Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-05-09
DEATH OF JUDGE j. w. GREEN
SMITH

l. IN the building of Patrick & Gordon ad
d jacent to the Courthouse on the East. His
II son Herbert visited him in his room about
l. O'Clock on last Sunday afternoon when he
5, was pale and un veil, but seemingly cheerful
> About O'CLOCK the report of pistol was
: heard by VIM. Patrick who was in the same
e building. by Samuel Shultz who lives on New
y street not far off and by DR.. A. M. Henkel
: who was at the me attending patient at the
d Jail, but no attention was paid to it.
b About half past 5 o clock, Luke Jones, the
/ colored Ianitor of the building, went to mis-
e room to carry hi m some water, when he was
u Mortified to find Judge Smith on the bed with
n a large pistol beside his head clasped in his
Y right hand He had shot himself and the
: ball entered just behind his right ear and pass
: ed out at the top Of his head, and struck the
e bed post but not with sufficient force to pene
: trate it. The Janitor Immediately left the
4 i room to communicate the sad event, and in
the Courthouse yard saw Capt. John Me-
l Quaide, to whom he first gave the startling
news. Capt. Ne luade Immediately notified
t the police and O hers, and in short time
many persons we're assembled about the
5 building His relatives were soon notified,
and his body wa turned over to them. His
death was shoc& to the community, and is
t deeply depiored by his many friends We
esteemed him highly and valued his friend
!, ship which existed from the time we were
schoolmates in Harrisonburg to the time of
his death, aud had cordial exchange of
greetings and pleasant conversation only
few days before the sad event.
e. IL.
gence, and possessed great legal knowledge
which enabled him to be good Judge and
a most excellent Commissioner in Chancery
He had kind and genial disposition, and
was cordial and tenacious in his friendships.
He was about 65 years of age. He was for a
number of years Judge of the Hastings Court
of this city, and since the election of Judge
Charles Grattan to that position, he had been
Commissioner in Chancery, and was esteem
ed one of the best in the State.
He was son of Judge Daniel Smith, who
was able Judge of the Circuit Court of
Rockingham, and mad his residence near the
town of Dayton in that county, where the de-
ceased was born. He was brother of Mrs.
J. Harvey Effinger and Mrs. VIM. H. Tams
of this city.
He was widower after having been twice
married, and Is survived by five chill
dren-three daughters and two sons
Mrs. Annie Peale of Harrisonburg Mrs.
J. Fred Effinger of Staunton, Mrs. Kate
Gregg of Florence, Ala, Lucius G. Smith
of Fire Creek, w. Va, and Herbert Smith of
Staunton.
The funeral was from Trinity Episcopal
| I ~ 10,
Staunton Bar attended as body. Interment
in Thornrose cemetery.
The following were the pail bearers =
Messrs. S. NJ. Yost, J. H. Wayt A H. Fultz,
Edward Echols, Thomas D. Ransom, George
NJ. Cochran, John NJ Kinney and A c. Cor
don.
MEETING OF THE srAUNToN BAR.
There was meeting of the Staunton Bar in
the Courthouse at o'clock a. NJ, yesterday.
to take action in reference to the death of
Judge J. w. Green Smith
On motion of Capt. John N. Opie, Hon.
Geo. NJ. Cochran was called to the Chair On
taking the chair, he briefly stated the object
of the meeting TO be to pay proper respect to
the memory of Judge ]. W. Green Smith He
spoke with deep emotion of the death of his
| friend. whom he had known from his child
hood. He was one of the ablest men in his
profession in the State. He had rarely met
brighter man intellectually His work as Com
| missioner was monument to his ability and
legal learning. He never knew one of
kinder heart or of nober spirit and he was
| as modest as maiden. In his death he had
lost lifetime friend. He then stated that
tba mnntiru yuas oman for buSipocc
| On motion, Capt. John n Opie was made
| Secretary.
On motion of Capt. John N. Opie the fol
lowing Committee was appointed to prepare
resolutions Judge Geo. N. Harrison Hon. A.
C. Gordon, Maj. r. G. Elder and the Chairman
Hon. Geo. NJ. Cochran.
| Maj. Elder paid the character of the deceased
a handsome tribute He had known him
twenty odd years. He was a man of talents
and had improved them by study and In the
practice of his profession.
He had known him as Judge of the Hust-
ings Court of the city of Staunton for years
and as Commissioner, and as the Chair had
said his work as Commissioner will be an en-
during monument to his ability, for there was
no better in the State He was of inestimable
value to the Judge of the Court, giving the
law and the authorities. As man he was
genial, affable, companionable. He was an
industrious man, and well read in general
literature. As a conversationalst, he was en-
tertaining and instructive. He was man of
| refinement of feeling. Hepossessed a nervous
organization and the shortcomings which
usually accompany it.
A noble and generous spirit has taken its
flight and we will revere his money.
VIM. Patrick said he knew the deceased
we'll. He possessed a generous and brave
heart that knew no malice He never in
dulged in harsh remarks of any one. He was
kind, gentle and amiabe. He was man of
fine abilities, without guile and true in his
friendship, and he wished to bear testimony
to his good qualities.
Hon A. G. Gordon said he wished to pay a
brief tribute to the deceased, who had been his
friend from the time he came here. He had
talents as a lawyer-pOssessed kind and for
giving disposition, and never cherished mali
cious thought. He was a scholar, lawyer,
and friend.
Judge Chas Grattan said that those who had
preceded him had spoken well and truly of
the deceased as lawyer and man, and he
endorsed all that had been said, but he wished
to speak of him as boy, when he went to
school with him. The kindness shown to him
then now comes back to him, and the friend
ship then formed continued till his death. As
boy, he was gentle, noble and true.
On motion of Maj. L. c. Elder, the meeting
then adjourned to meet at the call of the
Chairman when the repOrt of the Committee
on resolutions will be made
| REPORT oP THE COMMITTEE.
At the re-assembling of the Bar at 5:45 p M.
the Committee reported the following pream-
BILE and resolutions, prepared by the Chair
man of the Committee Judge Geo. NJ. Harri-
son, which were unanimously adopted, after
which the meeting adjourned sine die =
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
Judge John w. Green Smith departed this
life in this CITY Sunday evening Nav 9th 1894