The times., 1899-12-09

meeting Of the members of the District
bar was held yesterday afternoon in Grim
inal Court room No >, to take action on
the death OF Charles Pinckney James.
formerly associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the District. and Wymau L. Cole,
a brother of Justice c. c. Cole. The sneet-
ing was organized by the selection OF Col,
James G. Payne as chairman and Mr..
Corcoran Thorn secretary
Upon the organization of the meeting
at the suggestion of Mr.. r. Ross Perry,
two committees were named by the chair
to draft resolutions expressing the senti-
ment Of the District bar on the death of
the two distinguished members named.
The committee on resolutions on the death
of Mr.. James was composed of the 1ol-
lowing: J. H. Ashton, Walter d. Davidge,
Franklin II. Mackey, William A. Gordon,
William Z. Mattlngly, and Nathaniel VIII
son.
The committee on resolutions on the
death of Mr.. Cole consisted OF r. Ross
Perry, John Ridout, Cnaptn Brown. J.
II. Gordon. Henry w. Som, Robert E. Lee,
and K. Golden Donaldson.
J, H. ASHTON, as chairman of the com
mittee of which he was chosen a member,
reported as follows:
Resolved, That the members of the bar OF the
Supreme Court OF the District of Columbia
learned with deep senslbihty OF the death on the
ninth day OF August last OF the Honorable
Charles PIncAney James, who after thirteen years
OF distinguished service a Justice OF the SU-
prcme Court Of the District voluntarily retired
from the 1abors and duties of the bench;
That they desire at this time simple but
diauy to express and record their remembrance
ana appreciation OF the great Judicial ablnty, the
sound and accuatc learning the constant and
unaffected anxiety to do Justice, and abso-
lutte uprightnCSs and independence which char
acterzed the judicial wurK aud judicial life OF
this eminent magistrate, well as their grateful
recollection Of the habital courtesy he cXubited
in his intercourse with the bar;
That those who as junior members OF the bar
had the pleasure Of practlcinS before him have
special cause 10 revere the memory of Justice
James, whose never failing interest in their well
fare was felt by them in their professional work
10 be at once a stimulus and a reward;
That many OF the opinions delivered by him
from the bench of the General Term OF the Su-
prCme Court of the District present examples OF
the highest degree Of excellence in judicial writ.
ings and will always remain among the most
honorable memorials of that court in the iuris-
prudence of the United States;
That IL Is appropriate in this connection 10 re-
call the fact that TO the iahors Of Justice james
while at the bar the whole country Is largely IN
debted for the revision and consolidation Of the
statutes OF the United States, brought TO q
successful conclusion by the publication of the
first edition of the Revised Statutes in the year
! 1875;
His reputation as a iurjst induced his selection
! Ivy the President and members Of the original
/ and distinguished commission established 10y act
! OF June H. 1866 for the SimplitcatiOn, arrange
/ mCnt. and consolidation Of the statutes Of ttle
! United States general and permanent in their
/ nature and he had special charge in that capacity
/ as is well known TO The profession Of the re-
vision Of the laws relating 20 the Judiciary and
other important and difficult technical subjects
/ The text of the second edition Of the Revised
! Statutes Of the United States authorized by the
act of March ,, 1877, underwent his critical ex-
animation by the direction OF the Secretary Of
/ state prior to its publication in the year 1873.
Thus it is that the OF Judge James must
! be ever identified in our judicial history with
4 this important work Of the revision and cOnsoli-
dation OF the statutes 0f tho United States.
That the chairman j. requested TO furnish the
I District Attorney for the United States with a
COPY OF these resolutions requesting that he viii
( rsresent them TO the court aAd move that they
: be entered upon the minutes That the chairman
s IS also requested TO transmit 4 copy OF these
/ resolutions TO tine family OF the late Justice
James with an expression OF the sympathy OF
/ this meeting.
After reading the resolutions Mr.. Ashton
gave a brief sketch of the life and work
OF Judge James. He had been a close
friend of the deceased and related many
interesting incidents Of his career.
r. Ross Perry. chairman of the com
/ mittee appointed to draft resolutions on
the death of Mr.. Cole submitted the fol-
lowing:
Resolved That the death Of the late v ,man
l. Cole Is sincerely regretted by his professional
I brethren. He WAS able counselor an indie
tatigable advocate for his clients interests, ever
mindful Of his duTy 10 tie court. and yet siren
uous in maintaining the cause he had undertaken
10 defend. Full on courtesy and consideration for
his opponents Is well tor his associates he has
left only pleasant and Inspiring memories
IN personal intercourse ne was u modest and
quiet gentleman, always regarding the rights and
feelings Of Others and Vet always maintaining
fully his own seli-respccL and dignity In this
bustling and aggressive age, such lives as ils
are at once a relief and a contrast. We mourn
his loss the more because it was premature.
4 copy Of the resolutions was ordered
sent 10 the family Of the deceased and
the District Attorney was requested tC
present them TO the Court Of Appeals and
70 the Supreme Court of the District.
Mr.. Perry and Chaplin Brown, who had
been long closely associated with the
deceased, spoke on the resolutions.