The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-04

man. ana ne ola SO very Vigorously. hthN
afterwards he had. as attorney, to I'M
prison the same man for debt. under tne
old casa that has been abolished, al
though the old casa Jail still fingers on
the Courthouse Square as monu-
ment, Il not a relict, Of this old bar
baris,n. The man impugning his motive
in doing his duty. nscribed to him me!-
ecenary motive and sordid greed for fees,
and told his neighbors that Mr.. Gresham
would tightly hold and squeeze the eagle
on a silver dollar until 1t shrleked.
To emphasize that he could be tempted.
and purchased with a fee, and to guy
him, this fellow one Christmas eve. at
night, placed in mis- walkway at his
front door an old-fashioned log-fall opos-
sum trap. and baited it with silver
quarter. AS Mr.. Gresham came out the
next morning he discovered the trap. He
went back and procured his old-fashioned
iron fire tongs and returned entirely i'm
perturbable and with perfect equauimity
of temper. After rescuing the quarter
and safely lodging It in his pockct-book,
he threw the trap and made his servant
cut up the log and put it on his
Christmas fire, blazing and cracking in
the old open fireplace
Colonel George Wright was appointed
the fifth attorney for the Commonwealth
in 1897 and remained in office until he
died, in December, 1880. He was said
to be forceful lawyer and finely equip
ped attorney for the Commonwealth. He
is said TO have been a man Of fine APP
pearance and charming personality.
Judge Croxton in one of his most brill7
ian: addresses, delivered with such
JUNCTION and grace q short time since,
described him most tempting and
irresistible widower; that when he was
in pursuit of his third wife, to whom
he was then aflianced, he was terribly
rr,a tiS,,, ", hi 1t,rC
and that he had lost almost all ambua-
tory yigor and power of locomotion; that
he always visited his Alliance with coach
and fine horses and servant, anu carried
q slick board as an attachment and fix
ture. Just before getting to the house
Of his alliance he would get his servant
to slip him out of his coach on this board
SO that he, by walking, rubbing ard ex
tensive manipulating, ard supplinG his
legs with st. Jacobs oil, &C, he could
walk nimbly and erect In the smiling
presence of his lady love, when he reach
ed his destination. The judge in point
ing the moral and admirng the tale, adj
monished all widowers and widows pres
ent not to be deferred in such pursuits.
even if they could not walk. but to take
fresh encoura cement. which deliverance
was received with tumultuous applause.
ADVOCATE OF THE POOR.
William y. Wright was tie sixth! at
torney for the Commonwealth, and was
appointed in January, 1851. He was sue
ceeded by Thomas Croxton, who was
elected May. 1S52-Winiam. A. Wright
declined to run. He was the last at
toruey for the Commonwealth who was
appointed under the old regime, and
Thomas CroXton was the first elected
under the new Constitution. which made
the attorney for the Commonwealth of
the county the attorney TO prosecute in
the Circuit Court. During the period
that Colonel George Wright held office.
William y. Wright was defending in
every case. At every term they measured
swords and shiTered lances and PEOPLE
used TO attend court to witness the
forensic encounters of these Sladiators.
William A. Wright in his latter days
was a great reader. and lie devOured
every novel and all current literature
that came out. This added a wealth of
freshness and brightness to his language,
and he could be incisive and aggressive
with his keen Damascus blade. He was
always found on the side of the OPP
pressed, and was ever the ready advocate
and champion of the poor. What Bacon's
Abridgn2fnt was to John Warden, and
Minors Institutes 10 the modern prac-
titioner. old HcninE's Justice was to Will
liam a. Wright. Colonel George Wright.
with his rheumatic pains and increasing
co,pulency was more sensitive as he
and projecting physique. His ccrpulency
had become so robust that he not only
had TO slide out of his coach on that
noted slick board, but he had TO so ad
just his centre of gravity by going down
the steps backwards as to prevent break
ing off at the ankles. On one occasion.
when the two Wrights had finished ar
:yument in a heated case. the presiding
Justice of the old County Court de
iivcred the opinion adverse to Colonel
Wright's contention. He had been so
Sanguine of success and so nOn-pluSsed
was he at the decision, that he intem-
porately and impetuously said if the court
adhered to the opinion that lle would
turn his back on the court. To which
William A. Wright rctorted that the
court had rather look at his back than
his by. The remark created much
eclat, and was scored as a clever hit, and
was what the Frenchman calls bon
mot. William a. Wright was a student
of law under Judge LomaN. He loved
and reverenced the judge. and every word
of Judge LomaX was a religion on his
lips to him.
OUT OF HIS JURISDICTION.
In the celebrated case of .'Faut VS.. Mil
Ter & Mayhem, II Graf. Judge LomaX
presiding. Vim. A. Wright was one of the
counsel. When the report Of the Master
Commissioner came in for confirmation
the amount of debts reported reached
-slCe, 600 or more. The enornlity of the
amount in the report SO startled counsel
and Intensified interest, that amidst al
most a panic, it was a severe tax on the
ingenuity and research of counsel 10 know
how at once to meet the crisis, and to for
mulate exceptions to meet the emergency
and grave contingency. William a.
Wright, amidst the solemnity Of the Occa-
sion and the gravity of the controversy
arose and said MAY it please your HON
or I doubt if the Court has jurisdiction
of such an amount" which seemed to re-
lieva the situation and elicit the smile of
the great jurist presiding.
Thomas CroXton was elected the sew
enth Attorney for the Commonwealth, and
qualified July. 1852, under the new con-
stitution as Commonwealth Attorney of
the County and Circuit Courts. and re-
manned in Office until 1865, when he was
succeeded by Rufus S. Rennolds.
Thomas CroNton was graduate of the
University of Virginia, and was Captain
on Gen Geo. E. Pickett's staff for some
time He was elected to Congress in 1884:
was elector on the Hancock ticket; was
re-appointed Attorney for the Common
wealth January II, 1892, and resigned the
same February 20, 1892, to accept the po-