Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-17

! Virginia In bygonc days He humorously
said that while he felt very highly compii-
nmntcd by the invitation given him,
secretly he was little inaignsnt m pcihg
the past, and 10 give "reminiscences OF
men and things unknown 10 the present
generation OF lawyers. nsanghter) lie
was consoled by the thought however,
suggested by Oliver Wendell Holmes, that
"A man commenced TO grow old at &C. and
he was willing TO accept that as the proper
estimate Of his age. that the ancients hau
a maxim that II a man would live a
at an early period. The Judge then very
d,amaticaily cited Oliver Wendell
Holiness ailegory Of the visit paid by
old age 10 every man nj some period on
his lie. and said that he had already
receivea that witt much to his regret
and ANNOYANCE. He would therefore plead
guilty 10 the charge contained In the IN
vltation Of "helng an old man.. ana
thus qualified 10 indulge In "reminiscences
of his bygone days.
The sneaker then gave brief history
of Tho judiciary OF Virginia when he
commenced the practice OF the profession.
in lgf7. consisting OF the Court OF Appeals,
with lis Ave Judges: OF the General Court,
COMPOSED OF the twenty-one judges Of
the circuit courts OF the Circuit Superior
Court of Law and Chancery, as they were
then termed, and now called the circuit
courts and Of the county courts, com
gave a very Interesting history of the
county-court system. and said some OF
the greatest legal battles ever fought In
Virginia were before that tribunal: there
many Of the most interesting incidents Oc-
CURED. and some OF the brightest flashes
of wit and elOquence were displayed.
VIRGINIA DUELs.
He said that at the time he entered pro-
fesional life In Christiensburg. Mont
gomery cOurty men were living who had
witnessed the famous duel betw en- Lewis
and McHenry. two young LAWYERS living
at Christiansburg in the year 1909. Some
of tneee men told the speaker that the
duel was publicly discussed and talked OF
before 81 took place. and no efforts were
made on the part Of the officers OF the
law 10 arrest il. There was then no law
against duelling The duel was fought
near Chrlstiansburg at sunrise on May
morning. with rifles at thirty step9- Lewis
was shot through the heart ana fell dead
on the field McHenry was mortaly
wounded and died in few days. Lewis
was "A grandson Of General Andrew Lewis.
whose splendid statue adorns the public
square.
continued the Judge. was that the two
men were intimate personal friends. Jhe
Judge had always heard. he said, that this
duel led TO the enactment OF the hrst
anti-duclling law ever passed IT, virginia.
He regarded this as probably true mas
much as the duel was fought In 1853, ana
the anti-duclling law was enacted IN
January. 1910. Judge Stapless account OF
the duel was very interesting, and was
attentiycly listened 10. lie also gave a
grarhic account obtained from an old lady
i'm Montgomery county of the bloody cuei
between Mason and McCarty, OF Lou
dOun county, which was Iought at
Bladensburg
ANECDOTES AND "REMINISCENCES.
The speaker told several very amusing
anecdotes which occurred In his practice.
He gave "reminiscences of many OF the
distinguished lawyers who figured con-
spicuously on the stage Of action wncn ne
commenced the practice Of law. among
whom were Ballard Prestor. George w.
Summers. John NJ Patton, conway Itobln-
son. James w. Sheifey, Frank Wysor.
Alexander II. Stuart. Mr. Niche, John
Baldwin, and Hugh w. Sheffey. He said
that popular prejudices existed In all ages
against lawyers. They were the subjects
of wltticisms, censures. and sarcasms.
But history proved that in all ages the
lawyers were, as a general rule, men or
the most conservative principles. They
We're advocates of liberty 'egulated by
law. In all Of the great struggles for
human freedom, Wherever an oppressed
people had raised the Nag or resistance 20
arbitrary government. the lawyers were
among the foremost 10 rally around that
flag Upon this point he cited many H.
lustrious examples. In conclusion. he said
whatever might be said of the profession
in other countrie. in Virginia the lawyers,
as general rule, are mon or honorable
character. and are devoted to the cause
Of constitutional government. The eXpla-
nation. no doubt, lies ia the fact that they
are descendants Of "a race that has made
the country famous among all OF the ma
tions Of the oarth a race whose album
conquerable will, and abohding conf
donce has made it the heir of oil of the
ages. Judge Staples received prolonged
applause
The company then repaired TO the sup
per-room. where an elegant and sump-
tuOus repast was enjoyed