The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-03-27
JUDGE CLARK AGAIN.
WadesbOrO Messenger and lntelligencer

Wadesboro Messenger and Intelligencer.
Mr.. Edmund Jones, prominent
lawyer Of Lenoir, has written ii
lengthy reply to the attack Of Mr..
Henry Page, president Of the Aber-
deem Il ASHORE Railroad, on Judge
Clark Mr.. Jones takes up all Of Mr..
Pages charges and, in our judgment,
show. most conclusively that there is
nothing in them. In fact. he utterly
iemolshcs Mr.. Pages argument.
Every word of Mr.. Jones refutation
makes good reading. but we have
only room for his tribute to Judge
Clark's character, which is given be-
low:
His written opinions. for their clear
and iucrssive reasoning. strong logic,
sound sense. and fearless Justice. have not
been surpassed, in my Judgment, by any
Judge who ever sat on the bench in this
State. He has done more to make
straight the crooked paths ni the laws,
and to reduce its true wisdom to the
comprehension OF the ordinary layman.
than any one who has preceded him,
Indeed. such Il destroyer OF venerable tic
tions, such a scoffer at the fetch Of legal
idols has he been. that have heard him
called IL legal iconocast. Often after
reading one of his trenchant opinions, i'll
which the sacred mysteries OF the PROBES
sion were with ruthless hand laid open to
the prOfane and vulgar gaze, | have
gricved at the demolished shrine OF some
antiquated pedantry, and, like Rachael
mourning for her children. have refused
to he comiorted because they were not.
As II code lawyer it is admitted on all
sides that he stands in thefOremOst rank
In reducing the leading principles OF the
law and its practice. rs it affects every
| day transactions between man and man,
| or"man and corporation either for that
| matter, into plain, simple and practical
| system, easy to be understood by any
| ordinarily intelligent man, he has render
ed an inestimubIe benefit to his fellow
citizens Only this last summer, as evl-
| dence OF the estimate in which he Is held
| beyond the borders OF the State, the
American Law Book Company, of New
York, selected him to prepare 700 page
article on the intricate title of Error
and Appeal for their new great law en-
cycIopedia That it has been well done
none will doubt. He is the author OF
several law books, one, at least. of which,
cedure, has been pronounced by Il high
authority of another State as 'perhaps
the best ever written on that line
Amidst all his labors he has found time
to write articles of n literary and histOri-
cal character. which have been eagerly
sought by the best periodicals OF the
| United States. Many an interesting cpl
sode in the history of his native State has
| been rescued from oblivion by his re-
search; and with filial affection. and
| without remuneration. he took up the
predigious task of arranging and supern-
tending the publication of the Colonial
Records of North Carolina, at the point
where failing health compelled the lament
ed Saunders to lay it aside. Finally, out
| of love for his comrades. and to illustrate
the heroism of North Carolina in war, he
edited the four volumes of the regimental
histories of North Carolina troops in the
| Civil War. He has been the advocate OF
public education, Il lover of learning. and
leader in each