The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

The old State of North Carolina has
proudly boosted many learned and dis
tinguished lawyers among her sons.
She can point to an honor roll of emin-
ent jurists that can be surpassed by no
other State III the Union: and now she
can hold high her head and assert that
in no way has she degenerated in the
possession of legal talent. 1t IS not a
case of .Fuit Iliun," as Nergil poeti-
cally put it. BY no means; the bar of
North Carolina contains to-day as tai
ented and eminent a corps Of legal prae-
titioncrs as it did fifty years ago: and
not only can it boast Of the talent and
ability Of its members OF the present
time, but also Of their uprightness, Pro-
bity. and zeal for the triumph Of true
justice.
In the foremost rank of the proIni-
nent jurists 81. this day in North Caro-
lima stands Edward Chambers Smith. Il
man of whom it can truly be said
that he is one of natures noblemen, n
man upon whose name no sur can be
cast, whose brilliant reputation cannot
be furnished by the foul breath Of sus-
piciofi. In giving a sketch Of this able
and eminent man, we feel we are doing
a public service in the education Of our
boys and young men, by being able to
show them living example of what q
lawyer and man ought to be, and thus
giving them d goal to strive for.
Edward Chambers Smith was born 1T
Murfreeshoro. North Carolina, August
21st, 1858. His paternaI grandfather
originally came from Connecticut. On
his mothers side he comes from an old
North Carolina family. His father was
Chief Justice William n. Smith, who
died in 1889. His parents moved to
Raleigh in. 1872, and his academic edu-
cation was obtained at Loyejoy $
academy and the odd Bingham
School" In 1877 he matricuated at
Davidson College, from which institu-
ton he was graduated in 1881. taking
the Debater's medal, and also at the
General Convention of the Kappa Alpha
fraternity held at Atlanta the medal for
the best essay written by any member
OF the fraternity. This medal was com
peted for BY about twenty five Southern
colleges.
1t was on account of i'll health shat he
was rather late in going to college He
originally contemplated going into the
cotton business in New York, but at the
earnest solicitation Of his father, he
began the study of law in 1882, under
the late DR.. Manning at the University
Of North Carolina, and later under Prof.
Minor, of the University Of Virginia.
He was admitted to the bar in North
Carolina. October 1883, in the Supreme
Court. III to 1890 he practiced with
Fuller q SNOW, q very prominent firm
of Raleigh, attending entirely to their
large Supreme Court plarrice Since
then he has been practicing alone. pay
ing particular Attentions To insurance law
and meeting With the most marked slif.-
cess in insurance cases. He is general
attorney in North Carolina for several
large insurance companies, and also fo.
the North Carolina Car Company. the
Caraeigh Cotton Mills, and the Cara,
leigh Phosphate ond Fertilizer Works.
EIe was appointd by Gov. Scales in
1856 a member Of the Board of Intorna,
improvements, and held this position
continuously until 1896, an unlls
nal honor. when he was an
pointed while absent from home b,
Gov. Carr States proxy for the North
Carolina Railroad, which position he
kept for several months, resigning to ac.
cept dictatorship in the North Carolina
Railroad, and this office he held until
the Republicans came into power He
is at the present time member Of the
finance committee OF the same road.
In 1888 Mr.. Smith was member oil