The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-12


and he felt that If he could make such d
speech the ambition of his life would be
achieved. He worked on the farm dur
ing his VACATIONS, and spent year at
school at Ktnston where be made many
friends, and where he received from Rev..
Joseph H. Foy, his preceptor, the en-
couragement and stimulus which reused
his ambition and inspired him with conf
dence in his powers. He was some time
afterwards sent to The Wilson Collegiate
Institute, wherS he was prepared for col-
lege. Here he was one Of the best stn-
denis, careful and diligent in preparation
fond of reading and taking leading part
in the debating society. Here Id the moot
court of the society, associated with the
writer, he defended his first murder case
against the vigorous prosecution of Mr..
Rodolph Duffy, now the able solicitor fof
the Sixth Judicial district. 1t was noted
at this period of his life that whenever
he addressed an audience he received it's
undivided attention His voice was not
melodious and he was rather awkward
in his movements, but when ne rose to
speak every person within reach OF his
voice listened until his conclusion. There
was about him an earnestness, q SINGER
ity and directness that seemed to COM
pei attention.
He enjoyed the confidence and respect
OF the faculty, his fellow students, and
the citizens OF the town. and won the
love OF the lady who afterwards became
his wife,
He entered the University at fall term,
1877. Here be devoted himself to COM
pleting the course in three years; his
1,none ho;no ltvv,gtnd ~ INC valua nf q
farm inherited from his father which
he sold to pay his college expenses. He
stood at the head of his class in Latin
Composition and Immediately won the af-
lection Of DR.. winston, then Processes
OF Latin, by the ease with which he
translated Latin into English While
pursuing the regular Phi. B. course he
read widely and constantly, He soon took
first rank as debater in the Phi Society
of which he was a member, and before
his graduation he had no superior in the
society as a speaker. He was not fond
Of mathematics but forced himself ia
master distasteful subject. After an
exciting contest 10 which ne showed un-
usual qualities as leader, he was elect
ed chief marshal in 1878. At the COM
mencement in June following his election,
whether by the procurement Of some hui
morous friend or some jealous rival, OF
by one Of those accidents which defy ex-
PLANTATION, as he led the procession, ar
rayed in all the glory OF chief marshal
the band struck up the then popular tune
"See the Mighty Host Advancing, Satan
Leading On. much to the amusement OF
his friends and somewhat to his discom-
fort. He was very popular at the Uni
Yersity, and made many friends in the
village whose esteem and confidence he
still enjoys.
He graduated in 1880. receiving the
Wiley p Mangum medal for oratoFy, and
the bingham ,Essayist medal, ..s
He had begun the study Of law with
DR.. Battle at the University and after
wards completed the course with the late
A. X. Smedes at Goldsboro, While read
ing under Mr. Smedes he canyaese!
Wayne county for the Democratic tic ct.
/ He began the practice OF law at COLDS
boro IN January 1881, associated with the
writer under the firm name OF sAyeoeh
and Daniels. This partnership was
formed at commencement, June, 1880, and
lasted without interruption until Mr. Az
cock was inaugurated Governor in Jam
uary. last,uGtst .,.r ia. .Hea
AS a lawyer his success was marked
from the beginning He appeared ip9many
OF the most important and hotiy con
tested cases in the counties OF Wayne,
Wilson; Johnston. Green, Duplin. Sampson,
LenOir and PITT student or The Ia ~
as well rs OF human nature, logical and
well balanced mind, large. endowment
of physical. strength, a vocabulary en-
riched by familiarity with the highest
models OF speech, possessed OF a sincere
and vifile eloquence that moved and con-
WINGED. he was a power before jury
whose effectiveness could not be safely
under estimated. 1t was one OF the ex-
lperiences of a life time to SIC him at his
hest as counsel fer fhe defendant in a
capital case. cchtesting every inch,
watching eYerv dew Torment, sighting the
introduction OF injurious evidence. pro-
tecting his client from every aspersion,
and when the evidence was in. rising to
the height Of the argument. dissecting
motive, exposing fallacy laying falsehood
bare, and tearing away the mask OF
hypocrisy, with all the power Of ridicule,
sarcasm and invective, or constructing
from the evidence an impFegnable de-
tense, terrifying 1t with every resource
known to human ingenuity, and defend
ing it with an eloquence so overwhelming
that the assault was beaten down and
the prisoner acquitted amid the plaudits
Of the court and spectators. To the gem
tlemen described by Judge Henderson as
the lay gents" a. legal argument is pro-
verbally dry and embarrassing, but Mr..
Ayeock's legal arguments were always
attractive to the laity as we'll as to the
court. He clothed the most abstract
proposition with so much Of human inter-
est that it was no longer a dry skeleton,
but living flesh and blood. His knowledge
of the Bible, frequent and reverent use
Of it's sacred texts, and the religious spir-
it which pervaded many Of his speeches
sometimes gave them the appearance and
effectiveness Of the most powerful SER
mons.
After practice extending over 90
years, and embracing cases of every
character. after hundreds Of vigorously
fought contests against the ablest and
most resourcefui lawyers of the State,
no man can say Of him that he ever
fought other than a fair fight, or that he
was ever wanting in loyalty to his clients
or in affection 10 his brethren. His love
OF his profession, his high ideals and
stainless record, his industry, ability,