Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-21

given in that body for any one of the
candidates, except the Hon. r.. G. L..
Moncure. when, in 1882. the Readjustcr
party obtained control of the State,
Judge Staples and his associates on the
bench were not reelected. that marty
having a large majority in the Leglsia-
ture.
Judge staples served on the bench
with SIGNAL ability. with a mind wei
endowed by nature. he. with commend
able industry, so mastered, diScsted. 3hd
classified the law that when case was
presented for his decision be had, IL
seems. only 10 lift the hoodgate OF MS
wcn-stored mind, anu direct the HOW ol
elementary principles ana adJudse cdses
into their proper channeis, ana the @ @solu
tion of the question would result almost
as easily as water finds its level Ihe
number Of decisions rendered by him
attest his industry on the bench'
Scrupulously honest and upright, ne
never legislated from the bench, but al
ways construed the law as II Is written
Couching able opinions and profound
propositions of law in language cleaI
and simple; laying aside rubbish anu
padding. but closely adhering 10 cle"''
clean-cut principles and rules Oh l""
his decisions are models WoI'ny VI
imitation. and are universally respe0'0u
Probably his most notable act during
his long term on the Supreme bench was
the rendering of the opinion in the cele-
bratcd coupon cases i'm 1878. which lea TO
the formation of the Readjuster party III
VIRGINIA The opinion was afterwards
adopted by the courts of Virginia ana Oh
the United states.
THOSE WHO SERVED WITH HIM
OF the eminent jurists who served win
Judge Staples on the bench OF the Couit
of Appeals but two survive him. Ih9y
80 Indqa Joseph Christian and Judge
L. l.. Lewis both Of this city. Ihose % Mio
were elected along with Judge Slaples
", tbo legislature in lS69-lS7O, were
I,dees r c. L. Moncure, who was the
,rosident of the court; Thomas X. JoyheS'
Irrancis r. Anderson. and Joseph ChIls-
tian Early in his term Judge JOY me-
died and Judge Wood Bouldin succeeueu
rim Judge BOudin was next 10 pass
,1''o,d the River Of Death, and Judge H.
~ p,,rxs was put in his place. 1heh'
80, tho death of Judge Moncure' judge
~ Lewis was named as his succeSso, l.
vVbue Judge Staples was on the pehch
g ,I,a Court of Appeals he could nave
| hoor nominated on two occasions loi
! Co,,ornor and on another for Attorhey
! conoral but he declined 70 slahu lOi
ary noiitical office. Since the wal He
"a been an ardent Democrat anu uPo,'
/ - death Of the late senator 'oHI -
Darbour he was spoken OF by many 90
/ tho proper person 10 succeed t%n"S % e.nt~.
| ouished Virgnian In the ohi''u "'','Ca a,'o,,
/ ss",,to but he declined TO come out even
,ei. hiph office. He several times
loi i.sed ~ the state for the Democratic
can "a was twice a Democratic
nominees. ana "'S
residential elector
!, 1884 Judges Staples and Burks' an'
49, Tohn w. Reilly, now mehDe
! 80 The supreme Court bench Oh IN
! 60 we're appointed committee
So, So, "a codify the statute laws
State In three years they COM
,Ieted The work. which Is emoouieu Il
pis't' ,s known as the Code OF VIZ
ginia. 1887 ,c,,,,o>n
.,.. ,,yo years service as counsel TO
| ,,ohroond and Danville kaiifoa'
c",,anv Sno ne resigned his place. ana W ue
5 - remaining years IN tno "0'''
| ,,rac,ice of his profession IN Hi.,il''''
sorior member OF the hrm
staples e. Munford. orr,od III
| nudge Staples was never hl"i " ~ -.
-, :, richmond was on Grace stree
hetyyeen Fourth and Fifth "he,s a.
tr,ends always found warm "eieonls e.,,
ror MANY years the deceased "aS ="
| Isr attendant upon services q, ~,
nond 90, presbyterian church. of when KEY e,,
pr. Moses d. HOge is pastor, aI,ar ana 'a,, an,
last spring he professed conversion no,n. "l,
,~as ,~, baptized. and received into the COM
munion of the Church.
Expressions from Bench nm" "
below are given some expressions upD r.
| ~ lie and character of Judge Stapie
from several OF the warnest irlenus
| the-deceased; ,,,r.,,,. hay
,ost Valuable friend in the death