The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-07
ORNAMENT TO HIS PROFESSION.
John W. Hays as Seen by One of His Con
freres.

] To the Editor: Iwish to add word
to what has been SO well said about my
friend John w. Hays, whose death re-
Gently occurred in the bosom of his de-
voted family at his hospitable home in
Oxford. N. c. Mr.. Hayes belonged to
that type of lawyer whose life is
| blessing to his community. He was
incapable of fomenting strife. When he
sued man the public knew instinct
! lively that he ought to be sued and the
| jury almost always so found. | venture
| to remark that he has refused to aD-
| pear in as many cases, that his con-
science told him were without merit,
| as any man of his day. No cause, how
ever celebre could entice him to de-
part from this high ground.
He was a singularly methodical ana
| painstaking man. His patience was
deep and enduring AS chairman of
| the county court in Granville he il
| Illustrated this virtue Neither the
| fiery and often respondent Col. Har-
grove nor the tempestuous nature of
young N. B. Cannady, nor the subtle
| ly of other lawyers ever ruffled his
temper or placed him at a disadvantage.
| He was the ideal of a judge. Some
times in an exciting trial, when an OPP
ponent was having great sport at the
writer's expense he did wish that the
patient presiding officer would follow
Mansfield's direction and make it dis
agreeable for the speaker to talk non
sense. But he was too impartial for
that. Indeed Mr.. Hays could look at
] matter, in which he was much con-
/ ba hal orb Of int
in it, He was slow of speech and very
nice in the choice of words. OF course
| he loved the classics. IN his love of
| Shakespeare he was wanton. The
| obscure passages were his delight. He
was a great student of the scriptures
and he loved wholesome fiction. While
he was always a Democrat, still he
could see the faults of his own side.
and hence he could not be partisan;
/ and no other than partisan can be a
| great political leader Mr. Hays had
no tolerance with strife and turmoil.
He was q man of peace The golden
rule was the measure of his conduct
AS a lawyer Mr.. Hays had few supe-
| riors in this State. Not that he was a
great nisi-prius lawyer. His mind
would become fixed upon some central
| truth in the case and it could not fol-
| low with the quickness of some less
able man. the changes and developments
of ar exciting trial. At such times,
when the electric sparks were flying
about his head he would sit serene
and quiet, waiting for the storm to
pass, when he would conduct his case
as he had studied and prepared it in
| his closet.
AS a legal adviser Mr.. Hays was at
his best. The Granville people in great
numbers sought him out and followed
implicitly Whatever he said. The Crews,
Hunts. Meadows. Hobgoods. Currins.
Flemings, Thorps, Stovalls Stems,
Mitchells, Lyons, Aikens. Greens. and
other typical Granville people had him
write their wills, settle their estates,
lend their money, counsel their child
rem and advise their families in matters
legal, social ethical and ecclesiastical.
How can his place be supplied?
| When he came to mention the matter
| OF his fee, which he very seldom did,
he was so modest that you would al
most think the subject panied him. He
was 1ull of fun, or rather humar, ] would
| say. once In the trial of fraud case in
granville, my formeS partner, Hon A
| w. Graham was rubbing it into Mr.,
hays IN great shape, and asking with
evident satisfaction: "Now, Mr. Hays,
how are you going to get around
Eigenbrun VS.. Smith. Eigenbrun VS.
Smith settles the case gentlemen of the
jury an dmuch more to the same eff
feet. l saw merry twinkle in Mr.
Hays eye when he came to reply and
as he said in measured fashion: Gen
tlemen of the jury, I have observed my
Bro. Graham in the trial of many cases.
and when he is sorely pressed he always
falls back eH Eigenbrun VS.. Smith. If
1t is the caveating of will, or claim