The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-29
AUGUSTUS MARION LEWIS
Sketch of his life and seviees by Hon.
Kemp. r. Battle)

To the Editor During the sec
ond half Of the 18th century many
Of the families Of Eastern
Virginia changed their homes for new
habitations on the healthful hills of
Warren and Franklin counties, once
united under the name Of Butte. Among
them was General Jethro Sumner, Of
the continental army, the ancestor OF
the Ransoms, the Hawkinses,the Joneses,
the Armisteads, the Plummers, the
cations, and numerous others. They
brought with them the high tone, gener-
Gus hospitality, love Of sport and biooded
horses, devotion to liberty, and apprecla-
ton of intellectual culture, which DIS
tinguished the communities from when
they came.
In the midst Of this population, on his
fathers farm in the county of Frank
lin. known as Cedar Rock, on the 9TH
of May 1921, was born Augustus Marion
Lewis, son of Guilford Lewis, and Jane
his wife, whose maiden name was Solo
mon.
His father was firmly persuaded that
the best legacy which could be be-
queather to his children was good ed
ueation. Accordingly private teacher
ly youth.
When Augustus attained sufficient age
he was sent to Louisburg, the county
seat, and entered as a pupil the flourish
ing academy, one of the most eminent
in the State. Mr.. John B.
Bobbitt, an early graduate of the Uni
versity of North Carolina. Here he
took course preparatory to matrieula-
ton into the same University; but inn
paired health caused a serious Interrupt
ton in his studies His family physi-
clan prescribed q long vacation to be
spent in travelling, and accordingly in
1S41 he set out ON a fatiguing tour by
stage on visit to his brother in the
distant State Of Mississippi.
After sojourning with him for many
months he returned home by n long CIR
cult, up the Mississippi river and then
by coach across the AIlegha1ies.
The journey, though tedious, restored
robustness TO his frame and gave album
dant opportunity for obtaining an init
mate knowledge with human nature in
its rough, as well as cultivated state,
which was of peculiar advantage TO him
afterwards in the examination of wit
nesses and the persuading Of jnrics
This delay in the progress of his train
ing was the determining cause of his
resolve TO take an elective course at the
State University, and at the same time
fit himself for the practice of the law.
AeAcordingly, in 1S43, he repaired to
Chapel Hill and entered that institution
along with James Johnston Pettigrew,
Matt w Ransom and other young men
eminent afterwards in civil and military
life.
Having decided not to remain for
graduation, he devoted himself princi-
pally to the study of the Law under the
late William II. Battle, then a Judge Of
the Superior court, and afterwards for
many years a judge of the Supreme
court of the State He also took courses
in constitutional history and other
branches especially useful to him in his
chosen profession, and, in the debates
Of the Philanthropic society by assid-
uous practice of extempore speaking, he
acquired great quickness and fuency.
Leaving the University at the end Of the
academic year in 1874 he at once obtained
from the Supreme court license to prac-
tice law in the county courts, and year
afterwards, which interval was then
required by law, a second license, which
admitted him to the bars Of the Superior
and Supreme courts of the State, and
also to the courts of the United States,
he settled in Louisburg, the capital of his
native county.
The young lawyer had powerful com
petition. Some of the abest members
of the bar Of Wake, Oxford and War
rem attended the courts Of Franklin.
Among them were the able and elo-
quent Badger, the learned and accurate
Eaton, the genial and persuasive Robert
Gillian, the erudite and painstaking
Moore, the careful and sound Edward
Hall, Gen Wash Haywood, an acknowl-
edged expert in the selection Of jurors,
the brilliant orator Henry w. Miller
and a score of others Of mature years,
of long experience and having the con-
fdence OF the people. But nothing I'M
daunted Lewis, by devotion to duty and
effective oratory, soon surrounded himself
with an admiring circle of clients. He
had little taste for what is known as
.''black letter" law. He was not q pro-
found student Of legal principles as laid
down in books. In legal learning the
great lawyers, who adorned the bar of
| the Supreme court, were his superiors
| But in knowledge of human nature, in
skill, in drawing from reluctant wit.
nesses the truth and in confounding those
| intending to deceive, in power Of mar
shalling the facts of case so as to
| make the most profund impression on
| the minds Of jurors, in fine, in success in
winning verdicts, he was unexcelled. He
seemed to gaze, as through a window,
into the hearts OF jurymen, and was
wont to use inveetiye, or ridicule, pathos
or cold reasoning, whichever was need
ed to win their favor to his client
In the 1854 the member Of Congress
from the Metropolitan district was a
very able man, Abram w Venable, OF
Oxford, who had triumpbed two years
before, after an exciting canvass, over
John w Kerr, afterwards a judge, the
Wing nominee. He had offended many
leaders Of his party by some action, and
there was a strong desire to supersede
him. Mr. Lewis was induced to enter the
lists against him. He was endorsed by