Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-02
ALAWYER ANDA WIT
pew,N,sceNces OF THE LATE COLO
MEL THOMAS p. AUGUST.
por.ona, Characteristics-Amiabiiity and
Goodness OF Heart-somo OF
His Happy Sayings
II he Editor Of ne DispdfcA

IT. ne r,ii,or of NE Dispdtca;
~ :. ~ =, a vary impressive idea Of the
~. ~ 49, ~ mankind whom we reflect how
-r H. verv Lest of us-those who IN their
81 81 and Generation filed the public gaze
u.S orerted a LARGE influence upon the com
ana 80 in which they liyed-are forgotten
tier thew are dead. IL seems 10 me tpat
49, az late yar stands up like thick wall be-
Ou' ,rb;cb tbe memories OF the present
SC,,,oro,ion 40 not often penetrate 10 recall
e. I;ves and actions of the men VINO were
lion nroninent actors in the city's ahairs,
and who were generally known ana h0hor-
81 tbroughout and beyond It's boruers.
These men ought not TO DE Iof.oltel 4, hny
one who looks beneath the suilice vi Cul.ss
o ol,, eoa The eject. of their lives upon the
J'n.,,r ~ fine present tlme. IL - well,
.,.ornfo-e sometimes to remind the rlslng
,.o,oroti,,n Of them, that they may emulate
80 ,,;rtrIes and learn what 1t was IN Their
characters that made them popular ana De
Ioved For this purpose ] Will present a
slatch of Colonel Thomas L. August VINO
tIorrh dead but few years, ~ almost Tor
cotten cxcept by comparatively few OF
tbe old survivors who were his friends and
comrades in the days of auld lang syne.
TYPOGRAPHICAL.
Thomas p. August was born IN the town
e fredericksburg on October q, 1921. and
d,od IN this city July 81. 1869. Ills father,
,vho yvae Frcnchman and worthy, good
man moved 70 Richmond when Thomas
wa. a youth. and he kept grocery store
mil he died near the corner OF Broad and
T,rst streets. The old town OF frcdeIlcks-
bnrr and its vicinity has furnished Rlch;;
mond with many Of its most Distinguishing
citizens. Judge Robert Sianard, John NJ.
Patton. Arthur A. Morsou, aud Henry L..
Brooke. peers among the most Distinguish
ed lawyers of Virginia; James a. ocduoh;
member of tho United states Congress ana
Secretary of War Of the Confederate states
Rav r. r. Howison, tho author of his
tory Of Virginia: benjamin Il. Minor, edit
tor of the southern Literary Messenger; Dr.
Hevorelv Il. Wexford. a distinguished ply,
stefan his sons. Judge Beverley X. Wexford
and Dr. John 6. Wexford: Raleigh L. Da-
Mol Aftornev-General Of Virginia and for
many wears Commonwealth Attorney OF
Richmond. are names that now recur to
me. and doubtless there are others DO not
recall
PERSONAL MAGNETISM.
Tom was a handsome boy Of a generous,
happy disposition, sprlghtly. smart, had
n bir heart. full of fun, and Just that sort
Of bow which all of his play-iellows would
make their lender in all their sports and
obey and love almost uncOnsciousiy. lie
had these traits of character all through
his life. His magnetism was suc1 thhJ All
people who came IN contact with nm were
drawn towards him. There was something
which can't be described in his manner
which attracted all, and no was universally
loved bv all the people III richmond.
He studied law in the office ~ james
LYONS. who ALWAYS entertained Tor nm the
most sincere affection and admiration for
his talents. He did not have TO wait a
long time for practice as most Young law
vers NOWADAYS have to do, but almost IT
once. to such an extent had he gained u
ms carly manhood upon the conf
dcncc and affections Of the people
that he obtained good practice a. once
especially in criminal matters. lie was
counsel IN almost all criminal cases or IN
portance that came before tho courts al
most Immediately after he came to the par
PARTNERSHIP.
He was at one time a partner Of Jane:
LYONS. and then he formed "A law co-part-
ncr-hip with Isaac Il. Watkins, Of Char
lotte county, and George ". Eando phi, AZ
forwards Secretary OF War Of the COntcde
rate States aud a general IN the Contede'
rate army and tho originator and hrst cap
tain Of the Richmond Howitzers, VINO
under his command, commenced then
military career in the John Brown
war. and for many years the law
firm Of August. Randolph IL Watkins
was one of the leading law-firms in Rich
pond and they enjoyed a very large
practice. in 1916 Colonel August, along
with our esteemed townsman Robert o.
Scott. the late Captain William Henry
Peasants. and two or three companies 81
volunteers from the city of Richmond
nearly all OF whom have Joined tho grea
majority on the other side Of the RIVER
went to Mexico TO engage IN the Mexican
war.
POLITICAL.
When he returned TO Richmond afte,
the successful termination Of that wa
he offered himself rs o candidate Tor TN
Senate Of Virginia. Richmond at tina
time was the stronghold OF tho WINS
party. The State was strongly Demo
cratic. but here, owing to tho influence
of the teachings of the Richmond wing
cnunciated IN the powerful EDITORIAL
of John Hampden peasants, Richard
/ II. Toler, and Alexander Moseley
| and the logical arguments of John MlnOl
Bolts. William II. AIacfarland, RobeT
| Stanard. and others. the Wing part'
was all powerful. But the DemocTetl'
party with the Richmond Inquirer, edited
| by Thomas Richie. that old wheel-hors'
of Democracy who controlled the State
with the assistance of Robert q. Scott. Sr.
James 4. Seldom. John 5. Casbie, william
| w. Crump, and other younger orators. con
tested this Wing stronghold with unre
hitting energy and power. Giant me
giant in those days, and the people of to
dav can hardly realize the power exhibited
the energy exercised. tho talents and ora
tory displayed IN tho political contests O
that time. Not only were all men enthu
sastic, rot the women entered into tht
| FIGHT with all their impulsiyeness
and q political contest in Rich
mond occupied the attention Of oil
the people from .Bacon-,Qqarter'
| branch 10 Rockets aud from Hollywood
| to ShockOe cemetery.
his OPPoNTNf.
Tom August had as an opponen
| on this occasion n fOeman worthy O
his steel. James Q. Crane was the op