Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-11-15
Death of Judge Richard Parker Of
Winchester.
Di,nn,.b u The Baltimore Sun.

VtftCftcce~''
Special Dispatch 10 the Baltimore Sun.
WINCHESTER, VA, Nov. lO.-Judge
Richard Parker died at s o'clock this even
ing after an illoess of several weeks. Al
though he had arrived at an advanced age ne
retained all of his faculties to a remarkable
degree He died surrounded by his relatives
and friends. Judge Parker was born in
Richmond Va, October %, 1910. His lin
cage was ancient aud distinguished, hebeing
the only son of the late Judge Richard f.
Parker and Elizabeth Fl. daughter of the
late DR.. VIM. Foushee, of Richmond. He
graduated in law at the University of Vir-
GINA and practiced in the State courts. ln
lS49 he was elected Representative in the
Thirty first Congress Of the United States
from this district, and whilst serving in that
body was elected by the Legislature in 1851
Judge of the General Court of Virginia,
succeeding Judge 1. R. Douglass, and pre-
siding in the Courts of Frederick Circuit
and was twice elected by the people to the
same office. During the larger part of the
civil war these courts could not be held, but
at its close he was again appointed and held
the position until 1869, when he was dis
placed by order of the military commandant,
the State then being designated military
district.
While on the bench the famous trials of
John Brown and his accomplices in their
invasion of the State on October l, 1859,
came before him at Charles Town, Jefferson
county. The spirit of fairness and justice
with which he conducted this trial has no
superior here or in any other country His
splendid charge to the grand jury was ad
mired even by those who were antagonistic
to the South.
The following is an extract: I'm all your
presentments you shall present the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Do but this, gentlemen, and you will have
fulfilled your duty. Go beyond this, and in
place of that diligent inquiry and calm in
vesiigstion which you have sworn to make,
act upon prejudice or from excitement OF
passion, and you will have done wrong 10
that law in whose service you are engaged
As said before, those men are now in the
hands of Justice. They are to have fail
and impartial trial We owe it to the cause
of Justice as we'll as to our own char
acters that such trial shall be afforded
them"
In the trial of John E. Cook, Governor
Willard, of Indiana, brother in-law Of
Cook, emp Dyed Hon. D w. Voorhees, to de
fend him. Mr. Voorhees, paid high tribute
to Judge Parker, and in closing his power
full speech in behalf of his client said in part
al would not be true to the dictates of my
own heart and judgment did not bear vol
untary and emphatic witness to the wisdom
and patient kindness of his honor on the
bench"
Judge Parker's career in life was varied
and interesting. He was for many years 8
COMMUNICATE and vestryman in Christ Epis
copal Church of this place, and was also
superintendent of the Sunday school III
was one of the trustees of the Episcopal
Theological Seminary at Alexandria HI
was an ardent and devoted Mason, and was
past master of Hiram Lodge. Until recent
| ly he was high priest of John Dove Roya
Arch Chapter and was grand past master o
the Grand Lodge of Virginia. He married
Evalina Tucker Moss. who died some year:
since, leaving no children. His home was
the centre of refinement, culture and hospi
taliiy, and he was type of the courtly ole
Virginia gentleman, and one of the few link;
that bound us to the past. The sorrow and
regret of the community attests the high re-
gard and esteem in which he was held
Judge Parker leaves two sisters, Mrs. Gener'
al Nilsson, of Norfolk, Va, and Mrs. Angus
tus Crenshaw, of Washington, d. G.