Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-03-23
Action of the Court and Bar on the
Death Of Thomas Anderson, ESQ.

rice Talbot, in few well. chosen remarks,
announced to the Court the death, on the
10Th OF January last, OF Thomas Anderson,
Eco, a member OF this Bar and President of
the Bar Association of this county, stating
that memorial had been adopted by the
Bar Association, and committee appointed
to present the same to the Court.
Whereupon Mr., Philip d. Laird, as chair
man OF said committee, read and presented
10 the Court the memorial and resolutions
adopted by the Bar Association, and which
have heretofore appeared in our columns
Mr. William V. Bouic, Jr., then addressed
the Court, as follows:
On the 9th day of August, in the year
1870, entered into CO. partnership in the
practice Of the law with our lamented
brother, the late Thomas Anderson, which
partnership continued, uninterruptedly, up
TO the time OF his recent death.
| had been admitted TO the Bar of our
Court at the June Term of 1870, inexperi.
enced In everything connected with the re-
sponsibe and anxious duties OF pracu
| tioaeT and therefore was much in need OF
an experienced lawyer, such as he was
From the time | was associated with him
failed to be constant, efficient and kindly
assistant TO mt.
Our confidence, one in the other, and our
mutual attachments were such that neither
ever mistrusted the other and both were ever
| regardtul OF the welfare and interests oil each.
| Ever from the beginning TO the ending OF
that partnerships period of almost thirty
years-amost an entire generation-our re-
| latlons we're of the most cordial and pleasant
character. Aye, TO great extent his friends
were my friends and my friends were his
| friends, as the strong sympathetic bond OF
good will existing between Us, drow our re-
spective friends into a oneness with the
members of the firm OF Anderson u Bouic.
Then how can tail to realize the serious
| personal loss | have sustained In his de
parture, and knowing his great legal attain
ments and literary culture so well, am
| not excusable in stating that our deceased
| brother was one OF our most profound aud
cultured members, and by his long career
and intimate fellowship with all us, has
added as much TO the dignity and respect OF
our profession and the proper elucldaton of
constantly recurring legal principles as any
| lawyer ever at this Bar-which We all recog-
nize has had as many bright and able minds
as that OF any Bar in our State.
| Seldom, il ever did he hesitate to assist
any member OF the Bar when called upon.
Aye, nearly, yes all, OF the present members
| of this Bar are indebted to him for wise and
kindly advice and instruction. Moreover,
nearly all OF the Court wrlts aud forms now
in daily use were prepared by him. And
in this connection | will say that In the
preparation of legal papers and forms OF
whatever nature, he had no superior and
but few equals anywhere. In the opinion
oil my deceased iather, the late Judge Bouc,
as made known to me by him many years
ago, our departed brother was the most
skiliul pleader aud form lawyer OF any he
had ever met Our brother was man OF
strongest likes and diSlikes--hls iondness Tor
friends was a noticeable trait OF his charac'
ter-his friends he al ways deemed the most
upright, capable and intelligent and could
never do too much to help them along by
word or act. And he was not excelled by any
one in that transcendant jewel OF character,
to be rightlully placed in my Judgment,
far above the knowledge OF our profession,
thorough honesty of purpose and lair and
righteous dealing with his fellow
Throughout his whole career | can truth
fully assert that he always made the inter
ests and welfare of his clients the primary
object of his labor, thought and sollcltude-
always subordinating his pecuniary com
pensation and fees To the former.
La .aet he was LOT mentally constituted
fee.getter, and will venture the assertion
that none of his clients will say That ne was
exacting in his charges or persistent In MS
collections, OF that he ever turned a deal ear
10 their request for reasonable indulgence or
reductions lie never :or the sake OF OBJ
tanning business undercharged the profess
| sion, but if after the charges and the Dusl'
ness had been completed bona fide request
was made for a reduction, he would gener'
ally tell AN honest client to pay him only 80
much of his charge rs he felt able.
Certainly can say that in his death the
community has suffered an irreparable loss
and our Bar has lost one OF It's brightest,
wisest and most worthy members. But my
brothers the death of our brother, alter so
many struggles amongst us, and the silence
of his absence should forcibly remind US,
never 10 our contentious with one another
| 10 permit bad feeling to be engendered, and
| no matter how earnest our differences, as
frequently unavoidably they must be, we
should never carry them beyond the trial
table. remembering always that yet but
| little longer we all, one by one, must follow
our deceased brother TO the silent Taoerna-
Gle of the dead, and can only live perpetu
ally in the memory of this Bar by inspiring
a sincere belief in our kindness OF heart ana
Justice OF thought.
The logical mind, the eloquent voice, the
magnetic personality Of all US, soon, aye,
sooner than we are willing to believe, must
sink To rest, as we sleep the sleep preliminary
To our admission TO the Great Court OF Final
Resort above-not TO plead, / nope, but to be
rewarded, as reverently trust, for the good
deeds done and the kindly words spoken
whilst prosecuting our noble profession here
below.
So let US emulate the good and kindly
acts OF our lamented brother and ever Keep
1 A nA.Ko "a
green about US
Mr.. Charles W. Prettyman, being next
recognized, and speaking for the younger
members of the Bar, as their senior, said
Asa boy beginning my life In this com
munity, as young lawyer commencing my
struggle Tor professional existence at this
Bar, learned TO look up To and respect Mr..
Anderson as a learned lawyer and wise
counsellor. Not only 10 the walks Of his
profession was he learned man, bat In the
more flowery paths of general literature be
was possessed of discriminating taste and
broad culture, brought about by extensive
and well chosen reading, so that his advice
and counsel could, with benefit and pleas
ure, be sought In all those things pertaining
10 our broader education and cultivation. As
the years have passed bringing with them in
creasng responsibilities and more burden
some cares in my profession, and as the re.
curing seasons have brought the signs OF
the passing OF the years, the esteem and re.
gard with which | was, as boy, inspired
have grown and developed.
Il is meet that |, az the Oldest OF the young
er members Of this Bar, should bear testi
mony 10 the uniaiing courtesy and unhag'
gng kindness shown 10 me and many others
OF my younger brethren by him whose loss
. | aau nd | ha |
NAV add this little tribute TO the chaplet
which adorns the memory Of wise and
good man.
The Hon. James McSherry, Chief Judge,
responded on the part Of the Court as fol-
lows:
| IanfLoxaeu of The R1r