The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-11-19


THAT term Of the court, and when he reach
ed the depot the county seat was some
miles from the rairoad) a young man
came up to him, introducing himself as
the son of Mr.. -, one of the litigants,
saying Father sent me over with his car
rage, requesting that you will do him the
| honor to ride over in it to x, and be
| MS guest during the term of court" The
Judge looked at the lazy mules and un-
! comfortable spring wagon of the hotel pro
! prietor thought of the long stretch of
sand between the depot and the court
house, and Of his indisposition, and every
personal inclination was to accept the prof
tered courtesy. But remembering his
| high position, he thanked the young man
| kindly but as firmly declined to accept a
| seat IN his luxurious carriage or to be the
| guest Of his influential father He then
| mounted the hard seat and after a long
| ana dISagrccablc drive reached the village
| Inn an unSlghtly place, with its uncOm-
Portable beds and lily prepared food He
| felt that he ought not to accept of any
| courtesy, however slight, from any one
| whose Interests might be affected by his
| judicial decisions. In all his career as a
Judge he was sans puer, sans reproche.
| AS long as men who hold to such views
| are our Judges the people Of North Caro-
| lima will take pleasure in obeying the man
dates of the court, and Of defending the
bench from the aspcrsions Of unsuccessful
| and litigious litigants.
In 1882, when Judge Mckoy was re
elected Judge the writer had an opportu-
| nifty to note something of the character of
| the man and his bearing when there was
possibility of his losing the renomina-
ton. Several months before the nomina-
ting convention a number of the leading
| lawyers and others from the northern part
Of the district brought forward the name
Of gentleman Of the county of Wilson
Il ii pc scholar and able lawyer and press
ed his name for the nomination with un-
| usual vigor. They did no end of work to
secure his nomination and in several coun-
ties were successful in obtaining solid del
egatiOns against Judge McKoy. While the
Judge was cognizant of the super human
efforts, honestly and fairly but vigorously
| made, to prevent his denomination he
was not heard to make one motion or
known t 0 put IN progress single agency
to secure his nomination. He held to the
true belief that judicial offices ought to
| come unsought and that if, having ridden
the circuit eight years and administered
the laws to the best Of his ability, the peo-
pie preferred another than himself he
would do nothing to thwart their desire.
secured his denomination, but no man
can say that the Judge eXerted himself in
any way to bring about the result. He
was nominated and those who sought to
secure the nomination of his opponent,
although greatly disappointed, recognized
that no purer man than Allmand a. Nc
Koy would be elevated 10 the bench, and
were cordial and hearty i'll their support,
He won them to him-as he won all men
who admire true worth-by his exemplary
conduct in an exciting contest.
In nothing did the transparency of his
unselish life manifest itself more than IN
his affection for the young, and especially
young lawyers. He did not-as do many
old lawyers affect a superiority over the
young men of the profession, but with
uniform kindliness was ever ready to be
of service to them. The writer heard an
attorney, now man OF prominence, say
he had never known an old lawyer who
seemed so interested in the success of the
Young members of the bar as did Judge
Mckoy. 1t was real pleasure to him to
help the young disciple of Blackstone
over the rough places, and to make his
| first appearance in the court room a sue
cess. How mean and little and contempti-
| bic does the lawyer who ignores and tries
! to crush the young member of the bar APP
| pear in comparison with the noble conduct
| Of the subject OF this sketch.
Judge Mckoy was not great lawyer.
| His rulings were not equal to those OF
| some other Of our judges, but it is a fact
| that fewer of his decisions We're over-ruled
| by the Supreme Court than of any of his
| contemporary Judges who have been on
! the bench the same length of time. He
was not magnetic speaker, and yet his
| logic was faultless and his utterances so
nd fhat f,i1 1aI
! to impress his hearers. He was not a bril-
| liant conyersationalist, but he talked well
| on any subject and there was about him Il
sincerity that made him more attractive
| than if he had been the brightest talker
and the quickest at repartee in the circle
| in which he happened to be.
Bat Judge McKoy was more than
| great Judge, he was more to be admired
| than magnetic speaker, his life is more
| worthy of emulation han that of brilliant
| conversati0nalist- for he was a christian
Greater honor hath no man than this-that
| in all the varied relations of life his career
was so spotless and pure that no man can
| point to spot or blemish on his snow
white escutcheon. A consistent member
| of the Episcopal church, a man of kindly
| disposition broad and liberal views. pol
| lshed manners, uneXceptionabe moral
| character, he is revered by the people of
| this great State as are few of our public
men who have fallen on sleep.
| His life was gentle, and the elements
| So mixed in him, that Nature
| Might stand up and say to all the
| World: This man."
| Living as he had lived, revered as he
! was revered, his remains were followed to
| the tomb by larger number of people,
| perhaps, than have ever before gone with
! sorrowful hearts to the Clinton cemetery
| The pail bearers on this occasion were
Lieut. Gov Steadman, J. H. Stevens, c..
Patrick, j. r. Beaman, A. B. Chestnut,
Warren Johnson and L. G. Hubbard all
| life long, intimate and warm personal
friends. Every store and public building
and many of the private residences of the
place were draped in mourning-not for
show of sorrow-but this manifestation
was prompted by feeling of the great
loss sustained, and of genuine love for
and admiration of one of the oldest and
the most distinguished citizen of the town.
Judge McKoy leaves widow, (she was
a Miss Howard, of Georgia. to whom he
was married in life's early morning, one son
and grandson to whom the warmest sym
pathies of all our people go out in their
bereavement. The State, the judiciary.
the bar has lost much in his death, but
the loss to the family of this man, who was
ever devoted husband and loving father,
is irreparable. They have as consola-
ton and benediction the rich legacy Of his