Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-03
IN MnM0RY OF JUDss rAYNTzE.


u. Il. Wales presided, with waiter II.
Hayes, Esq, as secretary.
Attorney general John Biggs made
formal announcement of the death of
Judge Paynter, and on his motion COM
mittee to prepare resolutions expressive
of the sentiment Of the association was
appointed, as follows: Attorney general
BiRgs, the Hon. O. B. Lore, A. b.
Cooper, Esq. II. O. Conrad, Esq, and IL.
Ii. Ward, Esq.
BY this committee the following pre-
amble and resolutions were reported:
WHEREAS, We have learned with profound
SORROW, OF the death OF tie Honorable John
III. Paynter, ate associate Justice OF the
State OF Delaware, who died at Georgetown
on June 2lst: and
WHEREAS, He performed the duties Of the
offices Of deputy encouragement, member
of the State Senate, secretary OF state,
attorney general, and judge, rs well as
complied the Revised Code of 1874, to-
gether with the many other honorable and
important works In which he engaged,
with credit TO himself and the state;
therefore, be 1t
! ResolUed, That in the death of Judge
Paynter the people Of this State have lost
citlzen who had their highest confidence
! and esteem, and who always served them
with signal ability and strict integrity.
| Resolued That though his judicial career
| was short he had won tho confidence of
the bench and the bar; and by his sound
Judgment, extensive knowledge of the law,
| judicial temperament and courteous man
ner, had endeared himself to all with whom
he came In contact, and impressed upon
them his pre-eminent qualifications for
| Judge
Resoloed, That we tender to the members
OF the family Of the deceased our profound
| sympathy In their sad bereavement.
I no haf a nf M
and these resolutions be sent to the family
OF the deceased, and that they also be pre-
| sent to the Federal and State courts at
their next session In this county, With the
request that they be spread upon the
records.
MIR. Biggs in moving the adoption of
the resolution, spoke briefly. He said
that he had never known Judge Paynter
intimately until he had been appointed
his deputy in 1885, but that during his
association with him in that capacity he
became constantly more and more i'm
pressed with the high character of the
man. As Encouragement he displayed
in the performances OF lis Off
cial duties thorough judicial imperson-
ality and was lenient and meroiful or
severe as his duty required in each par
ticular case. As o judge nothing could
/
from laying down the law as he under
stood it. To be truly appreciated he
needed to be seen in his own home, where,
during their official relations, it had been
the speakers privilege to see him fire.
quently and to appreciate the beauty of
his domestic life.
Hon. Charles B. Lore, in seoonding the
resolutions, said that the best test Of the
value OF mans life was to be found in
the estimate OF his character formed by
bis neighbors. Applying this test to
Judge Paynter in tue county in which he
lived, he won the respect and esteem of
all who knew him, from the highest to
the lowest. Many years ago he had seen
4 much of the deceased judge In the
Sussex county court, and when trying q
case against him had found him always
we'll prepared in the law. In later years,
though meeting MIN less frequently, he
4 had always heard OF him through those
who came in contact with him as
strong friend and gentle. manly man.
1t was characteristic of him that he stuck
to his friends and won and retained their
affection. Iu elemental manhood he stood
we'll with all who knew him. The code
of 1874 remaiuH monument of his
patient and physical labor. Without in
truding into the circle Of his domestic
life it might still properly be said, that
he was model husband and father and
true In all the relations of life"
Judge Grub said that many of the
younger men present had known Judge
Paynter only during the period of his
physical decline. He had known him
intimately, however, for many years.
Their public csreers had run closely to-
gether and they had become strong per-
sonRl friends, 80 that he was able
to plaoe just estimate upon his charac-
ter. As friend, as legislator, as lawyer
and as Judge he had shown himself to be
a man of high reputo, in every one OF these
relations. His chief characteristic was
his robust manliness. Before his deafness
increased he was very social and had a
quiekness Of mind which exhibitt itself
Ia repartee which never failed him. The
principles of the law were we'll imbedded
in his mind, he had well-balanced judg-
nlent and thoroughly judicial tempera-
ment, and physical infirmity alone pre-
vented him from showing the full vigor
OF his powers. A good citizen in all the
relations of life, in the church and in his
home, he was model man, good and
useful citizen.
Willard salisbury, Jr., Esq, said that
from his own childhood he had known
Judge Paynter intimately. The chief
feature OF his character was true manli-
ness. He was always tine affeotionate,
honest, honorable, upright gentleman.
This was shown in his domestic life and
in his political and personal association,
aud the fitting epitaph for him would be
true gentleman, an able, conscien-
tious lawyer aud an upright judge.
Judge Wales in the putting the ques-
ton on the resolutions expressed his con-
currence in sill that had been said, and
no man could desire better character
than that which had been depicted here.
While at Georgetown an judge he had
always admired Judge Payntef's deport-
ment as lawyer, both TO che court
and to the bar, and had formed q high
opinion OF his character. His public
career had been marked by ability and
credit Though struggling with physi-
cal ipfirmity, he had shown himself O
man OF character and ability and had
filled large space in tine community in
which he lived. Since Judge Paynter
came to this county as Judge his manly
struggle against physical weakness and
defective hearing reminded the speaker
of the ancient saying: "a good man
struggling with adversely is the admirs-
tion OF the gods"
The resolutions were then adopted.
Committees to present the resolutions
to tie various courts were named as fol-
lows: To present the resolutions to the
superior court of New CASTLE county
Levi o. Bird, Esq, and John FL. Rodney,
Esq. To the court of appeals-George
III. Bates, Esq, and Benjamin Nields,
! M a. -