Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-14
JOHN HOW ARD DEAD.
np,LLTayT MEMBER OF THE RICH
MoxD BAR PASSES AWAY.
MAN OF GREAT ABILITY.
Entered the Front Rank OF His Pro-
fcssfon Early I'm Life and Had
Successful Career-Mr. John Enders
ME. Standardization Deaths.

Successful Career-Mr. John Ender'
Dies suddenIy-Other Deaths.
Mr. John Howard. one OF the most dis
tinguished members OF the Richmond
Bar. died at his home, on west Grace
street. Sunday afternoon at O'CLOCK ne
had only been III a few days. and un'li
apprised OF It I'm the Dispatch Sunday
morning many OF his friends ola not
know that he was sick. lie was stricken
with internal complications. and though
all that medical skill could suggest was
done for him. It was without avail ana
the end came rather suddenly.
Mr.. Howard was born in Cumberland
county. May 3. 1924. but moved with his
father to Mecklenburg, where his early
life was spent. Deceased received his
academic education at Randolph-Macon
College. then situated in that county. AZ
ter graduation he taught school Tor
awhile. in the mean time preparing him
self for the bar in the office Of Judge Ed
| ward II. Chambers lie then attended the
law school at the University Of Virginia
| and was easily recognized as one OF the
most gifted of a class composed OF such
men as +. w. NJ. Holiday, Roger a
| PRYOR and William III. Payne. Upon Cd
tanning his diploma and license 20 prac-
lice law he settled in the city of Rich
mond in 1850. when his intellect and ac-
| ouirernents at once attracted attention.
! The bar Of Richmond at that time had az
! its leaders men of great emlnence, VINO
/ have left their mark on the profession.
| one can easily recall the names or John
NJ. Patton Arthur Mason, William Green
James Lyons, Robert Stanard, Wood
Bouldin, Raleigh II. Daniel. and w. w.
Crump. who then made famous the Rich
mond Bar.
TOOK FRONT RANK.
In such a company of great lawyers
young Howard soon took his place in the
front rank. In the celebrated case OF
Baily &c, VS.. Poindexter's Heirs, &C.,
decided at January term, 1858. and report
ed in IA Grattan, at page 1872, he filed
very able and learned brief which is
printed at large by the reporter, and
which forced the court to the conclusion
that slaves who were given the privilege
of choosing freedom or slavery by a will
had not the civil capacity TO choose, and
must remai1 In slavery. Up TO the time
that this case was argued the briefs OF
counsel in the Court of Appeals were filed
i'm manuscript. Young Howard had his
neatly printed, with copies for the court
and counsel. and so pleased were the
judges that they ordered all future briefs
in that court to be printed. His argument
i'm this case gave him wide reputation
and the decision, following that of the
~ "a states
the bred Scott case, had a decided effect
upon the antl-savery agitation, which
was conyulsing the nation.
1t IS needless to say that his practice
became large and profitable from this
time forward. His reputation for ability,
erudition. and laborious research brought
him cases involving large amounts and
difficult legal questions. one Of his legal
triumphs, which he took pride in remem-
bering. was defeating the injunction OBJ
tanned to prevent the removal Of Ran
doph- Macon College TO Ashland, where
It has entered on a new life of usefulness.
COUNSEL FOR CONFEDERACY.
During the civil war the Confederate
Government selected Mr.. Howard as cOun-
sci TO represent II in the numerous cases
arising in the enforcement OF the i'm
pressment act. The leading case Of Yulee
VS.. Canova, II Florida, 9. in which an
unusual number Of difficult questions
were raised. was won by him, and went
far towards quoting the litigation grow
ing out of the act.
Since the war Mr. Howard had been
practicing his profession in Richmond.
and had been counsel in q number of
great causes, always maintaining the
reputation he had won. Only a few may
be mentioned, as they will give the char
acter of his practice. In the litigation
growing out OF claims against the Ma
tional Express Company involving i
number Of cases and new and important
questions, he had 10 bring suit in the
several States in which the stockholders
lived. They were vigorously defended by
the most eminent counsel Of these States.
But by n series OF victories I'm the SUI
preme Court of the United States, and of
the several States, he established his
views. and II is hardly too much TO say
that he added a new chapter to the law
OF corporations. In the litigation with the
insurance companies, growing out Of the
fire with consumed so much of the city
Of Richmond at its evacuation I'm April,
1865. while not as successful as In the
express cases, his argument was of very
great ability. Perhaps his ablest
briefs were filed in the Supreme Court
of the United States in the litigation
over the island in the Potomac in front
Of Washington city, in which he repre-
scented the heirs of Chief-Justice Mar
shall. His first brief I'm the case was pro-
badly as fine a piece of reasoning on
complex questions as was ever filed in that
or any other court, and his second
brief was so learned as a historical
narrative. that 1t called forth the highest
ecomium from such an able historian
as John Fske. The case was lately ar
gued, and is still undetermined.
DEVOTEE OF LITERATURE.
Mr. Howard was not alone a great law
yer. He was a devotee of literature,
and was especially well informed in
the branches of learning related to his
profession. He was a great reader, but
didn't waste time on indifferent books
In history. political economy, and philos-
ophy he delighted and few men who
were specialists in those studies could
converse so fluently or so instructively
upon them as he did, when in company
capable of appreciation. His close student
life prevented his mingling 10 any great
extent in society, even in that Of his pro-
fessional brethren, but those who were
brought in contact with him at once re-
cOgnized his ability and erudition i'm
every field of learning he had chosen TO
traverse. Mr.. Towards life was thorough
~ domestic. and he had no de-
sire to enter upon the uncertain ex-
perience of public office. His ambition
was TO attain eminence in his chosen pro-
fession, and in this he was most success