The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-28
JUDGE ROBERT b. PEBBLES.
\ Tribute From a NcighbOr Who
Has Known Him From BoyhOOd.

To the Editor: I have been great
ly surprised and | feel sure, together
with the many friends of Judge Pee
bles, deeply panied to read the many
criticisms and the unuendoes con-
tanned in the many communications to
your paper concerning the most I'M
fortunate action of the Robson
county bar by which Judge PEBBLES
has been forced into SO much no
toriety and controversy.
Not being a member of the legal
profession, 1 do not propose to make
any comments or pass any criticism
upon their actions, except to say that
L feel sure that they have miscon
ceived the intentions of Judge PEBBLES
and / am convinced that of the many,
perhaps some from every county in
the State, who have come in contact
with him either as "Horner boy"
when he was beloved and respected
alike by his teachers and fellow stud
ents, and was known as one who was
liberal and kind, always siding with
the oppressed against the oppressor
AS young gentleman in the true
meaning of the word. at our beloved
university by his open and candid
ways, winning the friendship of his
companions and the respect of those
in authority over him and later, when
that crisis came. which tried mems
four long years, as q soldier and OFF,
Ger, his record will bear comparison
with the bravest of the brave, and as
is we'll known to his companions
whenever it became necessary to call
upon one to perform particularly ard
uous and dangerous service, requiring
GOODNESS and judgment, he was al
ways among the first chosen.
At the close Of the civil war, finding
1, ir,caJf I,xr re racl1ItC rndIicHd in for
tune with others dependent upon him.
With rare courage and firmnesS he set
himself to the task of preparing him
self for the hard struggle Of life.
Taking up the study Of law, he de-
voted himself to its attainment with
such persistency that he soon found
himself with his license to practice
mis- profession and almost at once en-
tered into an active practice which he
has ever since steadily increased.
About this time (The reconstruc-
ton period) our beloved State found
itself in worse than chaos and confu-
sion, and our wisest and best citizens
seeking for the best men to assist in
redeeming the State and her people
from what seemed to be almost GER
tain ruin, Judge PEBBLES was chosen,
after much thought and by our wisest
and best men, to represent their in
terest and welfare in our State Legis-
siature. and again and again reelected.
Judge PEBBLES established such a rep
utation for earneStn eSs of purpose and
wisdom and absolute fidelity to the
best interest of his people as any man
should be proud Of So highly was
he esteemed for his knowledge of the
law, and his impurchasa bic integrity,
that not only his countymen and
friends but his associates at the bar
(and among them We're men-the
equals in attainments and purity OF
character of those from any section
of the State). urged him to seek Ju-
dicial preferment. Yielding to their
wishes and to his natural desire for
judicial honors, he was announced as
a candidate for judge of his district
And now comes the time when no
man could have acted better. Sew
eral times defeated, but by able and
high minded men he accepted his de-
feat without kicking, and in every in
stance, with his usual energy and
Iibcrality, he warmly assisted in the
elections which resulted in their ele-
walton to the most honorable office.
Doubtless it has been observed, time
and again, by those present and par
ticipating In the nominating convan-
lions with what ardor and earnestnesS
his friends worked and labored and
entrusted to secure his nomination;
efforts-made in his behalf? The an
swer is--and the answer is true-that
his friends, those who knew the man,
his absolute fidelity to every trust, his
thorough familiarity with the law and
its practice; his firmness, his absolute
fearlessness to perform any duty when
convinced it was right and necessary
felt a personal concern in his election,
believing that should he be elected to
the bench that in the language of the
bar of this county, and the citizens
attending. as setforth in recent
meeting held in the court house of his
native county. a bar, consisting of
able, upright Christian men. lawyers
not only from his native county, but
from several surrounding counties.
men who had known him from his
youth. who had practiced with him
for years, citiZens-men of culture,