The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-15
~ MEMORY OF JUDGE BILLIARD.

IN MEMORY or JUDGE DlLLARD.
The Bench and Bar of the Supreme
Court Adopt Resolutions Of Respect
TO the Memory of the Dead Jurist.
At the adjourned meeting (of which
notice was giyen) of the members of
the bench and bar in the Supreme
: court room on yesterday afternoon,
the report of the committee on resolu-
tons, appointed at a previous meet
ing, was submitted, together with a
short sketch of the life and character
of the late Judge billiard. Remarks
were made by ex-Judge Shepherd, Mr..
Richard IL. Battle, Mr.. John w. Gra-
ham, Judge Avery, ex-Judge Winston,
Mr.. b. G. Beckwith and Judge Fur
ches. The chairman Chief Justice
Faircloth, upon announcing the adop-
ton of the report, also made appro-
pirate remarks.
The report was submitted by Judge
Shepherd for the committee, and is as
follows:
John Henry billiard was born in
Rockingham county on November 80,
1919. After preparation at Patrick
Henry Academy in Virginia he enter
ed the University of this State, remain
ed two years taking first distinction
in his studies) and left on account of
i'll health. He began to read law in
the office of the late james Il. More
head at Greensboro and graduated in
1910 from the law department of Will
liam and Mary College in Virginia, He
practiced at Richmond and at Patrick
court house until 1876, when he re-
moved to Wentworth. He was Com
monwealth's attorney in Virginia, and
the county attorney and clerk and
master in Equity in Rockingham
county for a number of years. On
the 18th of January, 1916 he married
Ann j. Martin, daughter of Joseph
Martin, of Virginia. In 1862 he rails
ed a company of volunteers and enter
ed the service of the Confederate States
ac Captain. After his removal to
Greensboro in 1868, the law firm of
billiard, Ruffin 81 Gilmer was formed
and continued until 1876 as billiard 81
Gilmer, Ruffin having retired on ac-
count of i'll health. When he remoy-
ed to his farm i'm Rockingham county
he formed a partnership with his son
in-law John T. Pannill, which contin-
ued until he was elected in 1878 as an
Associate Justice of the Supreme
court. The record he made in the dis
charge Of the duties OF that high Of
fee was highly creditable, and one
which should be the pride of any
Judge to enjoy. He resigned in the
spring of 1881, and was succeeded by
Thomas Ruffin, Jr. He then moved
back to Greensboro and continued the
practice in association with other
members of the bar. For a number
of years he was connected with Judge
Dick IN the conduct of a law school
at Greensboro, which gained great re-
putation. He was for years an elder
i'm the Presbyterian church and
teacher in the Sunday School, and in
the performance of these duties he
displayed the same ardor and per-
severence and ability which charac
terized him as practitioner at the
bar and as a judicial officer. He was
modest, and self-assertion was not
one of his traits. Honors were literally
thrust upon him. He possessed a I'M
ique attractiveness-p plain in his hab-
its, but his social graces We're always
ODSeFNdDIEs ne WAS BT6dA4y BclOFEu
by all who knew him, and notably by
the members of the bar. His courtesy
to them and especially his assistance
to the young lawyers in advice, &c,
were ever conspicuous. His greatest
reputation perhaps was that of an
equity lawyer, and his high personal
character, great integrity and sterling
honesty were known of all men.
He died at his home in Greensboro,
on May 9th, 1896
The meeting adopted the following
resolutions:
Resolved, That in the death Of Judge
billiard we recognize the great loss sus-
tanned by the State and the profession
and we tender to his family our warm
est sympathy.
Resolved, That copy of these pro-
.ceedings be transmitted to the family,
and be presented by the Attorney Cen
eral TO the Supreme court with the
request that the same may be spread
upon the minutes and published IN the
ensuing volume of the Reports.