The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-14
THE BENCH AND BAR
PAID FEELING TRIBUTE TO THE
MEMORY OF FALLIGANT.
SOLDIER, LAWYER, JUDGE,
IN EVERY STATION IN LIFE HE DID
HIS DUTY WELL.


Friend Memorial Resolutions
Trace Judge FaIIigant's Career
from the Cradle to the Grave.
Osborne, MeIdrim, duBiEnOn, Adj
ans and Others Lny the Flowers
of Their EIOGuence Upon His
Bier.
The memorial services of the Savan-
nah Bar Association in honor of the
late Judge Robert Falligant were held
in the Superior Court room at noon
yesterday. They were impressive al
most beyond description, and displayed,
in the resolutions offered and adopted,
in the words of eloquent and appre-
ciative eulogy passed by his friends
and in the somber mourning that every
face was wearing, the love, veneration
and high esteem in which the departed
jurist was held by his brothers of the
bar.
In the center ofthe alcove in which
the judges bench is placed, where for
twelve years and more Judge Falligant
had held with equal hand the scales of
justice and equity, had been hung
handsome picture of the man. 1t was
the gift to the court of it's officers.
Framed in the black hangings that
since the death of Judge Falligant have
draped the court rooms it was through
out all the proceedings a constant and
powerful reminder of him in whose
honor these exercises were held.
T,,A VoI1 oY1fs
successor on the bench, presided at the
meeting of the bar; seated with him
was Judge Thomas M. Norwood, of the
City Court before them in the court
room were most of the members of the
legal profession here, leading citizens
of Savannah and well known men
from other cities. A few minutes after
noon the sheriff opened court and
Judge Barrow announced the sad and
solemn purpose for which the session
had been convened.
On behalf of the committee Mr.. Wal
ter G.. Charlton read the memorial
resolutions, moved their adoption by
the court and that they be spread upon
it's minutes and that a copy be sent
to the family of the dead jurist.
The eloqeunt periods of the tribute
that had been prepared came with ten
der and sympathetic grace from Mr..
Charlton's lips and found a responsive
echo in the hearts of those upon whose
intently listening ears they fell. Some
times, indeed, this response found ex-
preston in a half-repressed sob or in a
crystal drop that fell silently from
eyes that for years perhaps had not
known so gracious a herald of their
grief. 1t was such an exhibition of
the sorrow of stern and strong men as
is rarely witnessed in Savannah, which
at best, or worst, does not easily or
willingly give way to it's emotions.
The Resolutions Seconded.
In a feeling speech Mr.. w. w. Os-
borne. solicitor general of this circuit
and in this and "a more Intimate ca
pacity closely associated with Judge
Falligant for many years, seconded
the adoption of the memorial resolu-
tions Ny the court.
Oppressed as we all are" said Mr..
Osborne, by the great calamity that
has befallen us in the death of one so
is difficult to find words in which to
express our sorrow. Perhaps our trib-
unite to Judge Falligant may be ex-
pressed in two sentences: We were
fond of him; we shall cherish his men,
Dry.
"The very sadness and solemnity that
pervade this assemblage to-day are a
very high expression of the tender az
lection in which we held him we have
met to honor.
TT will be conceded that Judge Fall
Igant was the possessor of, a higher
order of mentality than is bestowed
upon the average man, but more, much
more. than this, he had that deep
sense of honor that only animates the
breast of him whose life and thoughts
and deeds are pure beyond the fear
of reproach Possibly his most dis
tinguishing characteristic was his un-
failing good humor. that caused him
to see always the better side, and to
hold out his hand in kindly assistance
to the weak, the erring and the OPP
pressed.
II fear few of us yet realize the ex-
tent of our loss. For myself, so ac-
customed have l been on entering this
room to see his kindly smile and re-
ceive his kindly greeting, l cannot
yet think that he has gone-that for
him the blackness of the night has
come and shrouded his living presence
forever from our sight.
But to those of us who have faith
in the Christian religion, there is
sweetly tender thought. To all of us
death comes soon or late, and the
lengthening shadows soon, perhaps
will warn us that the evening is COM
ing on apace. May they bring also the
hope that we yet shall see his smiling,
kindly face and feel the warm grasp
of his hand on the other side"
4 Judge who Knew the Right.
The next address was by Col. p w.
Meldrim. He began by saying 1t had
been his privilege to know Judge Fall
ligant from earliest childhood. He had
met with him frequently at the barr
had served with him in the Legisla-
ture and during his entire term on
the bench had been a practitioner in
the courts over which he presided.
Judge Falligant was not technical
lawyer or erudite judge. but l knew
him to be more than either--a great
chancellor. He seemed instinctively
to grasp the merits OF a case and in
almost every instance his decision eX-
pressed the inherent justice of the con-
troversy. II appeared he had made a
rule of conduct a principle first enun-
cated by Chief Justice Lumpkin: After
all where lies the justice Of any case,
l try always to give heed to that
Col. Meldrim spoke in feeling and
forcible terms OF the purity Of the
life and the uprightness of the char
acter of Judge Falligant which he
said should be an inspiration TO the