The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-01-04
MEMORIAL ADDRESS.
Words of Hon. Patrick Hagan
In Memory Of Judge
Morrison.

In presenting TO the court o.
county resolutions adopted by the bar o.
Gate City in honor Of the late Juoge H.
K. Morrison, Hon. Patrick Hagan made
the following brief address"
May it please the court:
The absence from this court room at us
present session of Judge H. 8. X. Morrison
is solemn warning to all Of us that We
are under the sentence Of death. and We
know not the day of its execution. Judge
Morrison was suddenly stricken down and
died very suddenly. His soul has left ell
earthly scenes and has winged its way I"
brighter and better ~orld-its eternal
home. Life has been characterized as
walking shadow, a brief candle, an un-
steady light which wrinkles for a moment
and then 10 extinguisbed forever.
The resolutions read do but meagre
Justice to the grand characteristics WIN
which Judge Morrison was endowed. he
was we'll and intimately known by all
here present, and we all lament his loss
aud sympatize with his family.
At an early age he was sent to the
University of Virginia and graduated
there in Law under the celebrated PROT
Minor. But before he went to the Uni
ver.ity. he read law under the instruction
of his uncle, Mr.. Henry 8. Kane, who was
one of Virgnia's best lawyers. Mr.. Kane
NAV not have read as many law books as
some lawyers, but those he did read he
knew their contents better than anv
LAWYER have ever known. The elemen-
tary principles of law he carefully insti"-
ed in the mind Of his nephew, which con-
tributed largely in making Judge MORRISON
the great lawyer lie was.
knew Judge Morrison from his YOUTH
he was great reader of books on all sub
iects and the general knowledge which ne
acquired he turned to good account when
he began to practice bis profession l
we'll remember his defense of---Hensley,
who had been indicted and tried for the
murder of-G0Ode. | assisted Col. H.
A. Morrison, the father Of Judge ACrison,
in the prosecution Of the case, Col. MOTT
son was an orator of persuasive powers
the testimony against lIensley was strong
and il was generally thought that his lie
was in great peril. The circumstances OF
the ease aroused the latent powers OF the
Young counsel, who eIerted his utmost
ability and he made one of the most ehec-
tive and ingenious defences that nave
ever heard. He ransscked :profane aud
divine learning and applied it with such
skill and effect, with a deep-toned eio-
ouence accompanied by a moral earnest
ness in demeanor, that he caused the jury
| TO reduce the crime to murder III the 2hd
degree thus saving the life of his client.
Asa LAWYER, he was not deeply read, but
he had subility of thought and a clas-
sicality of style that made his forensic
speeches eloquent, impressive, and con-
vincing.
He practiced with some of the best
LAWYERS of this part OF the state, such as
the eloquent Jno l.. Cambell, the learned
and forcible Judge John A. Cambell the
brilliant Jas. W. Humes, VIM. b. Aston,
giant when he brought his intellectual
force into play. The invincible Judge
Vim. H. Burns, the Nestor of the Bar.
These luminarie, have all departed this
life, but their burning eloauence is SUI
wildly recalled by us who sat enthralled'
listening to their fcrvid oratory and I'm
FASHIONED eloquence.
Asa Judge Mr.. Morrison was clear and
comprehensive in expounding the law and
the wavering balance was always Impair
tially adjusted. We all mourn the loss Of
such a man, who in all stations. OF lite
measured up to the full standard OF the
upright and honest man, and who dis'
charged all duties with loyalty and fidelity
His amisbility and courtesy was never
wanting, and at all times was he kind and
genial. He had trait of character t'
which must refere, his retiring modessy
This, in fact, rather handicapped him ii
the struggle of life; it restrained him from
advancing to positions to which his talent
Justly entitled him. He was man, 'h'
better you knew him the more YOU lave
him, and it can be iruthfully said that h
passed through life without making ere
and died without an enemy.