Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-19

| cia3 labrie. such . change IN we can 1issvn
| n peoplc MSS never 30 suddenly witnessed
before. together with the struggle 70 gs.e
| foothold for existence, that period Just
| rrjer 10 the commencement OF our gfca.
| civil war seems - have 80 quickly passei
from memory. and with archives pusmea'
not Ieaving even note OF record, rns"
the Circuit Ccur;s Of Richmond aad Q, nen-
| rico. with cosrmon law. chancery. and Grim
insl Jurisdiction. held their sessions 10 tho
STATE court house. IN the Capitol Squire.
| and there was deposited the records OF the
| o,d tieneral Court OF Virginia.
Asa very young deputy clerk OF those
| courts the writer speaks
| ,pchr A. Meredith and John u. Clopton
| Judges who that knew them vel can ever
| forget them, Both 80 learned, pure, sud
| CONSIDERATIONS IN the discharge OF every
| duty. The one 40 laborious, pains.taSing.
| and notient 10 silt to the truth. the law, and
| iu.tice OF cycry cause the other 80 ready.
autck. ard sore in reaching equally wise
conclusions. Enlarged In view ani un-
| mejudiced IN mind, they erected solid
AZ nv personal friend, and rcverlng his
memory, I csnnot refrain from s,yins that
this city never had a son that served her
more faithfully and laboriously than The
hearted Judge John A. Meredith.
Judge Copton was fond OF the race
course. IL was the day Of the memorable
struggle for supremacy between Red
Exc and Nina. An important case had
hecu fixed for trial on that day; the court
convened and silence proclaimed. Judge
-. one OF the counsel. arose. and In
serious manner, complained OF some indis-
positiou. Judge CloptOn 'felt also not
very we'll" AMI ordered adjournment.
The two judges took carriage in waiting
and were soon ct Fairfield race-coursc-
Judges OF the race.
AT the bar OF the Circuit Court OF Rich
mond there stood John NJ. Patton. Arthur
a. Morson, James Lyons, John ;. Caskie.
William III. Mafcarland. alarmaduke John.
son, John G.. williams, William III. Lyons.
George w. Randolph. Raleigh 4. Daniel.
A. Judson Crane, W. w. Crump, ana
Thomas T.. August. What wealth OF
learning, power, and elOquence l. at once
invoked by that array. A1d all except
JUDGE trump have now passed on to the
"silent city OF the dead
Mr.. Patton then in his declining years.
vet his powerful, logical mind was the fear
OF the Courts.
How tender ibe disposition and sweet
the manner OF Morson, Caskic. Williams,
and W. II. Lyons yet mis>ively they
built their legal arguments. Mr.. Micfar-
land, lordly in his manner and persuasive
in his power; yet carrying win MIN
among all classes OF mem true and tender
heart. Randolph close. clcar, strong. ana
incisiye. Mr.. Daniel classical In features,
musical in voice. and scientific a. law
yer: and Sir. James Lyons, OF handsome
person and majestic bearing. though tit
for royalty, vet q kinder. nobler. warmer
heart then seldom TO be found. As the
graceful. winning orator before tue htSt
,rias courts. he was then the leader. so
charming in his manner, so profound his
learning and rich IN his hospitality.
The criminal bar OF that court was then
80 often a witness OF "the struggle be-
tween the GIANTS" With Duke John
son o. Commonwealth attorney, possess
ing sucn wonderful magnetism OF person
and spcecb, on the side OF the prisoner we're
usually found Judge Crump and Colonel
Tom August. Their speeches OF power and
pathos in the two celebrated murder cases
of Livingston and Dickinson will not soon
be forgotten by those whose privilege 1t
was 10 hear them. The community then
excited, and every influence broughi to bear,
long and severe was the struggle between
the counsel Of the State and the prisoners.
II was well in the night when MIR. johnson
made his memorable closing speech to the
Jury in the latter case. For some reason
the Jury did not suit him. He asked the
writer what he thought OF the chances OF
conviction, and was told that it was against
him. "Then." said he, "they shall not
acquii. for / will ride that jury over their
conscience" and with irresistible appeals
and powers of defamation he carried out
bis determination.
Not long afterwards Mr. johnson appear
ed on the other side OF the criminal bar,
for Mr.. Tazewel had been elected Com
monwealth's attorney.
A boarder at the Exchange Hotel, in cold
blood. shot down the very popular clerk,
Mr.. Simms. Judge Crump and Mr.. john
son appeared for the prisoner, and Colonel
August, though very reluctant to do so,
was induced by friends to appear for the
prosecution. This, he told me, was his
FIRST and last employment to assist in
prosecution. The efforts on both sides
were marked by great ability, but Il was
then admitted that Colonel Augustus closing
appeal for the State secured the conviction.
am inclined to think that II was his great
est effort. His description OF the prisoner
quietly escaping to his room and locking
ton. closing with the words:
"Thou sure and firm set earth.
BeM not my steps which way they walk, for fear
The very stones pirate of NV whereabout.
And take the present horror from ths time
Which now suits WITH H.
Influenced by the imprisoned appeals OF
the advocates Of that day, the jury was often
ylsibly affected, and the icounsel, also, at
times, apparently so.
gnar tharaaftar tho HuStiuOs Court was
organized. aud criminal jurisdiction vested
there.
But the theatre OF these many conflicts
was not TO be gwen up without struggle,
and carly steps were taken to test the con-
stitutionality Of that court. The bar looked
upon the proceeding as bold but hopeless.
and many gathered to hear the case to be
presented. Colonel August appeared for
the Hastings Court. On the day and hour
Fixed the Circuit Court impatiently awaited
the counsel. Colonel August was first TO
appear. So neat in person and so happy
in manner, as was his custom, with digni-
lied bow to the Court, and cordial greeting
TO his brother lawyers and officers
Of the court, he soon had the court
smiling under his ever ready apology.
But, says Judge Meredith, where Is Mr..
-. counsel for the petitioner, Col.
onel August? 81 am sure do not know,
II your Honor please" Then turning to
the bar, with that merry twinkle OF the eye
that all knew meant only good hunor and
never had malice, he SAYS: "--got
tight this morning on a pint Of h,o."
But this was probably the least OF the many
sparkling gems OF wit ever falling from the
lips OF that Sheridan Of our bar. Yet, like
all others, he had his days. though
few, It may be, OF sorrow and depres.
| sion. He at times felt the shafts
Of envy and uncharitableness. In the
early summer OF 1869, when together, and
for the last time, we rede through Hol-
lywood. he felt Enthusiastically the shadows
gathering closely around him, and pointed
me 10 the spot where l must lay him in his
final rest. Standing there few days ago
could but recall bow impressively he then
spoke Of the vanity Of all human ambition.
Aud then when every leaf aud flower and
the green earth all smiling with youth and
life, be spoke OF ITS emptiness and delu-
sions, and OF decay and death; that the
popularity and plaudits, so often his own.
when obtained-but withered within the
grasp.
Feeling keenly the slight tenure OF all
human friendships, and OF that iorgetful-
ness which SO soon comes aud Is the horror
Of the tomb, with much feeling he repeat