The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-11-05
JUDGE ROSS PAPER.

nual banquet:
JUDGE ROSS PAPER.
Judge Ross read biographical and crit-
cal sketch of the late chief Judge of the SUI
preme court of Vermont John Pierpoint of
Vergennes. Judge Ross close acquaintance
with Judge Pierpoint during thirteen years
co-service upon the bench, and his clear and
hearty appreciation of his noble characters
tics, made his essay very interesting. 1t
was complete biography and thorough
summing up of his character. In the linn
tied space at our command we will not at
tempt to abstract the historical part, but
will confine ourselves to the critical portion,
except to remind our readers that Judge
Pierpoint was born in Litchfield, Conn,
September 10, 1905, came to Rutland in 1915
and lived with his older brother, Robert;
that he studied law at Judge Gould's ia
nous law-school in Litchfield was admitted
to the Rutland county bar in 1897 practiced
law at Pittsford about five years; removed
to Vergennes in May, 1882, where he lived
till his death; in the winter of 1856, passed
in Fayette, Mississippi, for the benefit of his
health, then and ever afterwards DELEGATES in
1871 he represented Vergennes in the house
of representatives as n democrat; was regis
ter of probate from December, 1886, to No
vember, 1857; in 1S4S he left the democratic
party and Joined the free-soilers; in 1855. '56
and '57 he was member of the senate from
Addison county; in 1857 he was chosen to
the supreme bench, and in 1865 he was made
chief Judge. He died at his home in YER
gennes, January T. 1882 Judge Ross gave
very vivid and interesting description of
Judge Pierpoint's love of hunting and his
skill as sportsman, which was illustrated
by charming incidents, and then continued:
"Who does not recognize in these sketches
of his youthful hunting triumphs the man as
we knew him in after years; what consider
ateness, what tact, what forethought, what
adaptation of means to the end, what faith
fulness in the discharge of the slightest
duty, what keen relish of nature, what self
reliance did he not exhibit? And what
training of his quick powers of observation
and Judgment, what measurement of dis
tances what training of the eye, muscle and
mind did he not receive? No wonder he be-
came the best shot and marksman in the
state, able to bring down any bird on the
wing. Who that observed the quiet, careful
manner in which he moved about the court
room did not detect the stealthy step of one
consummate in the art of still hunting?"
While at Judge Gould's law school he
walked to and from his fathers house, morn
ing and evening, distance of two miles each
way. 1t was his invariable habit to recall
on his way home all that he could of what
he had heard in the lectures that day and to
repeat the operation on his way to school
the next morning. 1t was by such feats as
these that he obtained that wonderful llnowl-
edge of the principles of the common law
with the nice distinctions and limitations
which he so constantly and unpretendingly
exhibited He also acquired the habit of
thinking clearly while on his feet; habit
which chung to him all his life. And while
walking to and fro in the court room during
an argument, he was engaged in the most
thorough thinking. Judge Pierpoint did not
acquire so large practice while at the bar
as he would If his health had not been so
delicate. He early won and always retained
the confidence of all who knew him. AS an
attorney, arbitrator and referee, he settled
more controversies than he ever prosecuted.
While at the bar, he was sought for as an
arbiter and referee. His fairness, intimate
knowledge of the law, good judgment in APP
plying it to the everyday affairs of life, tact
and happy faculty Of presenting the subject
matter OF the controversy to both parties,
commended him as an excellent fryer of fact
and judge of the law applicable thereto. He
quickly observed and comprehended new
industries and new enterprises, new ma
chinery and inventions. He was thoroughly
conversant with the practical workings, not
only of the human mind, but with all the
common affairs of life. These faculties and
this knowledge greatly aided him in the
trial of facts. He was modest and retiring
and never spoke OF his ancestry, though il
was very ancient, rarely of himself. He
seemed wholly intent upon discharging
present duty. He cared nothing for noto-
riety and was never an active politician,
yet he made his mark in the senate, where
he was twice chairman of the judiciary com
to the supreme bench, and there was never
vote against him during his whole tenure
of office. When he assembled the bench his
compeers were Isaac f. Redfield, chief Judge
and Judges Bennett, Poland, Adds and Bar
rett, who were among the giant intellects OF
the state. While unlike them, he was fully
the peer of all of them. Never during his
long career on the bench was there ever a
whisper that he was influenced in the dis
charge of his duties by anything but the
rnofiVaa md host M a Ia
and died universally loved and respected by
his brethren and associates by the entire
bar and by all the citizens of the state. In
the little over twenty-four years of service
on the bench, besides the trials at the county
court at which he presided, and his frequent
determinations as arbitrator and referee, at q
moderate estimate he assisted in the dec
sion of more than three thousand cases in the
supreme court. On account of his feeble
health his published opinions were not a.
many as could be wished, but nevertheless
he wrote two hundred seventy-four. His
opinions were never long. The absence as