The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-12
Action of the Newberry Bar on the
Death of John 3. Jones.

J.F.J. Caldwell. Esq, made the follow
ing remarks:
May it please your Honor: It has be-
come my melancholy duty under the dl-
raction of this bar to invite the attention
of the Court to a vacancy recently caused
in the ranks of the Bar by the death OF
one of its members.
John B. Jones, a practicing attorney of
this place, died on the second day OF
April last in the twenty-seventh year OF
his age.
Nj. Jones was a native OF this county
and was born in this town. HIS parents
we're Newberry people. He received his
education in this place. He spent the
whole of his life here, with the exception
of year or so during which he engaged
in mercantile business in the neighborlng
county of Abbeville. He was graduate
of the Newberry College. Soon after he
reached the age eligible for attorneyshlp
he was admitted to the Bar, and practlced
law from that time until his death here.
He was, therefore, as thoroughly ider tilted
with the county and with the town Of
Newberry as one could well be; and as
Newberry men, as persons feeling the
deepest interest in all that concerns this
community and. the individuals which
compose it, this Bar, as far as am able
to speak for it, takes pleasure II making
public mention of his ability, OF his stand
ing in the community and in the profess
sion.
He died at too early an age for any man
to have achieved very substantial great
ness. It is only in political or in military
life that a man at such an age as that can
possibly arrive even at prominence; and
even in those professions that life IS too
short one for tEo rendering OF any very
great services. The delay is still greater
in a profession which is affected by none
OF the accidents, none Of the public sentl-
ment, none of the fortritous circumstances
in general which affect political and
military affairs; but profession IN which
one must achieve success, and must rise
to the position when he deserves success
and honor, by constant, By unremlttlng
labor, and that extended over consldera-
bic number of years. Even as great ge-
muses. as Hardwicke and Mansfield and
Eldon were not great lawyers at twenty
seven, nor at thirty, nor at th!rty-se7en
scarcely. \ man must hive fine talents,
and must have applied those talents most
wisely and laborious!y in order to have
reached any very great prominence IN this
profession even at twice the age to which
our deceased friend attained.
But feel safe in saying that with the
natural ability which he displayed on all
occasions, with the attainments to which
he had reached on account Of careful and
thorough education at home and IN the
schools and colleges which he enjoyed,
with the character OF mind ne had, the
fine poise, the excellent balance. with the
temperament which he possessed-a SIN
gularly cool, possessed, resolute one
and with that strong c"mmon-sense,
that acute discrimination which charac-
tcrized him even in his boyhOod, with
which l was well-acquainted, it is but
reasonable to suppose that ne would have
addeA year by year to the reputation
which he had already wop AZ the Bar, so
that f he had been spared to reach that
period of life at which the most OF us
here have arrived it may well be said that
We could count upon his having attained
and deserved very considerable distinc-
ton in the profession.
AS It was, he managed the cases IN
which he was engaged, so far as l was
able to see, and SO far as | have been able
to hear from others, with signal ability
for ono so Young, indeed, in a manner
which in some cases at least would have
done credit to the most experienced and
learned practitioner at the Bar | saw
not much OF him in the Court House, be-
clusc he. Is Ill other practitioners OF the
aye at which he was 1T the time OF his
death, was engaged almost entirely II d
court which very rarel: visit, the Court
Of Sessions. But had occasion to speak
with him frequently oItside OF the Court
House. He paid me the compliment more
than once OF asking for my opinion or
questions connected with civil suits and
general legal principles. and IN those con
ferences with him I received assurance ot
his ability to master even the subtlest ant
most difficult principles Of the law.
It is, therefore, matter of intense re
cret tome, as 7 think it is to my brethre1
here and to all Of the community WHO
were acquaintedAwith our deceased friend