with Hon. B. s. Cow
en-. only met him occasionally fron
r that time until the last four years. sine
I have occupied this bench. Since com
ing among you, have found Gen. Hog
to be close student and critical lawyer
0 a logical reasoner, and most genia
s gentleman. He was also general read
er of books, with retentive memor
: and happy faculty of communicating
: to others the result of his reading an,
. thought. Among all my friends here
, and l hope that l have many, there i
! no one for whom felt kinder regar,
than did for Gen. Hoge.
: The report and resolutions meet m
unqualified approval, and the same ar
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