The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-06
Meeting Of the Bar Associa-
ton Yesterday.
Members Of the Bar Speak Of the Life
Of the Distinguished Jurist
GREATEST ADVOCATE OF RECENT YEARS
Resolutions Appropriate to the Life and Services
Of The Late Judge Fuller Adopted by Ris-
ing Vote. Mr.. R. y. Battle, Capt
Ashe and Others SPEAK.

AsFe and Others Speak.
The memory of the late Judge Thomas
G. Fuller was honored yesterday at
meeting of the Raleigh Bar Association.
Resolutions appropriate to the MEM
Dry of the distinguished jurist and citi-
zen, and expressive of the esteem in
which he was held by his fellow men
were adopted by rising vote
Members of the bar, several Of whom
had known him ultimately since a young
man. spoke feelingly of the life of the
deceased. With practical unanimity
Judge Fuller was referred to as the
most distinguished and eminent practi-
toner at the local bar in recent years.
Among those who spoke of the life of
the deceased were Mr.. r. H. Battle,
Capt. s. A. Ashe, Judge w. S. OBJ. Rob-
inson and Mr.. w. ]. Peele.
The meeting was presided over by
Maj. J. B. Bachelor and Mr.. B. c. Beck
with acted as secretary. The report of
the committee appointed to draft reso-
luticns in commemoration of the life of
the deceased was presented by the
chairman, Ex-Judge T. B. Womack
After the reading Of the committees
report Mr.. r. II. Battle arose for the
purpose of seconding the motion for it's
adoption. Mr.. Battle paid magnifi-
cent tribute to the life of Judge Fuller.
He has probably known him longer
than any citizen of of Raleigh, the ac-
quaintance dating to the days of their
boyhoOd AMI again as students at the
University. II have never known
greater philosopher in all my life than
Judge Fuller" Mr.. Battle declared.
His qualities of abstraction and atten-
ton We're remarkable. I have seen him
sit for hours with his mind intent upon
some subject. He used law books but
little. He spent hours in silent thought
and he studied cases in that manner in
preference to pouring over books. Judge
Fuller took an immense interest in the
cases of his clients. He always preferred
to appear for the defendant. and the
more desperate his case the brighter his
intellect seemed to shine. He seldom
prosecuted for claims, because he did
not like to handle money. He didn't
know or care for the value Of money.
He practiced law for the love of con-
test and of law.
f. WIS never d iIiOF0 liberal IIldu
than Judge Fuller Mr.. Battle declar-
ed. His liberality was not in giving
alone, but in charity of thinking as WELL
He gave the benefit of doubt to all with
whom he came in contact. He preferred
to think well than bad of the world.
His was hopeful, cheerful disposition.
He was honest, prudent, wise, chari
table and we have cause to grieve since
~ - yoc
Capt. S. a. Ashe, who as member of
the firm of Merrimon, Fuller & Ashe,
learned to know Judge Fuller as did few
men. He spoke eloquently Of the life
of the deceased. Capt. Ashe told of the
formation of this legal partnership
years ago, which was at that time con-
sidered the strongest in the State. His
remarks, personal as they were in a
way, We're admirably said. Capt. Ashe
had the greatest admiration for Judge
Fuller, whom he declared to be of the
greatest lawyers he had ever known.
Judge w. s. OBJ Robinson said he
could not let the opportunity pass with
out saying some word of admiration for
the man whom the Association met to
honor. His acquaintance with the late
Judge Fuller began when he was a
IL.
a timid young lawyer, Judge Robinson
said he would never forget. He referred
to the time when as Assistant District
Attorney he came to Raleigh, and That
Judge Fuller, though appearing for de-
PENDANTS. SEE med to try to help him be-
cause he was young lawyer Referring
to a case in which he was Interested,
Judge Robinson said the defense con-
TN.,lI a
magnificent he had ever seen. He was
a man of courage and frankness and po-
sessed all the qualities that go to
make real man. Judge Robinson said.
Mr.. w. j. Peele spoke of his admira-
ton for Judge Fuller, whom he thought
to be the greatest advocate he had
known in his practice at the bar.
The report of the committee. which
was adopted by rising vote, is as fol-
lows:
Thomas g. Fuller was born in February,
1892 His paternal grandfather, Bar
tholomew Fuller, was Baptist minister
of more than local renown. and actively
participated in the stirring events of his
young manhood, he being just twenty
years old when the War of the Revolu-
ton began His wife was Sally Cooke, of
the we'll known Franklin county Cooke
family.
Judge Fuller's father, Thomas Fuller,
married Catherine Raboteau, who was of
Huguenot descent. In early life he moved
from his native county of Franklin to
the town of Fayetteville, and engaged in
an extensive mercantile business, but
dying young he left his widow with three
small children dependent chiefly upon her
efforts for support. Mrs. Fuller there
upon returned to Franklin county and re-
NAMED there until her children were
grown. The eldest, Sarah, married Mr..
Il. H. Blount. and has been dead for
number of years. Her next child, named
Bartholomew for his grand father, grad
mated with high distinction at the Uni
yersity Of North Carolina in the early
fftics, read law and settled at Fayette-
vile. He filled positions OF honor and