Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1899-04-11
Of Hopkinsyille's Ablest and
Oldest Lawyer.
Sick Only a Few Minutes-Cut
Down Just After Closinn
Great Speech.

the oldest lawyer IN the city and
one of the oldest members of the
bar in Western Kentucky, died with
startling suddenness Friday after
noon.
He had just finished long and
able speech in an equity cause, APP
pearing for l.. II. Mckee. He re-
turned about three weeks ago from
California looking much improved
in health and appeared to be in
excellent physical condition.
He was IS years old March 18
and not being at home that day he
celebrated his birthday on April l
with a dinner to a party of old
friends. This entertainment was
made very enjoyable by recital of
his impressions of the recent trip to
the West.
He was closing up his legal bust
ness to retire from practice and the
Mckee case was intended to be the
last he would appear in. He had
taken much interest in it and the
argument he made was more than
two hours long and was a great
legal effort and was so regarded by
all who heard it.
Upon concluding he complained
of feeling exhausted and sat down.
A friend procured a stimulant for
him and he arose to go to his Office,
but appeared so feeble that Mr.. f.
H. Petree assisted him to walk to
the Office near the Court House and
placed him on a sofa. BY that
time he was so i'll that Mr.. Pctrec
called DR.. Rodman from the room
above. Under the prompt atten-
ton given him, Judge Petree raj
lied and talked to those about him
of his sudden attack. He then got
much better and was thought to be
over the worst when he had a sud-
den relapse about $50 and died in
a few minutes.
His body was removed to his
home at Mrs. Golthwaite' and his
absent relatives summoned.
The following sketch, prepared
by a friend gives the principal
points in his long and honorable
career.
Judge Petree was born March Is,
1924, in Todd county. His father
was Hazel Petree, prosperous and
prominent citizen of that county,
and Thomas was one of a family
of sixteen children.
He received a liberal education
and began tho study of the profess
sion which he was afterwards to
elevate and adorn, under Capt. +.
NJ. Bristow, father of the late Sec
rotary of the Treasury Benjamin
Bristow, who afterward became
the law partner of Judge Petree.
He came to Hopkinsville during
the latter part of 1869 and began
the practice of law. There were
giants in those days" at the local
bar and his contemporaries in the
early stages of his professional ca
reer were such men as Phelps,
Gray, McClearing, Sites, Bristow
and HIse. The young lawyer soon
demonstrated that he could cope
successfully with the ablest. lie
was the peer of the best. In 1881
ne was elected County Attorney,
serving his full term. In 1854 he
was married to Miss Mary Will |
Jams. Hubbard, who died about |
fifteen years ago
In,1862 he was elected Judge of
he third Judicial district and filled
his exalted position six years.
t was at time when the storms
Ind passions of civil strife were at
heir height and families were di-
ided against each other. His just,
lanly and impartial career did
luch to assuage the bitterness of
ceiling and calm the tempest that
rolled about him during
his critical time.
cat the expiration of his term he
the practice OF his profess
ion and took his place at the head
& H. 1,>-.I nor, E,-<,,, that tina !