The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-14

John Randolph Tucker Was One OF VI


giDia'- Gr. attest LAWYER and > atesmenss
Judge George l.. Christian contributes
the following.
have been asked to write something
as coming from the Richmond bar TO
express our sense of the great loss sus'
tained in the death Of that eminent ciu-
zen and great lawyer John Randolph
Tucker, whose name once tower OF
strength Is mentioned only with MOURN
ful accents by our whole people to-day.
So much can and will be written OF
the distinguished ancestry and eminent
services of our dead brother that, within
the brief time at my command, ! can
not attempt any portrayal either OF his
life or character. These, which form, 10
some extent. at least. part OF the MS
tory OF Virginia. for nearly hall century
past. must be left TO more competen'
hands. l shall only try. In a very I'M
perfect way. to give some personal recoi-
iections OF him as a man and lawyer.
NV acquaintance with Mr. Tucker be-
can IN 1850. when 1 came to Richmond
as a boy. I'm the Office OF that accomplish
ed clerk and chivalrous gentleman, James
Elicit then clerk Of the Circuit Court or
Richmond. which court was then presided
over bv the stainless gentleman and just
fudge tho late Hon. John \ Meredith.
Mr.. Tucker was at that time the Attor-
ney-General Of Virginia. and. or course.
ono Of the most prominent figures Al tho
bar.
THEN ATTORNEY GENERAL.
The courtroom and clerks offices OF tho
Circuit Court were I'm what was tnen
known as the state courthouse" sit
uated at the head Of Franklin street on
the east side OF the Capitol Square. and
ff.r ,fffa wa a
same building At that time there were
a Great many motions against defaulting
officers i'm which the Attorney-Gcnerai
ronresented the state, and by reason OF
Mr. fuckers connection with these ana
other cases in the court. / saw a great
deaI Of him. and had excellent oppor-
tunlties OF Judging Of him both as man
and "A lawyer. or course the disparity IN
our ages prevented anything Ike personal
Intimacy at that time. But 1 soon LEARNED
to look up to and love him. and the ties
then formed were only ripened and
strengthened by each recurring year
since that time.
In 1861 l left Richmond FOR the armv'
and did not return until February, lhoo'
when Sheridan drove US from the lni-
versity where. after partially recovering
from wounds. ! went TO study law ono
OF lNN Hirl anu Aiit 'A htt"
greetings received by me on my return
10 Richmond was extended by Mr. Tucker.
lie offered mo his own aid and the use
OF his Office books 10 enable me 10 con-
tinue my law studies and / can never
forget the affoctionate heartiness WIN
which that offer was accompanied. lh'S
and many other acts of Kindness, 10
gether with his attractive character ana
disposition deeply attached me to aim
all the rest Of his life and to-day III
common withmany others AT our bar
mourn his death not only on account OF
the loss sustained by the bar. but as
that OF a devoted and true friend. =
A GREAT LAWYER.
When Mr.. Tucker was pfactiuohR
! at the Richmond bar among rs leaders
weresuch men as John Robertson, AT
| ,hur A. Morson. Conway Robinson. James
Lyons. Thomas Z. August, George W.
Randolph. A. Judson Crane. Marmaduke
Johnson John $. Caskie, Raleigh T. Dam
/ iel Peachy r. Grattan. william Green
Iohn R. Young. y. +. Howard, Andrew
Johnston. John O. Stegcr. John @. WI
/ uams James Alfred Jones and Judge
William VI. Crump. all of whom, except
/ the last-named. have been called 10 mo
"Flnal Bar" 10 say that Mr.. iuen'r
was the peer of any Of these is Only 10
rank him as he deserved. ana 10 say
/ all Of him as a lawyer that need be saia
to tho people Of Virginia. As cons.'-
| tntional lawyer he ranked higher than
anv of those named. and bad a reputation
in this line second 10 no man In the
country. .,
There are very few men who excel ana
shine in an the department o! me- ~,
! p9,cker's talents were so yers8tile, MS
a.. am
ing so profound. that he was urlllahl
wherever and whenever his powers were
brought into play on the ilustings. De-
fore the court OF jury or IN sooai lh''r-
course, anywhere and everywhere ne was
| man OF mark and w0nderiul ATTRACTIVE.
ness Ho was one OF the best stump
| sneakers we ever had in Virginia. BEFORE
/ The lower courts and the iurlos Doe WIS
almost irresistible. and in the Appe"a'p
| courts he was a master OF logic, learning
and eloquence. all combined.
POWERFUL ARC uMENIS.
shall never forget the impression
! made by his argument in the crieoiat'h
! case OF Lersner VS.. BOILING, ln INC sle-
cial court OF Appeals. lie had the IN
popular and what many thought TO oe
the wrong side OF the ease. but the iact
that this idea OF tho case was prevalent
seemed only 10 stimulate his great pow
| ers and il seemed 10 me that / conld 7ee
| the force Of his great argument on the
| Court as he proceeded and see that u WIS
sweeping the Court before 10 Ike lelFeS
before an autumn blast. Tie, OF course
won his case. both in thar court ana IA
the Supreme Court OF Appeals, 10 whlcn
| IL was afterwards carried. ] have heard
| nearly all the great lawyers who have ap-
| pereG before the courts OF Richmond IN
| the past thlrty-lve years. ana never
/ heard but two oshcr arguments "hich
! made as great an impression on me ~
that OF Mr.. Tucker. above referred 10.
one OF these was made by Judge Ould N
| the case OF Pitcher vs.. George, ID tns
| Court Of Appeals. and the other by Coll
! W. W. Gordon I'm the case OF Lewis vs..
| Thomas. before Judge Fitzhugh, on the
| motion 10 appoint q receiver.
As conversationalist. Mr.. Tucker was
simply charming lie was one OF the best
mimics that / ever heard could adapt
! himself 10 any company, and be the
centre OF attraction iR any crowd. Ihe
members OF the state Bar Association, OF
! which he was then president Will scarcely
ever forget the elghtful way In whicp
he presided over our most succcsstul ban
ouet at Od Point about four years ago
and our City Association will long cherish
tho recollections OF his visit 10 and ad'
dress before n about two years aso.
LOVED VIRGINIA
Mr. Tucker was one OF the most ardent
lovers OF his native State that ever
knew. No man knew the history. trldi-
tions and institut ons OF Nirginn better:
or loved them more than he t.d, ana
whenever these were attempted 20 be de-
cried or traduced. they found in him their
most earnest and in my opinion, their
ablest defender indeed. he was son
OF which his "Oid Mother was Justly