Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-15

Before the banquet hall was opened
the members Of the bar assembled in
the parlors of the hotel, and passed an
hour or more in social converse. Short
w after $50 o'clock the line of members
was formed, headed by Hon. Leslie I.
Cornish. cscorting Justice Spear. and
marched to their seats at the tables,
which were arranged in the form of
r. The chairman, Mr.. Cornish, sat at
the head table. on his right were Jus
tees Spear and Savage, Judge Han,
Councillor Haines and Sheriff McFad-
den: while on his left sat Justice
Whitehouse, Charles F. Johnson, presi-
dent Of the association, Justice Pow
ers and II. NJ. Heath. The other gen
tlemen present were as follows:
w. G. Phlbrook, Greenleaf T. Ste
vens Lendall Titcomb, II. w. True, A.
q. Andrews. Henry Harrington. Fred
Emery Bcane, f. w. Clair, O. H. ca
son, w. II. Fisher, A. Nj. Goddard,
Thomas Leigh, w. c. Atkins, Frank r.
Brown. Benedict f. Maher, l.. T. earle
ton, G. W. Jones, Harvey ID. Eaton,
Geo. W. Heselton, Charles l.. Andrews,
Guy A. Hildreth, f. l.. Dutton, r.. Nj.
Thompson. N. l.. Bassett, George X.
Boutelle, NJ. S. HOlway, Joseph Will
hanson. w. L. McFadden, s. w. Lane,
l.. y. Carver. Lewis a. Burleigh and
George c. Sheldon.
For more than two hours the COM
pany was engaged in partaking of the
various good things which Landlord
Merrill had so beautifully provided for
the inner man, and then, when the
cigars were lighted, the speaking be-
gan.
Chairman Cornish in opening the lit
erary exercises said that he was glad
to see so many members of the bar in
attendance. There are only two kinds
of occasions" said he, when we are
able to secure a large gathering of the
bar. first, when some brother leaves us
to enter another world, and second,
when some member is elevated to the
supreme bench. / wish we could have
gone outside and invited lawyers from
all over the state to do honor to him
whom we all honor, tonight; but this
is more or less a family party We are
brothers of one household. Now that
Judge Spear has left us to go upon the
bench. | call upon President Johnson
to say the parting word
Mr.. Johnson began by referring to
the distinguished jurists from Kenne-
bee county who had adorned the SUI
preme bench of Maine and said that it
was fitting that the members of Ken
nebec bar should meet here, tonight.
and honor the appointment of Albert
NJ. Spear to the place once occupied by
Weston. May. Danforth and Libbey
and now honored by Justice w. p.
Whitehouse. I'm his new station he
has the heartiest and sincerest wishes
of the members of the Kennebec Bar
Association" concluded Mr.. Johnson,
amid applause.
Associate Justice Whitehouse then
extended the welcome of the court to
the new justice in graceful and eloquent
language, prefacing his remarks by
paying sincere tribute to the memory
of the late Justice Fogler, who had
been his classmate in college and his
associate on the bench. He congratu-
lated the members of the bench that
the mantle of the lamented Justice
Fogler had fallen upon worthy Shout
ders AT the conclusion of Justice
Warehouses; able remarks he extend
ed the right hand of fellowship to JUS
tice Spear.
When the latter rose to reply to the
parting and the welcoming words the
company rose and gave three rousing
cheers for their old friend-their new
judge.
Justice Spear said that a man with |
out gratitude is a man without a heart |
He then went on to express the deep |
appreciation of the high honor which |
had been conferred upon him by the |
Governor of the State, and thanked the |
members Of the Kennebec Bar for the |
uniform courtesy he had received at |
their hands during 20 years practice
among them.
During the delivery Of his speech JUS
tice Spear was frequently interrupted
by applause.
Speeches were then made by Jus
tees Savage and Powers, welcoming
the new judge to the bench in behalf
of themselves and their associates.
Letters to the same tenor were read
from Justices Emery, Strout and Pea
body. A letter was also read from ex-