The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-03-05

Judge Hutfman'S death, committee,
consisting of Judge Bright, V. c.
Lowry aud A. II. Wilson was ap-
eointed to prepare suitable resoIu-
tions, to be presented in court on the
first day of the succeeding session.
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.
Judge Bright from the Committee
read the following Resolutions.
To the Me,nbtrs of the Hooking County
Bar:
YGu committee to whom was as
signed the duty OF drafting the SEN
iiments of this bar liz reference to the
death of Hon Joseph G. Huffman, late
Judge of this court, leg leave to sub
NIT for our adoption the following:
Resolved, That as a fitting tribute
to the memory of Judge Joseph G.
Huffman, the bar of Hooking county,
in open coart assembled, adopt the
following memorial: We are assem-
bled to pay our tribute to the memory
of Joseph Gray Huffman, recently
taken by the hand of death from his
active duties IS Common Pleas Judge
of this subdivision. Judge Huffman
WAS born June IS, 1912, in Preble
county, Ohio, and was at the time of
his death, January Goth, 1896. in the
81 year of his age. He spent his boy
hood days on farm, afterwards
took a coll ege course at the Ohio
Wesleyan University at Delaware,
where be graduated with honors in
1868. After his gradu alton he loca-
ed at New Lexing ton, Perry county,
Ohio.
He studied law with D. w. Marsh,
an eminent lawyer, with whom he
afterwards formed partnerships hich
proved beneficial and cnly ended
with the death of Mr.. Marsh.
subsequently he continued in the
practice at the same place in partner
ship ith Reuben Butler; until his
promotion to the bench this firm had
large and lucreatiyc practice.
He served three terms as prosecut-
ing attorney Of Perry county,and rep
resented his county twice in the low
er house OF the Ohio legislature, and |
also represented his district one time
IN the senate.
In 1899 he was elected Common
Pie as judge and was reelected in
1894.
AS citizen he was enterpEising, |
charitable and patriotic. During the
late war he served with honor term
in the Union army.
Judge Huffman was prominent
member of our profession, who not
withstanding the fact that he was
chosen to number of political sta
,ions, all of which he filled with hon.
esty and ability, never forgot that he
was lawyer, and to this his chosen
vocation, he gave the best efforts of
his life, and his trium phs, at the bar
brought to him more complete and
enduring satisfaction, than his sue
cess in the arena of politics.
His legal abilities were of high !
order, and it is difficult 10 say, in
what particular branch he excelled,
and still harder to determine in what
deficient.
Asa paper pleader he was careful,
diligent, exact and honorable, each
word and sentence being given its
true meaning and weight. If called
on to express in brightest phraseology
the most prominent trait of his ju-
dicial character, aside from those
splendid qualities, which attracted
the eyes of the public, we would say
it was his exceptional power of dis
cernment, power which enabled him
to determine the relation of various
points in case, to each other and
the effect such relation would have
Oh the finale of the cause.
This power did not seem so much
a professional requirement, as nat
ural endo owment of his mind, which
was exercised without effort or spec
ial preparation; quiet power, subtle
as wisdom, certain as inspiration, ,and
as unavoidable in its effects as the de-
cree OF fate.
In his administration of criminal
law he always stroye to mete out to
crime its just and merited punish
ments in such manner as to engeil-
der respect for law in the minds of
all, and to impress evil-doers with the
idea of the extreme peri! Of its infrac-
ton.
In his capacity as presiding officer
Of the court, Judge Huffman was an
indomitable worker and faithful guar
dian of the rights OF lltiganta, courte-
oues TO the officers of the court, evad-
ing no duty aud stunning no respon-
sibility.