Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-05-11
DISTRESSING DEATH OF Ex-JUDGE
GREEN SMITH.

Ex-Judge John Williams Green Smith,
Master Commissioner of the Circuit Court,
and some years ago Judge of the Hastings
Court, ended his life on Sunday afternoon
last at his rooms in the Law Building OF
Patrick & Gordon, by shooting himself
with a navy revolver. He had been lndis-
posed and nervous for some days, though
sitions up to the previous evening. He
had however to get out Of a sick bed to at
tend to it.
On Sunday, after dinner, MI. VIM. Pat
rick. who has an adjoining room in the
building, laid down for nap proposing to
and take his child riding. He was startled
out Of his sleep by loud sound. He got
up, walked out in the hall and looked down
the stairs, thinking possibly some one had
fallen down them. AS all was perfectly
still he concluded that the noise had been
made by some one slamming door. He
looked at his watch and finding it was ten
minutes to o. CLOCK, put on his driving
gloves and left the building. When he was
returning to town later in the evening some
one told him of Judge Smiths suicide.
That explained the sound he had heard at
10 minutes to 4 o'clock.
When Luke Jones, the colored janitor,
entered the building about 5:35 to finish his
Sunday duties, he heard stertorous breath
ing in Judge Smith S room, and going in
found him lying on his bed, his hand resting
on navy revolver, one chamber of which
was discharged, the ball having entered the
head back of the right ear. The unconsci-
Gus and dying man fingered till about 6
O'Clock, when he died.
Judge Smith was a native OF Rocking
ham, about 66 years old He was son of
Judge Daniel Smith of that county. His
early education was in Rockingham where
Judge Charles Grattan was school-fellow
of his. Later, he went to school to Gen.
John Echols, who vas then teacher. He
afterwards went to the V. M. Institute at
Lexington. From Rockingham he went
1919, and after short residence there he
returned and located in Harrisonburg
where he practiced law. After the civil
war he settled in Staunton. The late Sen
ator A. B. Cochran, who was warm
friend of his, procured his election as
Hastings Judge, a position which he held
until he resigned it in 1887. He has since
confined himself almost exclusively to his
commissioner business.
Among lawyers Judge Smith stood high
as lawyer, and was regarded as one of the
best commissioners in the State. AS a man
he was kind hearted, generous, with high
sensibilities and Wasa most agreeable COM
panion. He had a trait not found with many
men-that flower of a kindly nature-a re-
fusal to speak evil of any man. The tenor
Of his life was as opposed to the idea of de
liberate suicide as any life could be, and
there is little doubt that the fatal act was
the result of emotional insanity the result
of sickness and shaken nerves. He leaves
two sisters-Mrs. j. Harvey Efinger and
Mrs. VIM. H. Tams; three daughters
Mrs. J. Fred. Efinger of Staunton. Mrs
Annie Peale Of Harrisonburg, and Mrs.
Kate Gregg of Florence, Ala, and two
sons, Lucius G.. Smith of Fire Greek, W.
Va, and Herbert Smith of this city.
The funeral took place on Tuesday morn
ing at 10 o'clock from Trinity church, con-
Quoted by the rector, Rev. W. @. Hullihen,
the following gentlemen acting as pail bear
ers-Messrs. S. NJ. Yost, J. Fl. Wayt, A.
H. Fultz, Edward Echols, Thos. D. Ran
son, George M. Cochran, John M. Kinney
and A. G.. Gordon.
MEETING OF THE BAR
A meeting Of the members of the Staun-
ton bar was held On Tuesday morning to