The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-10-30
ment to his legal learning and moral char

:hOrtlv afterwards, and continued in of
flee until painful and distressing malady
compelled him to resign in December 1882.
The end Of his life soon followed the close
Of his official career He died at his resi-
dencc, IN WarrentOn, on the goth day Of
January, 1888, after an affecting and lin
gering indisposition of nearly twelve
months, which he bore with serenity and
fortitude He died the death of the phi
losopher and christian. His remains were
inferred in the family burial ground in
Warrenton. A small group of cedars, a
few yards south of the garden, will indl-
cate to the stranger, who may visit War
rcntOn, the spot where the ashes of this
wise and good man now slumber in the
grave.
Few men ever sustained throughout life
more unblemished character than the
subject of this sketch. Few ever possessed
a more delicate sense of honor, or purer
and more elevated moral feelings and prin-
cples. In his official capacity he was an
ornament to the Bench. John Hall posS-
essed, in a high degree, many of the quail
tiles necessary to constitute a safe judi
cial officer Although not a man of showy
or brilliant cndoWments, he had a very
correct Judgment and varied and eXten
slve legal learning He had deep seated
love of justice, and an anxious desire to
discharge with scrupulOuS fidelity all of
his duties. lie was a man of sterling in
tegrity, great independence and firmness,
and extraordinary patience and persever
ancc; and was as unbiased and impartial
Judge as ever wore the ermne. His
bosom was free from those passions and
prejudiccs which have impaired the use
fulness and shaded the fame of some of
the most distinguished ornaments of the
BENCH He had h,Ga of
mislead his judgment, and cause him to
sacrifice truth and justice rather than re-
tract an error He was more anxious to
decide properly between the parties, than
to acquire distinction as a asiSt In up
rightness, impartiality and independence,
IN laborlOus attention to the duties of his
office, and in patience and courtesy, he
has had no superior in North Carolina, a
State which has given birth to SO many
men of rare judicial excellence.
The judicial opinions of Judge Hall were
brief, plain and to the point, and were
sustained by solid reasoning and sound
authority. Like the celebrated Chief JUS
tice Talbot Of England, he loved truth Gin
all its naked simplicity.' He did not at
tempt to gain eclat by an ostentatious pa
rade of legal erudition; and he made no
effort at display in the fed of judicial
eloquence. He had a just respect for au
thorlty, and deep conviction of the neces
sity of certainty and stability in our Sys-
TEN of Jurisprudence. He did not seek
after flowers of rhetoric or the labored or
naments of style. Everything in his die
tion was simple and unadorned His opin
ions however contain able and correct eX-
positions of the law upon the points before
the Court, furnish safe guides for those
who may succeed him in his elevated sta
1. Il NV
the juridical student, although they may
not exhibit the finish and elegance of the
writer who has devoted himself chiefly to
literary pursuits. Most Of his judicial
opinions may be found in the reports Of
Hawks and Devereaux.
In political sentiment Judge Hall be-
longed to the school of ThOs. Jefferson,
and was decided and consistent member
of the old Republican party. He had
however too correct d sense of the pro-
prieties of his position TO be active in po
litical contests, and his heart was entirely
free frOl1i partisan rancor violence.
Conscious himself Of acting L der the i'll
tluence of patriotic and honorable inten-
tions, he was ready to give to those who
differed from him credit for purity of
purpose.
His private character was eminently de
serving of praise. He was a man of un-
affected modesty, of admirable simplicity
OF manners, of an ingenious and manly
frankness and sincerity, and of warm
feelings of benevOlence and humanity
He was a useful and public spirited citizen
in the immediate community in which he
lived, and endeavOred to sustain its nSti-
tutions of learning and religion, and to
advance in every respect its best interests,
and he enjoyed its esteem, confidence and
Al e.
especially those of talent and PROMISE
manifested lively interest in their for
tunes, and endeavored to nourish in their
bosoms a laudable ambition, and to speed
them on upon the path of wisdom, virtue
and honor. He sometimes had law stu
dents in his office, and his influence over
them was a most salutary one. 1t was
under his own roof, where he dispensed
II cordial but unpretendlng hospitality,
that his amiable qualities shone with Sc
rene and steady lustrc. In the domestic
circle he was extremely atfcctOnate.
Scarcely any community in the the State
was adorned with better husband, father,
or neighbor, or a more humane master to
slaves His person was considerably above
the middle size, his features rather agree
able and prepossessing than otherwise,
and his face indicated amiability, benevo-
lCItCC duu CttIiNloI-
Judge Hall left a widow, Mrs. Mary
Hall formerly Mary Weldon, who died in
August. 1852, and eight children. | shall
close this imperfect sketch with a few re-
marks as to the views of Judge Hall upon
the infinitely important subject of religion.
He did Dot become a professor OF religion
until a few months before he died, although
he had at all times great respect for it.
His early predictions were in favor of
the Presbyterian church, but he finally
Joined the Episcopal church, and the sac
rament was administered to him IN his
own chamber shortly before his death by
the Rev. Joseph H. Saunders, then the
Rector of Emanuel church at Warrenton,
who moved to Florida few years after
wards and died there.
AS have had occasion to mention the
name of Mr. Saunders, it is task grateful
to the feelings Of my heart to express the
high opinion which | entertain as to his
talents, learning, piety and usefulness;
and | wish that it were in my power to
nav more lasting tribute to the memory
of one who was my preceptor, my pastor,
and nv friend The labors of the instruc-
tor of youth and the clergyman, however
faithful and valuable, are too speedily for
gotten.
Definition of a Crank.
DR.. Howard Crosby is said to have de-