The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1905-03-10

Address Of Colonel v. L. Clayton
at Dedication of New Courthouse

his great loving heart and sympa-
thetic nature was at all times
ready to plead the cause of the
widow and contend for the rights
of poor orphans without reward.
By Col. Beene's side, and a
former partner of his, sat the
eloquent divine, and not less ell
oqent and learned lawyer, the
Rev. Auther B. Bullard; ungainly
of person, with deep set piercing
eyes, in a broad and lofty head;
man with powerful influence
with the people, and strong in
the presentation of legal argument
before the courts. He was a great
advocate, and and who came as
near making his clients cause
his own as any lawyer | have
known, unless it be Col. Blair.
Over by his elbew were the
two Owens, Benjamin l.. and D.
w. Owen. B. L. Owen was a
good lawyer, striking his adver-
sary hard blows, and being sure
to trip him up if he left any gap
down even to the dotting of an or
the crossing of a t. Rather small
of person, with jet black hair, and
in his dress scrupulously neat at
all times.
D. W. Owen, and who was
universally called Buck" Owen,
was a poet, an orator and a states
man as we'll as a lawyer. He had
a magnificent physique, with
broad and massy head, large daz-
ling eyes, and the corriage of a
prince, yet the poorest and most
humble were welcome at his
home, and he was approachable
to all. His eloquence was of that
electric character that thrilled
his audience from center to cir
cumference, and the crowds who
heard him were movee to and fro,
as grain ripe for the reaper is
moved before the wind. Nor was
he less a soldier and a patriot
than a lawyer, orator, poet and
statesman; but, when the south
land was endangered, he marched
to her assistance and attempted
rescue to the music of his own
martial poetry, and sacrificed his
life csJen iler altar, while leading
his company in the charge on the
bloody field of Murfreesboro.
Of the younger set of lawyers
then serging to the front, was
James J. Lindsey, rough hewn,
but kind hearted and noble, gen
erons to a fault, owing his friends
with al undying love, brave as q
lion, answering IL his integrity,
high minded ard tue. He, too,
lost his life on the bloody and DIS
astrous field Of Jonesboro, in the
thickest of the fight, leading his
company, of which he was a lieu
tenant as was Buck Owen. Thus
Owen and Lindsey tent on
"fame's eternal campi:ls ground
Marmaduke NJ. Shelley, over in
the corner there, of massy build,
round black eyes, with the voice Of
a Jenny Lind for singing charmed
his friends, and by his wonderful
fund Of anecdotes moved all to
laughter and good fellowship.
AS adiutant of his regiment, he
marched and charged in the thick
est of the fight from Shiloh to
to Franklin without a wound,
and then came home to die of a
lingering disease contracted IN
the camp.
And what shall / say Of Jasper
N. Kitchener. Poor Jappie! Low
ing and tender and true, as brave
as the bravest, as loyal as the
most loyal. But when we all
marched off forthe iield of coflict,
the hectic flush had touched his
cheek, and the hacking cough
had so weakened his frame that
he was compelled to return to
the old home near Mooresville,
and drop into the ground instead
of offering up his life on the
altar of his country, the dear
Southland, as he desired to DO.
The picture is now painted,
save one more stroke of the brush.
Iu the midst of that group, which
rises to my minds eye with vivid
distinctness today, there is 9
rather small man, almost delicate,
with we'll rounded forehead, no
BILE in bearing, genial in compan.
ionship. not gifted in speech, but
a well grounded lawyer, with
WE'LL prepared and charmingly
written papers in all his causes,
but especially in chancery, ano
| princely in the simplicity of his
home life, Jeptha Robins, the
he friend of all mankind. He
who knew him loved him, anc
he who loved was loved again, il
| Worthey.
Here are my first loves in the
law; but, sir, like the old court
house, they have been succeeded
by the new, but, with all due re.
| c,,oo+ fo,. +ho nnm 7 cannot say