Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-15
LAWS AND LAWYERS.
Proceedings Of the State Bar Association
at Virginia Beach.
UNIFORMITY OF THE LAWS.
Report on Procedure In Law and Equity
Legislative Action ReQuired-State
Judiciary-The Banquet.

VIRGINIA REACH. July N-(SpecialD
In the summer OF 1889 the Virginia State
Bar Association was formed at Virginia
Beach a delightful resort on the Atlantic,
In Princess Anne county. Mr.. f. ii. Nc
CURE. Mr.. c. V. Meredith, Judge James
G. Lamb, OF Richmond. and Captain
Charles NJ. Blackford. of Lynchburg. were
very active IN its organization 1t then
had eighty-three members. II is now next
10 the American Bar Association the
largest and most influential in the Union
having a membership OF nearly five hun
drcd.
Nearly two hundred attended the meet
ing which adjourned. subject 70 the call
OF the president. on Thursday. the 18TH
OF July. 1894 Judges-elect OF the Supreme
Court Of Appeals of Virginia Keith, Rely,
Harrison. and Car1well. Judge L. l..
lewis. Hon. s S. Turner. Scnator-elect
Thomas s. Martin. including many other
prominent members OF tho bar OF Viz
glnia, were present
Tho younger members OF the bar were
out in fun force.
morning OF the 10th By f. H. Mcclure
Esq, the efficient chairman OF the tx
ecutive Committee. Judge Waller X. sta
pies. the president OF last year, presided,
and delivered n learned and exceedingly
entertaining address on THE Old Virginia
County Court"
OLD COUNTY COURT
He gave q delightful historic summary
of that court. from its earliest organiza-
ton at jamestown in 1923 TO its abolition
In 1868. lie told about how Patrick Henry
first sprung into fame in the great Par
hons cause" which was tried In the
Slchtccnth century in that court in Han
tver county. lie narrated many interest
Ing anl curious cases which were tried
befor, his court Of justice Of The peace
In the early days OF the Old DOMINION
and related the only case Of witchCraft
which ever came to n notice ot VIZ
ginia court, which was the c>."tra,cd case
81 Grace Sherwood. She was not put
to death. but the sOlons OF Princess Anne
county where she was tired, TOOK her out
In dry weather by special order OF Court
into water above mans depth, and ind
NJ that she noated. pronounced her a
witch after first having had her oX-
cport,d having discovered marks or
Hitchcraft on her person, whercupOn she
MAS confined in Jail. Her Will on record
I'm the County Court OF Princess Anne
shows that she was q oman oil lhteih-
eence. according 20 our standard OF
Judgment The address contained many
trnusing instances OF the early statutes
# both the colony and the Commonwealth
If Virginia. The clergy OF the Established
Church wcIe required TO read the Bible
md drink spaTingly of wine. COlonel
Gabriel Jones challenged Mr. Montgomery
10 right duet ~ the county OF Btdl)Id
n 17S2 For some reason not now known
W ngh: took place, but for an equally
mysterious reason, upon the motion OF
Colonel Jones. the challenge was spread
non the records of the County Court
II that county, where 1t Iay be now
ieen.
Judge Staples's paper was ono OF the
most valuable ana entertaining ever tedd
efore the association, and its delivery
ras in the Judges well-known and grace
hi style
Mr.. +. II. Mcclure, the chairman OF
10 Executive Committee, VINO has been
.ctiXelv identified with the association
knce its organization, made report oil
nat committee in which he gave an IN
eresting sketch Of the growth ana WOrk
# the association.
ADDRESS OF NIX. JO-\E','
New Yorks great lawyer. James C.
Carter. who delivered the mastery ad-
lress at the second annual meeting at
he White sulphur Springs was not pres
AMI. as he usually is, bat his place was
vel supplied 10y Hon. Leonard \. Jones,
OF Boston, one Of the able editors OF the
American Law Review, and distln-
euished law writer who delivered the
annual address on the very important
subject of THE Uniformity OF the Laws
of the States and of the United States.
He cortrastel the modes Of cOmmunica-
ton and travel in the eighteenth WIN
our present nineteenth century iacilueS'
showing that the changes which have been
wrought by steam and electricity nave
brought about a condition OF commerce
and business making uniformity in lesls-
latlon OF greater Importance than ever
before. He thought that the subject WAS
too great to be managed 10y the states
themselves. but that II should be done
in conjunction with the Federal Govern
mcnt The conflict OF the laws or the
various States produces numerous cases
OF inconvenience and hardship TO the
citizens, notably those engaged IN NOR
camille transactions. The marriage ana
divorce laws also produce great coniu-
Sion. He recommended the appointment
OF 4 national commission 10 CodiiY ana
revise the laws on these subjects as lar
as possible the commissioners 10 be pald
out OF the Federal Treasury The paper
was an exceedingly able and valuable
one, on a live and important subject.
LEGAL EDUCATION.
As soon az the long-continued applause
which greeted Mr.. Jones's closing re
marks on the morning OF the llth had
eubsidcd. the president called for reports
H.. t~lf IN
spond was the Committee on Legal Edu-
cation and Admission to the Bar, through
its chairman. James Lewis Anderson,
ESD of the Richmond Bar. He made a
very carefully prepared report, which
showed the urgent Importance Of legisia-
tive action Oh this subject. The loose man
ner in which the present law IS admin
istored has resulted in bringing many
inccmpetent and otherwise Objectionable
persons into the profession. England
and the other States have wise laws on
this subject, which protect the public and
the profession. These laws are generally
YER strict and IN New York even a col
lege graduate Is not admitted 10 the bar
until ne has served at least one year in
"A lawyers Office at the end OF which tine
he must stand a ris!d written eH minaiIon
before commission appointed by the
court The report elected great deal OF
Judge y. ". Gunter. Of Accomac; Hon.
y. W Saunders. OF Franklin; y. B. Mum
ford. Of Richmond; ex-senator J. q. ".
blackstone. ard Mr. Anderson. II was
shown that the medical ana other pro-
LESSONS were amply protected by the
Virginia law. 4 resolution was adopted
with but one dissenting vote nstructng
the committee TO prepare law TO b. re-
ported at the next meeting Of the assoc
citation for presentation to the Legis-
latuie on this subject. having for its
,bJect the exclusion OF incompetent APP
plicants or those OF bad character.
LAW REFORM.
The next committee to respond was the
special committee. consisting OF X. L.
Parrish. b. b. Munford. and $. :. L.
Patteson, who were required by reso-
tuition adopted by the association In Au-
gust lSs5. al the White sulphur Springs,
ITO present and urge upon the General