San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-17
ANOTHER PUBLIC SORROW.
Death Of San AntonIo's Foremost

Death Of San AntonIo's Foremost
Jurlst, Judge T. J. DeYine.
The death of Judge Thomas J. Devine one
Of our first citizens and ablest jurists, occur.
ed yesterday morning at four o'clock. De-
ceased was known and universally respected
thrC uRhouI the city and even through the
state. After long residence in this city, he
has reared a fine family of sons and daugh-
ters, an accumulated fame and wealth. and
| has now laid down all he loved dearly to meet
| the Great Unknown, whose teachings aspro-
pounded fr m the pulpit he has ever followed
| From the Express of this morning the follow.
| ing biographical sketch is repubIished:
Tn mas J. DevIne was born of Irish parents
| in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on February 2S, 1919,
and was = years of age a. the time of his
| death. In his youth he received a liberal edu-
| cation, but was early thrown upon his own
| resources, and at the age of Is found himself
a clerk in mercantile house in Tallahassee,
| Florida In 1898, finding that he had a taste
for the law he entered the law office OF Trux-
ton Davis, at Woo vi lie, Miss, where he read
| law tor nearly two years
In 1910 he went to LeXiI gton, KY, entering
the TransylvaUla University, from which in
sttutOn he graduated in 1913, being admitted
to the state bar in the same year. shortly
after he removed to Texas settling first at
La Grange, having in the meantime been
married to Miss Hele' Elder, of a promin emit
Kentucky family He remained In La Grange
only SHIRT time, when he removed to San
Antonio, where he has since resided.
In 1871 he associated himself with Judge Up.
Simpson, and the firm title OF Devine q Simp-
son was known in San Antonio until it was
dissolved in 1873, through Judge Devine's ap-
potntment to the supreme bench by Govern
or Coke. In 1875 he resigned the supreme
judge hip, and again devoted his energies to
the practice of law. He was mentioned for
the gOvernOrship of his state in 1873, Tut his
steady refusal to have his name used in con-
nection with public office kept him out of pol
itics.
As lawyer he was considered in the front
ranks. and as man he was bold, open and
both physically and morally fearless. He was
considered the poor mans friend IN both his
officia ard civil capacIti' S-patient in judicial
investigation, and courteous and gentle in his
manner toward all mankind His sense of
humOr was very hne, and his aptness at re-
partee made him central figure in company.
In San Antonio Judge DCvine soon acquired
reputation which gained for him the nomi-,
nation and election tor CITY attorney in lS44..
This Office he held by reelection until in ls5l
he was elected district judge of Bexar county,
which position he held until the breaking out
OF the civil war. AS a sOuthe I'll man his SYM.
pathies were with the south and in the Texas
sece ssion convention of SCI be was promi-
nent figure. He was one of a committee of
safety to confer with General Twiggs in the,
demand for the surrender of government
stores and ammunition at the post of SAN
Antonio, and so n after he was appointed by
the confederate states as judge of the district
OF western Texas. In 1858 the threatened
trou bes between MEXICO and the confeder tie
states called for an adjustment and al the re-
quest of Gen. Kirby Smith, Judge Deyine was
sent as mediator to the City of Mexico.
where the matter was smicably adjusted
After the close of the war he removed To-
Mexico. but remained only few months
On his return he vas arrested by the federal
authorities and confined at Fort jackson for
four months but was finally released on Civ
ing bond that he would c0nflne his residences
to San Antonio Here he was still persecutedi
and was twice indicted for high treason, being,
the only person aside from Jefferson Davis,
who was so distinguished.
The funeral occurs at 4:30 O'Clock this sfterL
noon from the residence, South Flores street..
and from st. Mays Catholic church.