The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-22
IN.JUDGE THOMPSON ii. COOKE.
Iii is Death Occurred on Wednesday
Morning After II Long illness.

Grecnvillc Mountainccr
For several months the citizens gen.
orally o. Grccnvillc have seen very
little Of cx-Judge Thompson II. Cooke.
who was familiar parsonage on our
streets for many years. Kidney
troubles and kindred complications
have kclt him at home, and for good
while he has been gradually going
down the hill with an increase of in
| tirmitics and a looscning Of the cords
that bind men TO this life. The end
came on "Wednesday morning, when he
went out peacefully into the realms Of
eternity. lie Was nearly sixty-six
years Of age, and until few years ugu
was Il strong. vigorous man.
| Judge Cooke was Il native OF Fair
field County, and the son of IL Mctho-
dist preacher, Rev. John T. Cooke,
| who was Il resident Of Columbia when
he died in 1860. The family lived in
Columbia for Il number OF years, and
Judge Cooke began his collegiate edu-
cation at the Arsenal, which was com.
plctcd in 1881 at the Citadel. He
taught school in Lexington County,
=" afterwards went to Orangcburg,
| ". ere he mad charge Of the village
academy and where he lived until his
removal 30 Grccnvillc. He studied
law whilo engaged in teaching, and
was admitted to the bar prior to the
| war. llo served in tho Confederate
army, and when hostilitics ceased he
| resumed the practice Of law. He was
| one Of the earliest converts to tho Re
puDlicanS, and was appointed trial
| Justice by Governor Scott, acquiring
quite an influence in the party. so that
| when Governor Orr WAS sent as min
! istcr to Russia in 1873, he was chosen
to preside over the Eighth Circuit for
| tho uncXpircd term, and was reelected
| tND next year. AS "a judicial 0lliccr
| during the period OF five years he WAS
on the bench, he gave general satisfuc-
tiCn and was quite popular with the
/ lawyers Of the circuit Judges did not
rotate in those days.
Judge Cooke kept in touch with his
party after he went on the bench, and
was almost always IL delegate to the
| State conventions. He was sent TO the
convention IN September, 1876, and it
! became known that he was not in sym
| pathy with the purposes Of the leaders,
| who intcndcd to place CurdoZa and lIl-
| liOtt or the ticket. Both Of them wcrr
| connected with the corruption and
| prUi'igacy OF the times, and Judge
| Cooke boldly declared his purpose to
quit the party unless these men were
sent to the rear. elliott and CardUHa
were strongly intrcnchcd with the
rank ard file, and the next day they
we're nominated. The Hampton cam
paign bad been in progress ior about {;
week, and when the Republican con
vcntiOn nd djournrd on Friday afternoon
Judge Cooke had decided TO cast his
political fortunes again with the ma
tive white people OF the State. Ac.
cOrulngiy he made Il visit to the rooms
OF the Democratic executive committee
in Columbia, and after announcing his
purposes, he rendered his services for
the overthrow OF the party to which
he had belonged in this State, at the
same time declaring his allegiance and
| avowlng his support OF the national
ticket, headed by Rutherford B. Eaycs
He joined The Democrats to aid in cS-
tabIishing home rule, and repudiatcd
| the Republicans on account Of miSrulc
and corruption. The next day was
| Saturday when the campaign meeting
took place at Nbbcvillc, and WIS al
tended by an immense c"ncoursc Of
red shirts" from four or five countless
In addition TO General Wade Hampton
and tht other nominees who made
speeches, General Robert Toombs had
cnthused the crowd with an ciuQucn,
and ardent speech, and the thousands
Till were in Il great blaze Of cnthusi
asm when the train arrived from Co
lumhia.
Judge Cooke had sent II telegram IL
Judge j. S. COthran, who was the
county chairman Of Abbcvillc, asking
him to hold the meeting until the
train reached there, as he wanted To
address the people. Judge Cothrnn
sent an escort Of "rcd shirts" to meet
him at the depot, and in II few mo-
mcnts Judge Cooke was standing in
| the presence Of the vast audience,
declaring his utilization with the
| Democrats for 'iinitc purpose,
and predicting the election Of IIamp
ton as an assured fact. The excitement
produced by this unexpected announce
| mcnt was intense, as nc was the first
Republican Of note to make u speech
In favor Of Hampton. 1t is true Judge
Mackcy had acted simultaneously with
him in deserving their political asso-
ciates, but Judge Cooke had the car
licst opportunity OF prOclaming it
| from the stump. He was actively en-.
gagged in the campaign until it closed,
and his speeches always evoked much
enthusiasm wherever he went. One
OF the largest gatherings OF the cam.
paign was ust n week after his con-
version at llunca Path, and he rccciv.
ed an ovation that was second only to
| Hampton, by whose side he continued
| to work until victory was achieved.
The Republicans were very bitter
against Judge Cooke for the course he
pursued, and gave out threats Of cx.
posing his record in their party az
damaging TO his character, but therc
was no foundation for the assertions
made, and he dclicd them to do their
utmost. His term OF service on the
bench expired in January, 1878, and he
called Of reelection. when he began at
once the practice Of law in Grccnvillc.
j q was sent 70 the Legislature after q
memorable campaign in 1878, and was
reelected in 1850. Among the meas.
urc5 he introduced was amendments TO
the homestead law, which are regard.
Cd Of much value by tho legal t.atcr.
nifty. II" was Il faithful and industrious
legislator, and earned the approval OF
his COnoJ Lu@nts. or course, he became
Il ull-IlCdgrd Democrat after tho co,,