The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-27
"reminiscences Of
North CaTO|Inians
BY VIM. II. BAILEY, JR., LII. d.
DAVID SETTLE REID.


Charles Manly being the Wing candi.
date. After he was nominated his
brotherlin-law Stephen A. Douglas visit
ed him. Then Douglas suggested to him
to advocate free suffrage for voters for
Senator'S who under the then existing law
were obliged to be owners of fifty acres
OF land each. Reid replied that there
was nothing mentioned about the sub
ject in the platform. Douglas replied.
"all the better for you-you will get all
the credit" So Reid met Manly on
the stump and promulgated his doctrine
of free suffrage. The coupe was start
ling. Many acting on foolish impulse
opposed the new programme and Gra-
hams majority of 1,200-round numbers
in 1916 was reduced to about 800. In
1850 the Whigs-losing their heads re-
nominated Manly, and the Democrats
level4headed-re-n nominated Reid. The
latter was elected yabout 1900 ma
jority. These figures are given as ap-
proximate from memory. Reid was
elected United States Senator in 1865,
he was delegate to the Peace Congress
in 1861, and in 1876 served in the Con-
stitutional convention.
M. v. LANIER.
One of the best judges of law that
the Old North State has ever produc-
ed. He was self-edlcated and when he
commenced the practice he, for awhile,
walked to his courts. He was no speak
er. Possessed slow but powerful anal
ytie mind and was acknowledged to be
the best draughtsman of pleadings in
the State. He was also au fat upon
the intricate learning touching the law
of real estate. As an 'office lawyer"
he stood IF not first in the very first
hne." He had not the remotest COLI
ception OF humor and was utterly lack
ing in conversational ability. To Illus
trate his power as special pleader,
give an anecdote as related by my faith
er who presided:
Gov. Graham and Tom Venable
brought an action of SANDER. E. G.
Reade, r. B. Gillian and Lanier de-
Tended. Lanier filed number of pleas
TO some of which demurrers were inter-
posed. There was verdict for the plain
tiff for say $500. Lanier took no part in
the jury trial but after the verdict he
called for an argument on the demur-
ers. When the Judge Bailey sustained
them he contended the court must fnd
the first fault in pleading and pointed
out one Of the many counts in the de-
claration as defective and not cured by
the verdict and further insisted that
when there are several counts in a de-
claration and any one is bad and gen.
eral verdict rendered the judgment must
be arrested. This view was sustained
by His Honor and the Judgment was ar
rested. Reade and Gillian then shook
hands and congratulated each other on
the result when Lanier quietly remarked
1.-THE nearest approach to humor he was
ever guilty OF 81 think / ought to have
a little OF the congratulation. Lanier
was man Of exalted morality and prin-
ciple but secluded himself from social
intercourse in great measure by his
devotion to, that jealous mistrese-the
law.
simple in all Of his habits and modest in
the extreme although often dogmatic
in debate. A brunette.
RODEIsr BALLARD GILLIAN.
Represented Granville in the Legisla-
ture several times and was Speaker sew
eral times; member of the convention OF
1888: Judge OF the Superior courts;
member OF Congress
He was Prince of a man; possessed
intellect of the highest order; a mind
stored with "reminiscences Of great men
of former times. Possessing a fund OF
anecdote, genial, cordial, amiable-who
could be a more agreeable companion
And he also possessed that rare gift of
making himself agreeable alike to young
and old--in the parlor of the cultivated
lady as well as the keeping-room of an
inn. He had fine sense OF humor; he
was no less a good listener than talker
and he was first class in every station
from that ordinarily requiring a fool.
the Speakership of the House-to a seat
on the bench. He presided at the trial
of Bencini, who had killed the seducer
OF his sister. When the jury fled into
their box looking solemn and grave az
became the occasion, their appearance
was mistaken for the precursor of a
verdict of guilty. 1t was a crowded
courtroom; pin dropped could almost
have been heard-but when the fore
man announced a verdict of acquittal
such shout Of approval and joy went
up from hundreds of throats that make
the welkin wing. One man in his wild
excitement, threw up his hat. Gillian,
for once, lost his equanimity and rising,
with stentorian voice ordered the sheriff
TO ARREST that man with the hat" OF
not be obeyed--it was the man without
his hat whom the Judge was after AMI
he had vamosed. / began a respectful
suggestion that 'there were so many
men with hats" &C., but Gillian set
me right down-though his pet-saying
Mr.. Bailey this is no time for joculari-
ty," but having acquitted my client
was Of quite different opinion.
He was first frst-class whist play
er and played the ''Pole" game intuitive-
ly long before Pole wrote his book, with
one exception: James Clay, the greatest
whist player, in his rhyming
rules, lays it down that with five it is
always right to lead trumps. Gillian
would not lead them, even holding FIVE,
without holding a side suit to estab-
lish. would. And when it would az
sometimes it did turn out that I had
nothing to back my trnmps-although
he loved me as a vera brither,' he
would storm out at me, exclaiming, "Bai-
ley, what in the hell did you lead trumpg
for with no suit to establish?'' No argu-
ment or explanation could satisfy him
that it was the right play in ninety
xatu - hr,p