Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-06-20
THE BARS TRIBUTE
Resolutions Adopted by Law
yers on Death of Judge John
son
Read Before the Court and Entered as
a Part of the Rec0rds-A Notable
Summing up of His Distinguished
Career as Jurist and Statesman :
Judge Masen's Tribute.

AT meeting of the Bar AsS0cla-
tion of Monongalia County, held this
morning the following was submitted
by the committee heretofore appoint
ed, and unanimously adopted, with a
request that the same be entered up
on the records Of the Circuit Court of
this county:
The members of the Monongalia
County Bar hereby express their un-
feigned sorrow at the passing away Of
one of their oldest and most distin-
guished members, The Honorable Okey
Johnson, whose death occurred in the
City of New York, Oh the 10th INST.
After long life of laborious ac-
tiyity, during which he had filled
many responsible public positions with
honor to himself and to the State,
achieved success and distinction in
his chosen profession, and endeared
himself To bis colleagues OF the bar
and a wide circle of friends by his
many engaging qualities OF mind and
heart, he suddenly ceases from his la
bors, his robust and manly frame is
Frustrated with disease, he responds
to the universal call, his place among
us is forever vacant and we mourn
his departure as public bereavement,
We are moved, in this hour, to rec
ord our high appreciation Of the work
of his life and the impress of his char
acter and career as brother in the
profession and a fellow citizen. There
is no need that we should attempt to
perpetuate the memory of his public
services, they are part of the history
of the state. From its formation as
an independent state, he has helped
TO make its laws, to shape it's policy,
to found its situations, and to give dl-
rection and character to its develop
ment as one of the units of our nation
al organization. But it was chiefly in
the,line of,his profession and the direct
work of the practical lawyer that his
life's labor was eentered aud his prin
cipal work was done He was an
earnest and effective advocate, elo-
quent before jury, strong and force
full in his manner and methods of
managing a case, believing intensely
in the cause of his client, determined
and tenacious of his rights until the
court Of last resort had spoken, and
possessing in a remarkable degree the
traits and resources of the successful
trial lawyer And we. of one accord,
will grant that he was ever generous
to his adversary, courteous and con-
siderate to his colleagues in all the
varying heat and strife incident TO the
legal forum.
AS presiding Judge of the highest
court of the state for twelve years,
he has made for himself a permanent
memorial In our judicial literature,
which will be read and studied as a
guide and exponent Of the principles
of the law to generations yet to come.
We believe it to be the judgment OF
the profession that his work as a
Supreme Judge compares fayorably
with that of the able men who have
heretofore occupied this high and re-
sponsible situation, and that in this
the most exalted and trying field OF
labor to which a lawyer or citizen is
eve called he stood the test without
reproach from any quarter and sus-
| tanned himself with credit and honor,
which isIthe highest praise from pro-
| fessional standpoint, that his compeers
could accord him.
1t was fitting, too that the closing
years of his life that had been devoted
TO his profession, should have been
| given to the young men who are as
piring to his place in the ranks, and
that here he should finish out life OF
toll and active conflict and pass peace
| fully to his reward.
He was kindly nature, full of gen.
erous impulse; warm and confidlng
toward his friends; only momentarily
hostile, and ever forgiying toward his
enemies; socially magnetic and conspi'
cuous in whatever circle he moved
his life reflects honor upon his State,
upon his profession; upon his Church,
to which he was devoted, upon his
family and upon his own name as a
representative citizen among his chos
en- people.
And we desire that the records Of
this court shall carry this expression
of our high appreciation of the deceas
ed as a man, a distinguished citizen
and a brother lawyer.
The court ordered the action of the
Bar Association, in which the Judge
of the court coneurred, to be entered
as part of the records Of this court
/ In directing that this memorial b.
entered as part OF the records of thu
court, Judge Mason called attention
to the fact that Judge johnson wa'
one OF that rare class Of men who de
, vote themselves to public duties Otter
at the sacrifice of private interests
Such men were to be found more fre
quently in the past generations
J but in the present day, they are rarely
! met with.
, Judge johnson devoted nearly al
, of his life to public affairs, to the pa
triotic performance of what he con
sidered his duties TO his state ant
country, He served in the most ex
halted positions for compensation
barely sufficient for his needs. II
was a man Of extraordinary ability
and had he devoted himself to privat'
business with the same perseverance
industry and energy he gave TO publ
affairs, he would have died possessed
OF great wealth.
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