Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-06
|THE BAR ASSOCIATION.
AN INTERESTING SESSION OF THAT BODY Al
PAREERBURG YESTERDAY.
The Annual Address by Judge Oowan, Of Baltimore
Officers Elected for This Ysar-The Next
Place Of Meeting Topics Under
Discussion Well Treated.
Srecial Tllanramto tae Regts!sr.

L
PARKERs8URe, W. VA, January 5.-The
! West Virginia Bar Association met at 10
a. m, with Judge Johnson in the chair. The
minutes of the preceding meeting were
read and approved. In addition to those
present yesterday there were quite num-
I Der of others from this and other points.
Judge T. p. Jacobs, of New Martins
vile, read apaper entitled Reading Law
10 Jury" The Judge discussed the topic
from the standpoint OF observation and ex-
| perience The only duty Of a. jury was the
consideration Of facts in case. How can
the law aid the jury in finding as matter
Of fact What principle OF law can aid or
determine as fact the finding of YER
dictl Every contest before a jury is a
mixed question, a contest. The practice OF
reading law 10 juries is often misapphed.
In his essay the Judge very deliberately dis
cussed the abuses Of the practice OF read
ing law to jurieS. He then suggested rem
edies The subject was discussed from
every point of view ia thoughtful, logical
and learned manner, only possible by a
master Of law and a close observer OF its
advantages and defects. It was very
able paper.
Mr.. B. NJ. Amber opened the discussion
on the topic, followed by Judge Jacob,
of Wheeling, John A. Hutchinson, MessrS.
| Umstead, Higginbotham and others, the
weight of opinion favoring the finding OF
verdicts by juries from the facts IN the
case, leaving the application OF the law TO
the courts. In brief, the Association, as a
majority, opposed the reading OF the law to
the luries by the counsel.
The report Of Treasurer w. w. Miller
was read and approved. The treasurer's
report showed the Association TO be IN
good financial condition.
Reading and discussion Of the following
papers were deferred, owing to the absence
OF the orators: "Our Present Jury Law"
Mr.. S. p. Flournoy, Of Charleston; Ma
turing of Causes and Expedition OF
Trials A. j. Clark, Wheeling.
Prof. Wiley moved to amend section II,
D. l5l, OF the Constitution so that the sec
tiOn should read: The Association shall
meet at such time and place as the sess on
shall determine" Changed 10 read :.
"Shall meet annually at Parkersburg Or
such other place, at such time as The ses-
sion shall determine" Carried.
Grafton was selected as the place OF
meeting Of the next annual session, and the
first W ednesday after the first Monday in
January, 1894, as the time.
OF topics in the secretary's report the
two following were Of special interest TO
the Bar
''The liberty is taken" Quoted from the
reporU Ito here advise that on two sub
iects-Admittance TO the Bar and the Law
OF Married Women, ths Association has
formulated matured convictions, in the
shape of definite PROPOSE ions, which were
submitted to the Legislature Neither OF
the measures on these topics found accept
ance with that body, but they contain ali
we have 70 say Unless we mistake the
temper Of the times, the statute regarding
married women will be hercely attacked
and radically changed IN the halls OF legis-
lation AS 10 the other, time and develop
meut will surely demand higher standard
for men on whom the administration Of the
law must largely rest"
These are subjects Of practical concern,
that need strong handling"
The following officers were elected for
tho ensuing year: President, j. ID. Ewing,
OF W heeling; secretary, .. -. Weston
hayer, of Martiusburg; Treasurer, ". N.
Miller of Parkersburg, Vice Presidents,
First District, Z. 2 . dco5s, Second Dis
trict, Samuel WoCas, Third District Q.
c. Higginbothgn, Fourth District, J. w.
VandervOork. Executive Council, j. ID.
Ewing, Chairman, d G. Westeuhayer, 3.
NJ. Ault6ler. B. f. Martin, -. Nj. Russell,
W. p Wiley, S. p. Hall. Recommends
tons TO tho Legislature were. presented TO
ne session and certain Of them were agreed
upon. Candidates Tor admission were vOt-
ed upon and standing committee were
elected.