The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-18
A MAN OF MANY GOOD TRAITS
Tributes from Professional Associates
to the Late Oscar B. Hord.
The Memorial Adopted by the indianapolis
Bar Association-Remarks by General
Harrison, Ex-Gov. Porter and Others.


in the federal courtroom, yesterday afternoon.
to pay tribute of respect to the memory of the
ate oscar =. Hord, there was an unusually
large attendance. The meeting called to or
der by Judge Woods, who elected chair
man, upon motion OF A. C. Harris Chas Mar
tindale was chosen secretary. Upon taking the
chair Judge Woods spoke OF Mr.. Hord as
ornament to the bar, in literary ability and so
clal qualities. The chairman appointed a
committee to prepare and submit an appropriate
memo rial, Noble C. Butler, Judges L. Rowland.
ID. w. Howe, l.. G. Walker, T. L. Sullivan, A.
l.. Roache. and ]. S. Harrington, VIM. Wallace.
w. P. Fishback, w. w. Herod, A. G. Harris
and Gen. Fred Knefer. :
While the committee was preparing it's re-
port Judge Niblack spoke. He said that he had
never known Mr. Hord in public life. but had
met him socially. While words are inadequate
on such an occasion, it was fitting that some
preston be made. In speaking of death
speak OF that of which we have no compre-
hension. We inquire in vain into the meaning,
and accept all for the best The speaker met
DIR. Hord socially q few evenings before his
death, and saw his eyes fill with tears
as he gave expressions OF regret concerning
the death of his partners who had preceded
him. Oscar B. Hords work was full and COM
State, but perhaps not the ablest advocate be-
fore a jury. Oscar B. Hords name to a brief
in the Supreme Court always carried weight
with it. He in conversation was bright, spark
ling and intelligent.
AT the close OF. Judge Niblack's address Noble
@. Butler read the memorial submitted by the
committee, which. after giving brief outline of
his life, was follows:
For more than quarter Of a century Oscar
b. Hord has been known to the bench and bar Of
lndlana he was eminent among his brethren
at the bar for the accuracy and amplitude of his
professional knowledge and for his untir;ng in
dustry in the practice of the law. Early in his
career he mastered the statutes of this Com
monwealth, and it may be said that he held
them in his memory. He acquainted with
the history of almost every legislative act No
one was so entirely conversant with the course
or Judicial decisions from the days of Blackboard
ana Dewey to the present time. He was
recognized by his brethren throughout the
State as the most eminent authority
State Jurisprudence. Judges advised with him,
and lawyers from every quarter sought aid of
his profound requirements. OF the many illus
trious names enrolled upon the records of the
supreme Court or Indiana none will be found
recurring so often or leading in great a num-
Der of important causes as his own His pro-
found Knowledge and remarkable requirements
as to the rights of men were not limited to the
State and Nation, and he hardly less fanil-
lar with the laws of other States and England.
Ills capacity and power of research were
wider and more accurate knowledge of the laws
OF English-speaking peoples.
his Investigation OF cases WAS patient and
shorough and its results We're exact. He valued
only those opinions Of law facts that
based upon intelligent and painstakng inquiry
and he professed none other for himself. He
made the cause of his clients his and
deemed no labor TOO arduous severe which
was necessary to protect their rights. He loved
ms ms friends and freely gave himself for them
strengthened by their misfortunes, for he
douby q friend in need He was grieyed even
more by their Affections than by bis own,
and he had many sorrows Under every
stress OF his personal fortunes he man
ifested to the world q serene forti-
tude which was equally remote from passion
or stoicism and was superior TO either. His
demeanor was marked by genialty which
never succumbed to private griefs or dsappoint-
ments, and always impaired some degree of it
self to every one with whom he came into con-
tact He had wide acquaintance with general
literature, and sought and found agreeable
respite from his labors in the courts and at his
office in the companionship of books He
brought to his reading e spirit and judgment
equal or superior and he liked to converse about
1t with appreciative friends His literary culture
and his powers of conversation made
quaintance with him a liberal education. He
was a man of scrupulous integrity, and his in
tegrlty was not OF that sort which 10 the mere
creature of favorable circumstances. but it
of that indomtabe kind which withstands the
shock and strain of adversely.
1--WE tender to the Nom bers of the bereaved
household, and especially to the sons whose
friend and comrads no was well as their af-
fectionate parent our sympathy and coincidence
IN the irreparabls loss they have sustained"
The memorial also stated that 'ths bar OF In
diana was greatly indebted to Mr.. Hord for his
compilation of the statutes. which was OILY su-
perseded by the late revision Of them under the
authority of the Legislature. and is Jet monu-
ment to his careful industry"
Gen. Ben Harrison, who was the first to speak
after the reading OF the memorial said that he
had thought the bar might moro appropriately
give expression to it's sentiments in reference to
a deceased brother if. instead of coming to-
gether in so short time and 10 SEEM
well acquainted with the deceased to
deliver carefully-prepared address. Words
are often meaningless and especially when
had known Oscar b. Hord since the close of the
war, when he found him already leader at the
bar. The speaker had not known Mr. Hord
socially, except as he had met him in the Office
or in the courtroom He found him always a
genial and gentle spirit, full of legal anecdots
and "reminiscences. His conversation was always
edifying. He did not shield himself, did he
indulge in severe and cynical comment on 9TH
He commended, spoke the truth fairly
spoke not 1t all. He often opened his heart and
gave insight into his inner life, when he made
tender remark concerning some one dear to him.
He was always solcitous for his boys, and
deemed any expenditure for them the best
use to which he could put the earnings OF his
labor. He found his comPanicnship among law
yers and judges and was a living digest OF the
Supreme Court decisions and statutes OF the
State. He made carefully prepared notes of all
his investigations, and about his desk would be
found many compiled books OF law, made by his
own hand. Mr.. Hord true friend. Tho
reflection that the greatest law fra Of the State
has passed away is = sad But ought
not to be in tremor of fear we walk, contin-
ually wondering how close death may be to us.
Death may result from a that is appar-
emily slight. So we ought not to put trust
in any righteousness OF our own, but in the
righteousness Of the Son of God, and thus be
prepared to meet the Judge of all
Chas. w. Smith read his remarks. In long,
casual acquaint ancs he found the deceased suave
aud courteous. Later the speaker was brought
to closer intimacy. and found it to be good |
thing for o young man TO come in contact with
Mr.. Hord. The three elements that made him |
n strong lawyer were his industry, power of
analysis and perception OF his adversary's |
strength. He had that high sense of honor that
forbade the OF his far-reaching knowledge |