The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-08-17
plsoe inmediateiy. without. solnr orsr !.

plaes immediateiy, without going over. d.
usual, to the next term. This was accord
ingly done, and the same evidence submit
ted to new jury; not word was said for
or against the defendant. The Jury in five
minutes returned verdict of "not guilty"
and, Peter Honce vindicated, went on his
way rejoicing, TO the great delight of all the
boys in the country.
In conjunction with John I. Lamkin,
Judge Hurst greatly distinguished himself
in the case of the State against Driver for
the murder Of the boy Bean. In this case
Lamkin made his last and one Of his great
est speeches to the jury. They each receiv-
ed one thousand dollars for their services;
but money would not stay with Hurst--it
took wings and flew away. ~
But must close with q brief allusion to
one other phase in his life. In politics,
Judge Hurst was Wing, when to be
Wing meant defeat; he was Union man,
when to be Union man meant persecution,
danger and perhaps death. In the Presi-
Dental election of 1S48 he was an
Eleetor on the Taylor and Fillmore ticket
and canyassed portion of the State. He
was not in favor Of Gen. Taylor's nomina-
ton as he did not think mere military men
were we'll fitted for the highest civil sta,
tions, but he greatly admired Willard Fill
more and supported both warmly. On the
incoming Of the Wing administration he
could have had high Office, Int be asked
for none and wanted none.
Clay, bnt be admired Daniel Webster even
more, and he thought and said that he was
the greatest orator, leWyer and statesman
that ever lived, ancient or modern. He
recognized him, and not MIR. Calhoun, as
the true "Expounder of the Constitution"
and though not a worshiper of any man, he
did not consider his cognomen of "God-like
Daniel' too extravagant.
In the memorable contest of 1851 he
warmly espoused the cause Of Henry s.
Foote, the Union candidate for Governor
first against Gen. Quitman, and then against
Col. jeff Davis, both fresh from the fields
of Mexico, crowned with the laurels of mil
itary glory; and though the piney woods
counties, chfistened by Foote the mighty
East" went against him, he placed both
champions hors du combat.
In 1858, while a Colonel in the Confeder-
ate army, he was elected Judge of the High
Court of Errors and Appeals, beating Col.
E. J. Goode by three votes. But he did not
like the confinement of the bench, prefer
ring the freedom of the bar, and at the first
opportunity laid aside the judicial ermine,
spotless as he found it.
He was member OF the Convention of
1861 and did all he could to prevent seces-
sion, and when at last he signed the fatal
ordinance it was only the act of his hand
and not of his mind and heart, and he did not
pereserve the pen as a memento for his pos
terity. He loved his native State as child
loves its mother, but he loved the Govern
ment Of his Fathers more, and with tears of
sympathy for his defeated countrymen, he
yet, with Sharkey and Yerger, hailed with
JOY restored Union. But he disapproved
of the reconstruction measures, and there
after voted with the Democracy.
Farewell to our noble brother of the bar!
He has gone from us forever. We shall no
more see him in the Courthouse and ON the
streets. Peace to his ashes. May the
green sod rest lightly on his manly breast,
and in the morning of the resurrection may
we allsmeet in the court Of Heaven.