The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-06
IN MEMORY OF JUDGE ADAMS.
Eloquent Eulogies of the Dead Law
yer and Jurist.

few exceptions, were present. The com
mittee to prepare tribute to the memory
of the late Judge Adams presented its re-
port, and several of the lawyers made
touching and eloquent remarks relative &c
the dead jurist.
Hon. w. g. Charlton read the memorial
and moved its adoption, and also that it be
spread on the minutes Mr.. Charlton also
spoke Of the late Judge Adams character,
and paid splendid tribute to bis worth as
a man, a citizen, lawyer and jurist. No
| synopsis could adequately portray the
beauty and eloquence of this speech. MIR.
Charlton was followed by A. Minis, Esq,
who seconded the resolutions.
| Gen. Henry r. Jackson delivered an ad-
dress on the character and attachments OF
Judge Adams In speaking of his judicial
ability, Gen. jackson said he was among
the highest in the state who wore the judi
cial errnine, and that he stood with Judges
Berrien and Fleming in his ability.
| w. L. Clay, Esq. spoke in feeling terms
| OF Judge Adams, and moved that the court
adjourn. which was done by Judge Falli-
CANT, who said that the court was much
moved by the solemn and impress
i've services, and that it was
not necessary for him to add anything.
He said that the death OF the judge had
overwhelmed him and he could not under
stand why so brilliant life should so soon
added, that the keenest regret had been
expressed all over the circuit at Judge
| Adams death.
| Judge HMacDonell adjourned the city
court before the exercises began and sat
with Judge Falllgant during the delivery of
the eulogies. Hon. Gazaway HartridRe was
prevented from being present at the exer-
| clses, but he had prepared fitting and
| touchingly expressed tribute, which he
would have delivered had he been present.
The following is the memorial submitted
and adopted:
Alexander Pratt Adams, the subject of this
memorial, was born in Savannah. Ca Feb. 90
1852. He received bis academic education In
| the schools OF Savannah, and was prepared to
enter college by the late William s. Bogart
He entered the University of Georgia in the
sophomore class In September, 1855. and was
graduated IN the year 1889. in the class OF which
| three other distinguished sons OF Georgia
Judges Emory Speer, William R. Hammond and
! Howard Van Epps-were members.
In the fall OF 1859 he commenced the study of
/ law in the Office of the distinguished iurist
| Thomas Z. Lloyd, and was admitted to the bar
| of the superior court of Chatham county on
Feb %, 1870. and opened an Office Immediately
| in Savannah. In the year 1876 he and his
| brother. Samuel B. Adams, formed a partner
| ship for the practice of law, which continued
| TILL the year 1882, when on the resignation by
Judge Tompkinsof the judgeship of the Eastern
circuit, Mr. Adams was elected, and on Nov, 10
qualified to fill the unexpired term. He was re-
elected to that office, and held it until he re.
| signed on May /. 1859, when he at once became
member of the law firm of Denmark & Adams
OF this city. and so remained until his death, on
| Sept. 25, 1892
This brief sketch epltomizes the short career
OF our distinguished and lamented brother.
Two decades ushered him upon his active life
and two more decades brought that life of &C.
ton, usefulness, honor and rsnown to its close
IL may be safely asserted that his achieve
mentS lay within the limits of the last twelve
| years of his brief career. He was not youth
| of special note and rank in the university At
graduation he was not marked by classmates
and professors as one OF those great scholars
who will attain any high rank In the church or
| state, but who, in the large majority of in
stances, reach the pinnacle of their fame on
commencement day.
| power, his subsequent course has demonstrated.
| He was, no doubt, one of the many young men
who, during their college course, are LOOKING
over and beyond the curriculum and campus
| into the broader fields of action and knowledge
where first honors are not the rewards oi
memory and rOte and ribbon parchment
| Speaking in dead language, is never received
| as proof OF intellect or manhood His bril-
liant career as lawyer and judge assures US
| hat, when a collegian, he had chosen his field
oJtfuture conflict and was then forging weapons
| fit for victory.
| Passing over the short period during which
| Mr. Adams practced law before his elevation &C
the bench we will briefly comment upon him az
| aJudge. Considering his age (being but 80 years
|
| with the concurrence, we believe Of all who
| practiced law in this court-that no one of his
predecessors in this circuit was his superior as
| Judge. He combined quickness of apprehension
| with breadth of comprehension; severity oil
| logic with strong and helpful imagination clear
ness of perception with accuracy OF expression
a full vocabulary with verbal eclecticlsm; pa
| thence with dignity, and urbantty with discipline
| Ruling in perfect mastery over all these power
and aids was a noble sense of Justice, tempered
by mercy and directed by judicial wisdom.
| If we were to name any one characteristic a
the chief one of all the mental and moral DOW
| ers of Judge Adams we would call 1t earnest
ness 1t was the flame to his oratory and by /
he conquered. Il was visible in all his action
| aud audible in every utterance. whether in hi
most impassioned eloquence or the gentle flow
of social conversation.
With this quality of soul, with round
melodious voice, mastery of language, stronI
and appropriate, a bold yet chastened inagi
nation, q strength of logic which gave to a sim
pie statement of a proposition the force of
demonstration, he ranked among the foremos
orators. whether on the husttngs or in tn
forum, or as an advocate. Even his charges Il
the grand and petit jures were often eloquen
and always models of diction.
| But. so far, we have only looked upon tn
moral and intellectual man. There was ano:he
and q higher and sweeter life to which we direc
attention. else the performance of the dut
assigned to us would be sadly incomplete
Judge Adams died at the age of 10 years Fl
had about reached the crest of the hill. In hi
upward course he had gathered honors, reape,
| rich rewards, listened TO the plaudltS OF thos
below so sweet to young ambition; he ha
reared his head above the clouds where vault
ing youth fondly dreams eternal sunshin
settles to remain
Having reached the conJemplative period /
life he looked down and backward and the
down and forward, and he realized that, as h
advanced beyond the crest. his worldly honor
could be no prop to his feet, his inteilectus
lamp no light to his safety. Conscious of hi
weakness and dependence, he asked for divin
I aid and gave his hand to the bride of the re
deemer. About year before he became
member of the Independent Presbyteria
, church of this city he led to the altar Mis-
: Sarah Olmstead of Savannah And we thin
it not out of place to say we doubt not but the
this judicious step changed the current of
moral into a devoutedly active Christian life
That earnestness Of soul, which we believe wa
his strong characteristic, kindled into brighte
flame in the Christian and illuminated ever
5 step he took until his mortal became immorta
, | Those who knew him best after his spiritus
change unanimously bear witness to his abso
, lutte submission to the divine will and his abic
ing faith that death is but the usher to eternt
| life
With the foregoing feeble and imperfeC
| sketch OF the life and character of Judg
Adams your committee respectfully submit
n the following resolutions for your action:
Resolved, That as brother members Of tn
Savannah bar, we feel most profoundly an
= realize TO the fullest extent the loss which tn
bar and this community have sustained In IL
: untimely death of one so gifted as jurist an
= | adyOcRtR Infiuantial for pyraat yond 9 a nj