The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-30

his academic studies and received his
legal education. "
Soon after graduation he began the
practice Of law in his native county,
and his brilliant attachments as a scholar
and a lawyer and his talents rs q public
speaker soon brought him into promi-
hence. He was early elected to the SEN
ate Of Virginia, and served with consld-
cradle distinction in that body OF spronni-
nent Virginians. In 1860 he had attained
such prominence and recognition as n
publicist and. speaker that he was made
elector- at large on the Bell and Everett
presidential ticket. Mr.. Christian, as ne
then was identified himself early IN HE
with the Wing party, and devoted ms
talents to Its fortunes in the field OF
polernic politics. When the questions out
OF which the great war between the states
grew began to be discussed, Mr. Chris
$tian took strong ground against secession,
and was a powerful opponent OF this
nomentous step He was serving IN the
Senate Of Virginia during the greater part,
If not all. Of the war period.
Elected to the Bench.
After the close OF the war Mr.. Chris
tan was elected a circuit judge, his cir
cult embracing the counties OF ienrico,
Charles City. New Kent, James City
York, and otherss and served for three
years In this capacity Probably the
most famous /. criminal case tried before
him was that of letter Phillips, who was
convicted in June. 1858, and sentenced 70
death IN July, this being TIE second trlal.
The first arraignment resulted In q mis-
trial. Phillips had murdered his wife IN
IJenrico county, and 1t was three months
before the husband was arrested, inc
crime having been committed In the sum.
NOR OF 1867. The evidence in the ease
was almost wholly circumstantial mi
lps made q determined fight TOT ne, l,iu
was aided by the ablest attorneys 70 w
had. The trial was had IN tho STATS
Capitol, and attracted great crowus, NJ
case being a celebrated one IN the GRIM
nal annals of Virginia. The attorneys
ror he prisoner noted over one hundred
excent,ons in the course OF the trlai.
mi the rulings of the Judge of the ira!
court we're sustained. the Supreme G our
of Appeals refusing writ or error, E.ye =,
afterwards Judge Christian pecan'e q
recognized authority on clrcul'stu'i t'a'
evidence. ,,. .,,dga
yos honored by election TO the penc!
or the supreme Court Of Appeals, W men
wos made up of brilliant array OF
tursts MS has ever composed that tFiipu-
nal perhaps. Judge r. G. L.. Moncure
was president, though Judge CHRISTIAN
was at times acting preslaehl, u''u w
other hurists thereon We're Judge 20 Y.
Burks, Judge Waller r. Staples ana
Judge Francis II. Anderson, The tenure
OF tho court was twelve years and 1t haa
an arduous term, The Underwood Con-
stitution had Just been made enect1ve'
and the state was Just emerging from the
reconstruction period with the many
vexing questions growing out OF the two,
A aaiiiomher Of this court In 1870, Judge
Christian was among those sitting N tho
Capitol In the hearing of the Cahoon-
llllyson mayoralty contest, and Went
down with the falling floor IN that catasT
trophe that plunged a Commonwealth
into mourning, sl,i .gS
Important Opinions,
During Judge Christians service on the
supreme bench of the State he wrote
many opinions on Important legal ques-
tions, among them being those relating %
the construction Of the homestead laws.
He wrote tho opinion of the court IN the
famous divorce case appeal Of Bailey vs..
bailey, which has been often quoted. lie.
also wrote the opinion In the Common
wealth VS.. Deane, famous case In
yolying the value and the weight&of clrT
cumstantinl evidence In criminal cases.
Those familiar with the opin!0pr Of JNdEe