Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-06
VIRGINIA LAWYERS.
ANNUAL MEETING or THE STATE
BAR ASSOCIATION.
MANY MEMBERS MERE PRESENT.
Ladies in AtsshdAsss-rhe several
Reports-rhe Address Of the Pres-
ident--rhe Amendments to Oar
Code-cheap.s Records.

OLD POINT COMFORT. July 5.--Csps-
cial.)--The legal brethren of Virginia. at
times seemingly SO pugnacious and fero-
cious towards one another. are to-day
united in brotherly love at the Hotel
ChamberlIn. and are chatting In peace,
harmony. and friendship. The occasion
for this great gathering which thus
unites the readers OF calfskin literature
il the tenth annual meeting OF the state
Bar Association, and members Of the
profession from all sections OF the State
are In attendance. With them are many
representatives Of the fair sex. who APP
pear to be having equally as much fuh
as the attorneys themselves.
More lawyers will come tomorrow.
and ere many hours have passed the
very air will be full OF legal conversation
and judicial utterahees. The morning
session OF the association was called to
order promptly at IL O'Clock In the pall--
room OF the hotel, which offered breezy
and delightful place of meeting for the
attorneys. liberal and most attrac-
tive sprinkling of ladies' graced the hall
and followed the proceedings with APP
parent interest, though one should hardly
expect the weaker sex to have thorough
understanding of legal technicalities or
the peculiar Latin phrases incident
thereto.
On the platform were Mr. Jackson Guy,
chairman of the Executive Committee,
and the following members OF our Judi
ciaryi Judge b. n. Wexford, Judge
George j. Hundley. Judge w. w. Old
Judge c. Il. Nicol, Judge X. r. Prentiss
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Mr. Guy, after announcing the opening
of the tenth annual meeting OF the as
ISOLATION, introduced Hon. William u.
Petit, the president of the organization,
who delivered the address of the ocea-
sion. Mr.. Petit, who, by the way, Is
a most striking figure and man OF no
little wit, announced that the subject Oh
his remarks was: THE Science OF Ju-
fisprudence and the Duty OK Lawyers
in Relation Thereto" The address was
marked by that grace of style, Wide
legal learning, and natural humor which
ehafacterizes Mr. Petit. He showed the
position which lawyer should take In
reference to legislation, and pointed
out the means whereby beneficial sta
tutes might bo promoted and pernicious
laws avoided. Mr.. Petit is evidently
vigorous opponent OF any changes In
common law practice, and In MS ad-
dress enthusiastically upheld our pro-
cedure in Virginia.
President Petit, at the conclusion OF
his remarks, announced the appointment
Of the following committees:
On publications-John Hunter. F. w.
Sims, and William j. Clopton.
On Nominations - Samuel Griffin,
Thomas n. Williams. Charles U, Williams,
John T. Harris, and Lewis 7. Hanckel.
On Observation-Disclosures g. Stringfellow,
Major Charles NJ Blackford Randolph
Harrison, George ]. Hundley. Roosevelt
Page. George Perkins. William A. Lit
tie. Jr.. Thomas Tabb. II. r. Pollard,
BENJAMIN Haden, d. c. O'Flaherty, w.
Gardiner Tyler, II. d. Flood, and A. X.
Long
The secretary, Mr.. Eugene c. Massie,
submitted his report. which showed an
active membership OF 40 and an honor
airy membership OF IS. Several applica-
tons are also on file
Mr.. Massie, as treasurer, also submitted
a report which showed comfortable
money balance on hand.
Mr. Jackson Guy. chairman OF the Ex-
ecutive Committee, in the report OF this
body, feelingly alluded to the death OF
the following members: Judge w. z.
Staples, Judge w. J. Robertson. Mr.. Il.
G. II. Kean. r. Taylor Scott Attorney
General; Thomas ]. Kirkpatrick, Judge
William s. Barton. Judge B. T. Gunter
Judge william b. Taliaferro, r. J. Brush,
8 8. Turner. Judge Samuel +. Coleman,
Major j. p. Fitzgerald Colonel X. I. w.
Duke, The report made kindly and
graceful allusion 10 the recent marriage
of its efficient secretary, Mr.. Massie. who
had long and faithfully served the or
ganization as bachelor. but who finally.
after "courtship of proper DURATION
entered happier state. n
NEW MEMBERS. y -
Mr.. E. Stickley, chairman Of the Com
mittee on admissions. announced the cleo
ton of the following members: A. W.
Sinclair. Manassas; Norvell l.. Henley
Williamsburg; John Stewart Bryan. Rich
mond; j. A. c. Keith, Warrenton; lion
Charles T. oFerraIl, Richmond: j. Gar
land Pollard Richmond; Allen G. Collins.
Richmond McLain Peasants, Richmond;
w. NJ. Atkinson, Gloucester: John A..
Lamb. Richmond; O. l.. Browning, Gull
peper: II. G. Miller. Norfolk: X. c.
Humphrles, Bedford City: Ohio f. Mears.
Eastville; ". 3. Wescott, Accomac: Maury
J. Coleman, Roanoke; Stewart K. Powell.
| Onancock; c. Aylett Ashby Newport
| News; John L. Sebrell. CORTLAND.
| Judge w. W. Old presented valuable
| report from the Committee on Legisla-
| ton and Law Reform. which gave some
| interesting details concerning the deeds
| and misdeeds of our General Assemblies.
| The Legislature at its last session pass
| ed ZOOS separate acts, OF which 755 were
| private or local acts. 1ie were general
| laws, including the revenue laws. or laws
| relating 10 taxation, and 12S acts amend
| ing or repeating AS sections OF our Code.
| Since its publication our Code OF 1881
has been amended 712 times, while the
| general laws passed by the Legislature
| number more than 1,100 sections. Such
| activity on the part OF our Solons indi-
Gates lack Of stability, and Is TO be Ia
| mented.
The report showed several instances OF
| defective legislation. and also pointed out
many useful laws which had been passed
al the instlgation OF the Bar Association.
Mr.. ]. H. Wood member OF the West
| Virginia Bar, was introduced TO the meet
| ing. and delivered most happy little
/ speech. expressing the kindly feelings
| existing between the profession OF the
| two States.
| Mr.. c. w. Sans. Of Norfolk, read a
| most valuable paper the report of the
1 Committee on International Arbitration.
! which contained some interesting sugges-
tons on the present situation.
| The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved. That the president Of this
! association appoint a committee or three.
| whose duty it shall be to investigate and
ascertain whether some change cannot