The Monmouth inquirer., 1897-03-04

and they were adopted.
Remarks were made by Robert AL
4 len Jr., Samuel s. Cowart, John S.
Applegate, John NJ. Lanning, Hon.
Henry S. Terhune, Wilbur A Heis-
ley and Judge j. Clarence Conoyer,
and upon motion, the remarks of
Judge Conover, which he had reduced
to writing, were ordered TO be spread
on the minutes at length with the re-
solutions adopted, when the meeting
was adjourned.
Memorial on the late Chief JUS
tice Mercer Beas1ey,
BY JUDGE J. CLARENCE CONovER,
PREsIDING AT THE MEETING OF THE
MONMOUTH COUNTY BAR HELD AT
THE COURT HOUSE, FREEHOLD,
FEBRUARY 26TH, 1897.
/ Gentlemen of the Monmouth Bar:
| do not feel that | can permit
1 this memorial hour to pass without
adding to those words here so fitlv
spoken, my humble personal tribute
to the never TO be forgotten memory
of this notable man, the late Chief
Justice Beasley, whose recent death
we all, Bench and Bar of Monmouth
in common with the whole State. sin
cerely mourn to-day.
From the hour | first met the Chief
Justice officially on the Monmouth
Bench in May, 1890, on through the
days and years intervening, there
ripened and matured between us q
/ warm, unbroken friendship Il
/ fruitful source of satisfaction and de-
j light-it was my esteemed privilege TO
enjoy.
I Beginning at the very outset of my
official acquaintance he seemed to
take more than a kindly interest in
my welfare.
In this presence, | cannot refrain
from mentioning single personal
/ incident, something of an index to
one trait in his remarkable charac-
4 ter
On the first Tuesday of May, 1890,
after the days duties were over and
Court had adjourned, the Chief JUS
tice turned to me on the Bench and
observed, among other things, that as
| was a young man, as yet lnexper-
fenced in judicial duties, | would OF
course find in my pathway many
difficult problems to solve, and if in
! the midst of my doubts and perplexi-
ties. felt like comforting withIhim, he
would be only too glad to have me
come to him when | could, without
reservation.
Here indeed was an inestilnable priv
4 ilege- most gratefully acknowledged
-youchsafed to few men at the
thresh-hold of judicial life. Here was
this great master of the whole realm
of law Offering in his simple, charm
ing. unaffected way TO help young
4 Judge in his Circuit. then without
intimate acquaintance with him, TO a
true solution of difficult legal ques-
tions
i Having thus so kindly and consid-
/ erately bade me welcome, the Chief
Justice was ever amodel philosopher,
1 guide and friend He never hesitat-
ed, when called upon, TO throw the
great search-light of his great learn
!ng and logic on the dark places of
law and illumine them with the
brightness of midday.
Indeed. whether he talked TO you
at his home or Oh the bench or wrote
opinions, there was ever present the
same charming style, terse, lucid,
scholarly, never seeming at a loss for
a fit word or thought to fit the place
Nothing he said or wrote was ordin-
airy either in matter or manner. There
was an individuality about it all that
left its deep impress thereafter upon
your mind You never had cause 10
complain that he used language of
hidden or doubtful meaning.
But. not only was the Chief Justice
a good kind friend. a scholarly man
and a great master of the law. He
was more than all these. He was II
pure man, gentle man, noble
man. absolutely incorruptible,
shining in his sturdy, old-fasnioned
honesty and possessing a great
love OF right Indeed, he would
allow nothing to stand in the
way OF the right As well try to dam
up the waters of the Hudson with
pebbles as turn Chief Justice Beasley
from the right path Deceit, duplicity
fraud and wrong were his abomina-
tions and he struck them down with
all the great power at his command
whenever and wherever he encounter
ed them. He would discover the right
and Justice of case with wonderful
facility and never lacked thecourage
to see that they prevailed.
All these qualities OF mind and
heart combined to make him great
Judge
But the Chief Justice was some
thing more than great Judge. He
had charming personality. He was
kind. courteous. tolerant, considerate
of others and absolutely free from all
ostentation.
His attachments to his family and
friends were both strong and stead
j fast. and he was ever studying their
greatest happiness and striving for
their highest welfare. he loved his