Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-09-12
Resolutions of Respect.

At meeting of the Bar of Clarke
county, held on Thursday the 3Oth
OF August, on motion a committee of
the members, with the Chairman of
the meeting added as chairman of
committee, was appointed to prepare
memorial in honor of the late John
w. Rely, judge of the Supreme
Court of Appeals.
The committee appointed was rs
follows: Samuel j. &. Moore. Chm,
a. Moore Jr., Marshall Mccormick
and w. T. Lewis.
The committee reported the fol-
lowing.
To the Meeting of the Bar of Clarke
County, Va:
our committee appointed TO prepare
a resolution, in honor of the memory of
the Hon. John w. Ricly. one of the
members of the Supreme Court of APP
peals of Virginia. beg leave Ia report the
following.
In the death of Judge Rieiy. the in
dietary. the Bar. and the people OF the
whole State have suffered great loss.
Left an orphan in early life. he WAS to
great extent dependent upon his
own efforts for success. and about
the time that he reached maturity, he re
sponded 10 the call of his country for
her sons TO defend her rights. and for
four years he served as a soldier i'm the
service of the Confederate States.
The war ended, he chose the law as
his profession. and at once diligently
entered upon the necessary pre- paration
and having obtained license. be prac-
ticed for short time in Fredericksburg.
He then removed to Halifax county
where he soon attained eminence i'm his
profession.
His natural abilities, aided and stimu
lated by untiring application. soon won
for him reputation. and placed him in
positions OF honor and responsibilitv
In Halifax he was attorney for the
Commonwealth for q number Of wears.
In 1894, he was appointed by Joint
resolution of the General Assembly, one
OF committee TO revise and digest the
Code of the State; the other members of
which committee were the Hon. L. &.
Burks and the Hon Waller Il. Staples.
two eminent jurists. both of whom had
served on the Bench of the Supreme
Court of Appeals.
The work of the committee. involving
as II did great labor and much reSponsi-
bility, called tor and required an exact
and discriminating knowledge of the
law, for its duties were not only the re-
vision and digestion Of all the laws OF
the state, but also the suggestion OF
many changes in the statute laws. Three
years and a-half were occupied i'm this
work, and the result Of their labors was
reported 10 the Legislature. and adopted
10y II and approved by the Governor in
1897.
Being the youngest member Of the
committee. much of its labor devolved
upon him, and il was done diligently
conscientiously and ably.
He then returned TO his adopted coun.
ty, and resumed his practice. which he
pursued until January LIST. 1895. when he
took his seat on the Bench of the Su-
preme Court of Appeals, TO which he
had been elected by the General Assem-
bly,.
His short career in that high position
was marked by ability, diligence and
pains taking care in all his work, and he
was most useful member of the Court.
Called away in the midst of his labors
and usefulness, he has left a void. which
will not he easily filed.
His public career was but the out
growth of his private character. which
was in all things eminently true, pure.
diligent and faithful
:. j. C. MOORE, Chairman "A. MOORE
JR., MARSHALL MCCoRMICK. w. T.
LEWIS. Committee
Resolved UNANIMOUSLY by the Bar of
Clarke county all the members being
present, that the foregoing memorial be
adopted; thet a copy thereof be sent to
the family of the deceased. and
the Editor of the Clarke Courier he
requested to publish the same, and that
the President of the Supreme Court of
Appeals of Virginia, and the Judges of
the Circuit and County Courts of Clarke
county, be each furnished with a copy
thereof
5. J. c. MoORE. Chm.
BLACKBURN SMITH Sec