Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-16

Office here in January, associating him.
self with Mr.. Isaac Diggs, of King VIII
liam, and Mr.. II. r. Peyton, Jr., the lat
ter of whom had taught school at his
home. and read law under him.
The health of the well-known jurist
seemed to improve for awhile, but
he soon begun to grow worse. and his
disease-heart and dropsical trouble-as-
sumed a more malignant form. He was
brought to a hospital here some weeks
ago for treatment, but returned to his
home in a few days, and his decline since
had been steady. His friends had re-
allied for two weeks that there was no
hope for his recovery. and his relatives
were summoned to his bedside some time
ago.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Judge Lacy had been In public life for
nearly a quarter Of century. and was
quite widely known. He was born at
Ellsworth" the family seat, in New
Kent. January q. 1899. He was a son
Of Hon. Richmond Terrell Lacy. who rep
Resented the counties OF New Kent
and Charles City in the House Of Dele
gates for a number Of years. and who
graduated in law at William and Mary
College in 1875. He was an active and
Jealous Wing. participated in many Of
the most memorable political campaigns
in the State In his day, and died in 1877.
Judge Lacy's mother. Ellen Green mes
Lance, was a daughter OF Colonel Jonn
Lane. Of Rappahannock, and OF Sally
NEE Epes). who was a niece of Mrs.
Thomas Jefferson. Judge Lacy was
taught by his mother in English, Latin.
and mathematics until he entered an
academy, in Piedmont Virginia, in pre-
paration for the University Of Virgioia.
where his education was completed Upon
graduating he entered the office OF his
father ard read law until the breaking
out of the war. He volunteered in the
Confederate army April 10. 1861, as a pri-
vate In Company +, of New Kent. Third
Virginia Cavalry. of which his father
had been captain, and which company
had not been out of commission since
the war of the Revolution. He was soon
elected first Lieutenant. and eventually
came TO command his troop, the captain
having been taken prisoner. He served
CALAMITY until the war closed, and was
severely wounded several times, notably
at Kelly's Ford, in 1863, and at Nancy's
Shop In 1864. Up to the time of his
death he bore three ugly scars from
wounds received in battle He was brave.
and bore himself conspicuously on many
hard-fought field.
HIS PUBLIC CAREER.
When the war ended Captain Lacy
went back to his books, and in the office
OF his father who was still in active
practice. He was taken into partnership
in June, 1866. and four years later retired
from the firm TO become Judge OF the
County Court. which at that time was a
court of general Jurisdiction. In 1873.
when the court system was reorganized,
he was elected to the Legislature by the
Democrats, in "A district previously Re-
publican by a large majority, and served
four terms. He served on the Committee
for Courts of Justice, and served one
term as Speaker of the House. In 1850
he was elected Judge of the Circuit
Court. and three years later was elevated
TO the Supreme Court bench, on which he
served twelve years, retiring the first OF
the present year.
In the division on the debt settlement.
Judge Lacy went with the Readjusters,
and il was by them that he was made
Speaker. circuit, and Supreme-Court
Judge. lie and General Malone We're then
close friends. but it is said that in the
later years of his life Judge Lacy always
voted with the Democrats. He was n
strong and popular man in his section.
He aspired 10 Congress once. but DeZsn-
dorf received a vote equalling that cast
for both him and Goode, the third candi-
date
Judge Lacy was man OF fine natural
gifts, a close student. and hard worker.
His record on the bench was good one,
and his opinions were clear and pointed.
All during his service on the Supreme
Court bench he lived In New Kent. and
went home nearly every night.
HIS FAMILY.
Judge Lacy was domestic in his taste,
fond of farming. and an admirer OF fine
stock. His home Is pretty one; MS
place Is we'll stocked and well-kept.
He married Miss Sadie r. Osborne.
daughter OF Rev. Michael Osborne, dis
tinguished Presbyterian divine, OF Prince
Edward. who survives him, with four
children-B. W.. Jr., Lane, Florence, ana
Jackson.
Judge Lacy was a public-spirited man.
and took the deepest interest In every
scheme calculated to develop the resources
OF his county or State.
The funeral Will take place Friday nj IL
A. NJ. from St. Peters church. New Kent
county.