The Magnolia gazette., 1899-05-06
STATE CAPITAL NOTES.
JUDGE THOrIAS ]. WHARTON.
Health Statistics Show that rIls-
sissippi Leads.
.orrespondeneo n aazet.e.


jackson. May 8, 1859.
Judge Thomas J Wharton, of
Jackson, is the youngest man for
his years in the state Of Missis-
sippi. He moves about as active-
ly as any young man III the city.
Notwithstanding the fact that it is
sixty two years since he was IL
censed to practice law. He was
one of four graduates of the Uni
versity of Nashville who made
jackson their home; David Shell |
ton, graduated 1882; William |
Yerger, 1888; Thomas J. Wharf !
ton, 1884; Fulton Anderson, 1885. |
All became distinguished in the !
legal profession. OF class Of
twenty admitted to practice On
January 30, 1897, he is the sole
survivor. The supreme court that
year consisted of William II.
Sharkey, chief justice, G. T..
Smith and Daniel w. Wright, as
sociate justices. The court held
its sessions in a small frame
building on Capitol street, where
A. Virden's grocery store now
stands. a committee, Of which
Attorney General Patton was
chairman, was appointed TO eX-
anime the applicants for license,
and the following lwere success
full: Pryor Lea, John a. Hogg
John A. Martin father Of Cen.
! Will r. Martini W. b. Oglesby,
Henry A. Garrett. Geo. 81. Crit
tenden, Jno. q. OF, M. Baldwin,
A. NJ. Wilson, Thos. A. Marshall,
j. f.. Pierson, b. +. Richmond.
| j A. Parker, r. j Ward, Il. M.
CoviEgton, D. r.. Cooke, s. b.
! Kennedy. James MELONS, Il. A.
Mclean, Thos. j. Wharton. The
latter was barely nineteen years
Of age. Eight or nine others
failed on that examination, but
were afterwards licensed. Gem
eral Patton asked most Of the
questions; and when he turned
Mr.. Crittenden down on one OF
his answers, the young Kentuck-
ian sprang to his feet and said !;
81 appeal to the decision of the
court, and am prepared to sus-
tain my answer by argument and
authority. - And he was sus-
tanned.
The first court met in the frame
building referred to, in 1882, and
it was thus occupied until 1872,
when the present state house was
completed. The first state house
was on the Harding corner, two
story brick, that cost $4,000. 90.
The principal saloon Of the town
was in the rear Of the old state
house, and twas there, after ad ;
. journments, that the members Of
: the legislature did mostly congre-
gate to discuss affairs Of the state
: and the Judge says "it was re-
garded as very convenient ar
rangement in those days"
In series Of public lectures
and in sketches in the CONNER
cial Appeal, Judge Wharton has
given many Of his recollections ol
: old times in Mississippi to this
! public, but has rich stores oi
: "reminiscences yet in reserve, thai
! should be stenographed from hii
D dictation while still in full menta
q vigor. Although his sense o
: hearing has almost entirely failed
] he is perhaps the most regulai
: member Of his church in his pew
/ although it is seldom that h,
: catches a sentence Of the preached
e word. Altogether, he is a grant
n old gentleman, immensely reveret
4 and respected.
Q A correspondent writes: 81
n you have any statistical report o
!, the death rate in Mississippi a
t compared to other southern states
e it would be a great favor if yoi
# will furnish it. / desire it for
o New York Life Insurance compa
: ny that has got the idea that tn
d death rate in Mississippi is great
n er than in any other state, excep
e Louisiana and Arkansas, which
| am sure is mistake, but hay'