The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-01
PAID To
JUDGE WILKINSON
Bar ASSOCIATE on Passes ReSoIu-
lions of Respect
HONOR TO HIS MEMORY
Is Made That Portrait of
the Late Judge Be Made, and This
May Be Done-Many Law
yers Present.
HONOR TO HIS MEMORY

Resolutions of regret on the death of
the Hon William w. Wilkerson, who was
senior judge of the City court Of Biz
mingham, were passed yesterday morn
ing at a meeting of the Jefferson County
Bar association,
The meeting was held In the Circuit
court room, and every chair was filled
when the meeting was called to order by
Chairman w. C. Ward. The resolutions
were introduced by E. X. Campbell,
chairman of the committee on resolutions,
which was appointed at the meeting last
Friday. The resolutions were as fol-
lows.
In Observation-Disclosures Wilkersons
William w. wilkerson was appointed
associate Judge of the City court OF Biz
mingham In March, 1891. He was reflect
ed to that office in August, 1892. and was
elected presiding judge OF the same court
in 1898, for a term of six years, which he
was serving at the time of his sudden
death from heart failure on the night OF
June rs, 1903. He had, therefore, been upon
the bench over twelve years
In the discharge of his duties he had to
try cases at law with jury and without
| a
them involved large amounts and most
of the cases were strongly litigated, en-
rendering warmth of discussion, and at
times some bitterness between litigants
or attorneys. At no time has there ever
been breath of suspicion or the sugges-
ton of wrong doing in any of his 1udg-
| ments Iitigants and lawyers alike have
uniformly felt that his opinions and judg-
ments were the result Of painstaking la
Dor earnest thought great learning and
honest conviction. His mind was honest,
and his bent was always to do what
was right His temperament was suited
TO a judicial office, and he discharged his
duties with eminent ability. Possessed
bv nature with some reserve of manner
he was always punctual, courteous and
dignified. None were repealed by him. In
trials of cases he was attentive and pa
tient to a degree. Whatever his opinion
was upon a question he held his mind
open for light upon the points at Issue,
and sought always to administer the law.
In his court he was no respecter of per-
sons. All cases and all lawyers received
at his hands the same patient attention.
AS a man he was without reproach. He
came In and went out among his fellows
as a good citizen and Christian GENTLE
man. He walked In his integrity.
His Views were broad and his aims
were high As a result he was respected
by everybody as an eminent judge, a
pure man, loyal friend and an upright
citizen.
His sudden death in the prime Of man
hood and usefulness was a great shock
to the community, and a great loss to the
state. 1t is, therefore, by the bar OF
| Jefferson county
Resolved, That we endorse to the full
est extent what has been said above about
Judge Wilkerson, and we greatly deplore
his death, which we recognize not only
as a personal loss TO US, but as loss
of an eminent jurist and citizen to our
county and state.
Resolved, That we tender to his widow
and children our heartfelt sympathies
in their loss of q husband and father
who was devoted to them and who was
good and manly
Resolved. That this preamble and reso-
lutions be presented to the several
courts of record In this county and to
the Supreme court. with the request that
1t be spread upon the courts minutes.
Resolved, That copy be sent to the
family or Judge Wilkerson,
e. K. CAMPBELL
f. H. CABANISS,
JAMES j. BANKS,
]. c. CARMICHAEL.
AUGUSTUS BENNERs,
Committee.