The Van Buren press., 1894-12-15
Memorial Services to The Memory Of
Hon. Jesse Turner.

From Little Rock Gazette 9th.
At meeting of the bar Of the Supreme Cour'
held nj the Supreme Court room In Little Rock
ON the LIST day of December. 1894. called for the
purpose Of taking steps to commemorate the
life and services OF Hon. Jesse Turner, lately
deceased. the following proceedings were had
Hon. Joseph w. Martin was chosen Chairman,
and W. $. Mccain, Esq, was chosen as Secretary.
On motion the following Committee on Reso-
lutions was sppointsd U. NJ. Rose, B. J. Brown,
| ". G. whipple. B. S. johnson and John Fletcher,
who were directed to report to an adjourned
meeting to be held on the sth inst.
At the adjourned meeting held yesterday at
the time appointed said committee reported as
follows:
| Mr.. CHAIRMaH-Your committee would
respectfully report as follows:
"Though the advanced age of Judge Turner
had long admonished us that his career was
drawing to a close, the announcement Of his
sudden death made profound impression on
the bar and on the public.
"For many years he had been the only surviv-
| or of the pioneers Of the bar. who lent their
labor and their influence to the establishment of
law and order in Territory that was then
remote from all the centers of progress and he
was always ready to lend helping hand to
promote the higher civilization which must
always form the brightest ideal of the true lover
of his race and country.
I've are apt to underrate the labors of which
| we perceive only the result having but slight
knowledge Of the dangers encountered or of the
difficulties overcome. or the early settlers who
first invaded the unbroken forest within the
wide boundaries of our State but little record Is
left, and of the lawyers and the couets that amid
| many privations and discomforts, first planted
the standard of justice among the fearless and
enterprising, but scattered, members of a
| frontier community we have no authentic
| history. But these are the men whose labors we
have inherited. If the deceased had possessed
no other merit than that he was willing and
efficient CO. worker with them in helping to build
up the institutions which we most cherish and
which we kapa-ss essrySsNNte he would still
have had large and valid claim to our
affection and our gratitude. But over and above
| such considerations he united many qualities
that must ever appeal to the approving judgment
| of those whom he left behind. Trusted and
beloved by the community in which he lived,
revered by all for his virtues venerated for a
long and consistent life worthily spent his death
has severed many ties of love and friendship,
| and has left vacancy that no one else can ever
FILL The rectitude of his lfe his profound
sense of justice. his unfailing sympathy with all
his fellow men, gave weight to his counsels
and rendered his example impressive. Devoted
to his profession. in which he perceived the
most important agency for the support and
preservation of the best interests of society. he
was as q lawyer and as Judge, faithful
minister in the temple OF justice down to the
last day of his life. His reverence for the Law
as the final and impartial arbiter between con-
tending passions and conflicting claims wal
abiding and profound. To the discharge of his
professional and judicial duties he carried thai
scrupulous integrity that adorned his private
life. To him victory improperly gained would
have been far more humiliating than an un
deserved defeat Fond ofthe innocent pleasures
of social life, he attached to himself by the
strongest ties wide and ever increasing circle
of friends, and, as his charity and good viii
were not circumseribed by artificial bounds, hs
died at last after long and varied intercours,
with all sorts and conditions Of men, without al
enemy. While his death awakens many sorrow
full thoughts, 1t also evokes many pleasan
memories of the man who was the light of hi
domestic circle, was most cherished by thos'
who knew him best and who tempered thu
conscientious discharge of every duty with tina
charity that forbids offense.
Considering the life and the long services o
F. the deceased to the bar. to the courts to tn
public and to the State. your committee woult
recommend the adoption Of the following
resolutions, as an imperfect and inadequate
expression Of our sense of the loss that We hav,
| sustained:
| /. BE 1T RESOLVED, That we mourn thu
death of Judge Turner as an affliction that 1
only mitigated by the memory of his long AM
| illustrious career Of usefulness and honor. HI
period at the bar, extending over sixty-nin
years, has had among us no parallel for IT.
length His life was crowned by many honOre
and death has left his name without reproach
The same affection and respect that waited OIL
him in private life was felt by the bar witt
which he was so long and SO intimately associ
atcd; and we join In the general and publ
expression of sorrow for the loss of one who's
character as man, citizen, a lawyer and as
judge was worthy Of the highest commentator
and of lasting remembrance.