Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-28
rhe Iate Colonel Evans.


At tho last meeting OF the Bar. Associa-
ton OF the CITY of Richmond the following
resolutions were adopted in honor OF Colo
mel Thomas j. Evans:
The members OF tho bar are again assembled
toexpress their sonse OF regret Tor the recent
loss Of a distinguished aud useful member OF
oar profession. Another familiar form nas van
ished from our midst Another familiar voice
Il stilled forever. Tho circle OF the par, ever
broadening by new accessions OF youth ana
vigor, is at the same tme ever narrowing uhucr
the repeated visitations Of in0rmity and DEAN.
But few months since we met to record the loss
OF young and gifted member OF the Lar peiose
whom long career OF usefulness aud distlnc-
ton seemed to open, and now we meet 10 noto
upon our annals tho death OF one OF the OLDEST
and best known members OF our profession,
whose years had nearly rounded OUT tne lui,
space allotted to human life, and who has inssned
his career. ripe In experience. ripe In year, iun
OF usefulness, full Of honor
Colonel Thomas J. Evans was born IN tho
county Of King william. in this state, IN fepri-
ary 1892 and was educated at Rumford Acafo-
my, In his natlyo county. Alter DIS ncahenilc
life had closed he removed 20 this Guy, whete no
spent some time preparatory 10 the study OF tno
law in the clerks Office OF the superior Conrs OF
this city. Il was in part due to the training oil
tnat ofIlce that no acquired those methodieai sna
clerky habits and that experience In forms ana
precedents which guided him so successfully IN
future years. Leaving that position he became
Taylor. one OF the most remarkable lawyers OF
his day, whose massive Intellect, SOLID AZ.
tainmen;s, aud high integrity enuesreo
him 10 his contemporaries and whoso
memory will never cease 10 be enshrned with
aiectiOnate remembrance OK tho profession.
No better place could have been selected III
which 20 Commence and complete his legai eiu-
cation. After nnishing hls course OF study IN
| Mr.. Iaylors Office, he came to the ba- ani began
the practice OF hls profession, aud, equipped MS
he was by his previous training, and gifted win
strong sense and clear and discriminating ludg-
ment, he soon attained u prominent position at
| the bar. II IL not necessary here To dwell upon
all tho details OF his professional career " IA
enough TO say TINT he was more than ordIiafhy
successful I'm all that he undertook todo How
aud retained the confidence of large and valu-
able clienisge. He was forcibls aud impressive
4 speaker. and while perhaps be ala nos atin
the very first rank a. dobater IN respec, mercy
10 fluency and brillancy of speech, yet bis argh.
ments were always forcibe and convincing, anu
| at times rose 10 the height Of roal ol0qaence.
| His literary requirements were OF no mean cnn-
racter; he hai wel-stored mind ana many
fugitive compositions. both IN prose ana verse Vl
! witch he was the author would have done crcui'
| 10 many q distinguished man OF letters Ihe ei-
| feet OF hts early training tended 10 induce III
| him preference for the equity practice, and
| this led naturally IN his seeking aui optsihihs
the position OF master commissioner Ia chan-
cory position which no iilled most accoptaDy
/ and usoiully Tor period OF more than quarter
| OF a century, and 10 rho duties Of which no de-
voted nearly all the time anu energy OF the ia'e1
| years Of his life.
Few men. any. hsyo over discharged tho dutle
of this ONCE with more painstaking fidelity, or
have achieved 10 II greater success hls name
| aud lsbOrs are itentined with nearly all OF IN"
most important causes which have passed uuuot
the reyiow Of the Chanccry Court iinco ms cou.
nection with II began. The extent aud variety OF
his labors III tnss Office were such ss only one
very Intimate with its practical workings could
fully appreciate or understand.
! Perhaps tho most striking charactcrisuc ol
Colonel Evans was hts love for directusss, fair
ness, and truth, ani his dislise 10 every thinf
! that sayorec OF evasion Misrepresentation, u'
fraud In any Of tho shapes u may assume. hi'
| opinions may not always have been correctly
founded, but II is not too much 20 say that tney
were tho result Of his honest convictions and
| were firmly and fesriessly expressed.
Ills manner 10 tho main was kindly and amia-
| BILE, and II at timos he was betrayed INTO any
undue severity OF remark by the warmth OF MS
| feelings he had ths candor and magnanimity
| TO make the promptest reeSraton the occasion
might demand. lie had neither that raise
pride OF opinion nor that faisv sentiment o'
honor which sometimes from mere Stubborn
ness on the ono hand or the desire TO preserve
O. seeming consistency on the other induces the
Withholding OF reparaion when truth ana pro
priety require that IL should 10 made.
! Colonel Evans was a man OF sunny and genial
| disposition, whose wit and humor served 20 en-
! iyen and 10 lend grace and charm TO every so
cial gathering OF which he was o member. III IL
! Evans WAS not native OF this city, yet he had
resided here from early manhood TO Old age aud
/ that during his long life he gave the most abnn-
cant proof of his zeal for It's welfare aud devo-
tiOn 10 its interests No man stood secoui " him
! IN this regard, and tho largo ana weil-desery-d
| populariiH which ho attained hero amoDe
! all classes~0f our people was public rec0gni-
| tion OF this fact. lie Was twice elected "
! represent this city In the Legislature of the
/ state, and the Distinguished position when he
occupied In that body, aud tho efficient soryico
| he rendered reflected credit not oasy upon hiu-
| self but the grateful constituency which ne had
the honor TO represent His popularity extend
cd beyond tho limits OF this city aud The state.
| lie was widely known and beloved in other CON-
| munities where hts talents aud attractive quail
| ties Of head and heart had won their way. In
view OF that long life, 10 laboriously, go honest
ly, so faithfully lead amongst US; In view Of the
signal soryices which that life has bestowed, cul-
minating at last IN Tranquil ana peacefdl
DEATH IL Is Dut tit that the bar should express It's
| deep sense OF sorrow Tor the ioss which II has
sustained and should seek TO place upon It's re-
| cords some enduring tribute OF its anectionaie
regard. Therefore belt
Issoired. That In the death Of Colonel Thomas
j. Evans the bar Of this city and state have lost
one Of their Oldest, most useful aud honored
mem bers, an able aud upright counsellor, = cui-
tlvnted, genial, and attractive gentleman, an
energetic, laDorious, and faithful public of1cer,
and in common with our whole community an
influential, high Spirited aud patriotic citizen,
whose loyalty and devotion 10 the best interests
Of this State and city were never questioned. aud
who was al all times prompt In every sphere oil
life 10 respond 70 the calls os duty.
2 That the Bar Association OF this city De- re-
quested 70 spread thess resolutions On Its record.
and that the chairman OF this meeting - IT.
Quested at his convenience TO designate men,
bers Of tho bar present these resolutions 20
the several courts Of this city and the county Of
Honrico, and 10 tho Circuit Court OF the United
states for this district with the request that they
may DO entered upon their respective records.
3. That the secretary Of this meeting % re-
quested TO communicate these proceedings to
the family OF the deceased. and 10 furnish copies
II desired to the press OF this city for pubiics-
ton.
The president of the association has APP
pointed to present these resolutions to tho
different courts of the city the following
members Of the bar: Judge Joseph Chris
tian, to the Court of Appeals; Dir. u. y.
Cannon, to the Chancery Court; Mr..
William j. Leake, to the Hustings Court
Judge w. W. Crump, TO the United States
Circuit Court; Mr.. Robert G. Scott, to the
! City Circuit Court.