Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-19
OLD NORTH STATE.
THE JUDICIARY ORGANIZATION THE
DEATH or JUSTICE SMITH
DEMANDED.
The New Chief. Justice Merrimon Sworn
In--Assooiate ~Justice Ciarh-spier
Whitak cr-Sketches-
,sn.,,,, ,.,osrsm to the plepa,ch.I

p.,r,ov n O. November 1S.-This
c,nrn;nc Governor FoM lie administered the
cath ~ Office TO Hon. A.. ;: Merrimon, the
new Chief Justice, and also the newly
Amounted Associate Justice, Judge waiter
Clark. and these officials entered upon
their new duties. f
Jndee Merrimon is distini yuished far be-
vond the borders OF this STATE. lie was
born in Transylvania county ~ io5 3V nc
eo,lv won distinction at the Ashevllle bar.
soon after the beginning OF the war ne
x-as elected solicitor of tho western dis.
trSct In 1866 the Legislature elected
him indigo .of the Superior Court, anu III
fhjs Office he made n still greatev Tepuui-
ton. In 1868 the Conservative party houli-
mated him for justice OF the ouproine
Court. but the ticket was ueiea'eu' nh hn
,e7S no va nominated for Governor The
canvass resulted in a largo increase OF inc
Democratic vote. He failed OF election
nv a marrow margin. He was subsequently
elected TO the United States Senate. anu
in 1879 returned 20 the bar. On the IeS's
nation of Justice Run IN 1888 ne WAS np
pointed 10 the Supreme Court, anu was
elected by the people TO tli OUT Iuo 'o'1'
in 1884, and for new term III iooo'
JUDGE CLARK.
Jndre Clarke is lust IN the prime OF me-
having been born in Halifax comfy IN ic4o'
as,be 600 ~ fourteen he entered the army.
IL
and nevf wear he was made adJuiant OF the
Tbirtv.6fth regiment. In July. lo05, no
left the service and entered college Et"uu,
atinc M Chanel Hill with first h0nors, ana
was Immediately appointed heutcnaht-c"'-
onel of the Sixty-nlnth regiment 1ciuS
then hut seventeen years OF age IN 11uu-
or 1874 ne married the daughter OF Gov
orI3or Graham and located IN Raleigh.
where his legal attainments ana me
scholarship were speedily recognized; ne
IL tho aufhOr Of OvcTulcd Gases. IN
Anil 1855 Governor Scales appointed MN
10 the Superior Court bench. ana the ioi-
lowing wear he was elected to that posi'loh
ly the people. 1,.;..,.~ rso
wrote the following letter 10 Governor
FOWle:
M. rrr>nencv Daniel G. Fori, Gorernor Of North
Carolina:
Your letter % this date offering 70 appoint me
fudge % tho superior Court for mo four.h luI,-
ciai district Of Norih Carolina ha' been iecriNel
+ bsye ne honor 70 accept IN" Oice which you
have rendered me. and Will Do IchnF 10
qualify o. coon a. my commission las Dooh To-
'si''l' i0'' O''-''1 sriRa WHITAKER.
Jrdco Whitaker was born in the county
Of Halifax on the 18th of March. 1871. lis
father was Spicr Whitaker, % distinguished
LAWYER of Eastern Carolina. and was At
torncv-Gcncral of the State for one tenn,
beriuniur IN 1871 Mr.. Whitaker served
in The way and was commended time and
again for bravery and marked service. IN
1880 be- moved O. Halifax county. lie was
solicitor for the Criminal Court Of Hall
fax county for one term. and ~ 1881 was
"a member Of the State Senate from that
comfy. Iu 1882 he formed @ law co-part-
nership in Raleigh withJohu Calling, Lsp.,
making one of the strongest law hrms III
the State. H.s favorable reputation a. an
astute LAWYER extends beyond the state
bounds. he has been prominent III pom
tics since coming 20 Raleigh and VIII be
remembered as the leader az Governor
Fowle's forces in his run against Cox Tor
the congressiona, nomination. Later ne
was a successful leader of the FoWle Gle.
mcnt IN the Gubcrnatoral Convention OF
ISIS. His management of the following
campairn az chairman Of the state Demo
cratic Executive Committee Is still fresh IN
the minds Of the people. H. was conduct
cd with "a skill and success that were phe-
nomenal. and with nothing else IN his
favor that work would have stamped nm
rs a man OF extraordinary ability. tie was
ogain very prominently before the world
in the famous ineanc-asylum Investigation
Of this wear. His speech IN that case,
which was talked Of all over the JEted
States. has been declared time and again
10 be one of the most exhaustivcly logical
productions ever offered 10y member OF
the State bar.