The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-31

After Judge Robertson had postponed
John Smiths case yesterday he arose
and addressed tho members Of the bar
as follows:
"Gentlemen: Before I leave the
bench for the last time, it appears to
me not inappropriate to make few re-
marks such as the occasion most natur-
ally suggests.
Eight years ago when 1 opened the
first court held in the city of Roanoke,
l was very young man to occupy such
position. TO aid me in the discharge
of my duties l brought with me no ex-
perience and but little knowledge.
With the growth of Roanoke the work
of this court grew rapidly, not only in
amount, but in Importance and in diff
Guilty With the poor outfit that
started with, it was necessary for me to
do hard work and a great deal of it in
order in any measure to fill the require
ments of position every day growing
more difficult to fill.
my health, never strong, became
very uncortain-and / fear my temper
grew more uncertain still. 1 speak of
these things in no spirit Of eP otism, but
simply call attention to the part which
you, gentlemen of the bar and officers
of the court, have taken in what has
been accomplished here. | say it with
all sincerity that if the court which |
have always mado that this should DO
not only in name, but in fact court of
justice to all men, has not been alto
gether failure, it is greatly due to the
manner in which have been aided by
you.
Notwithstanding all these drawbacks
that ! have mentioned the generous
confidence wherewith from the irst my
brethren at the bar have treated me,
the knowledge | had that what errors
made, and OF course | made many, would
be imputed by them to no impure source,
has given me strength to do my duty
that without such aid | could not have
had. AS | have said of course errors
have been made and wrong decisions
| given, but to the industry, research and
knowledge of you gentlemen is greatly
due the fact that l have made no more
mistakes than I have made.
''As to these things, however, per-
haps silence were more becoming on my
part than speech. What l mainly
| friendship, l have made here, the
memory which | shall retain Of the IN.
failing courtesy, the geneaous kind
ness towards me of all of
you, members of the bar and officers OF
tho court as vol, are among the most
precious possessions of my life.
with the sincerity as deep as my
nature, thank you, gentlemen, one
and all for this and in bidding YOU
all goodby, bespeak for my successor,
whoever he may be, the same generous
treatment you have accorded me-"
Col. John E. Penn, on behalf of the
members of the bar, said that this came
in the nature of surprise and the bar
would like to take some suitable action,
but would rather do so at time when
larger number was present and asked
that all the members of the Roanoke
bar assemble in the courtroom Tuesday
afternoon at o'clock, when they would
take some suitable action in regard to
Judge Robertson's resignation.
An adjourned meeting of the Roanoke
Bar Association was held in the city
treasurer's office last night for the pur-
pose of proposing candidate to Cover
nor Mckinney to fill the vacancy caused
BY the resignation of Judge VIM. Cor
don Robertson, of the Hastings Court.
The chairman, Eston Randolph, who
was elecled at formor meeting, OK
planned the object of the gathering. J..
Allen Watts offered resolution that it
was the sense OF the meeting that Row
b. Smith was the most suitable member
OF the bar to be appoi eted by the COVER
nor to I'LL the vacancy caused by Judge
Robertson resignation.
Mr.. Randolph called Phil. S. Lockett
to the char, and stated that it was not
likely that Governor Mckinney would
mn lr ntptt
ing acted unanimously, and he hoped
that whoever was selected by the ma
joritY, whether it be Mr. Woods or Mr..
Smith, the minority would acauiesce,
and thus make it q unanimous nomina-
ton.
After some little discussion, on mo.
ton of Eston Randolph, the nominations
we're declared closed. Mr.. Watts NO.
stion that Roy b. Smith be recommended
was then put and carried unanimously.
The roll call showed the following
members to be present. Messrs. Good,
Robertson, Watts, Payne. Oliver, Hicks,
Boyd. King. Henry, Cox, Hardaway
(present, but asked to be excused from
voting), Turner. Scott, Cosby, l., ckett,
Glasgow, Gooch, Graves, Phlegar, (by
proxy Griffin, McHugh, Dungee, Ran
dolph, freeman, Derr. Brand, Bryant,
didn't vote) Staples. Brophy, Bibb.
Judge Robertson was present, but
thought he ought not to vote, as his
resignation had not been accepted.
On motion the chair appointed Messrs.
King, Cooke and Staples a committee
to wait on Governor Mckinney and
acquaint him with the result OF the
conference.
A motion was passed asking the COVER
nor in case he did not appoint Judge
Robertson's successor in time, to desig-
nate Judge Sheppard, OF Buena Vista,
to mold the June term of the Hastings
Court.