The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-07
TRIBUTE TO JUDGE MEAREs
Committee of Wilmington Bar Will
Prepare Proper Memorial.
Meeting of Lawyers OF This City Held
Yesterday Morning-Fine Tribute to
Memory of the Deceased Paid by a
Committee of the Bar OF Charlotte.


Yesterday morning at $50 o'clock
in the room Of the superior court, the
members of the a of Wilmington
met to take suitable action in regard
to the recent death of Judge O. P.
Meares.
Eugene s. Martin, Esq, was called
to the chair and in a few appropriate
remarks he stated what the Object Of
the called meeting was. On motion OF
George RountTee, Esq, the chairman
then appointed a committee of three
to prepare suitable and proper resolu-
tions on the death of Judge MeareS
and to report their resolutions to the
meeting OF the local bar 10 be held
during the January term Of court. On
this committee the following gentle
men were appointed: Eugene Martin,
Esq, George ROuntree, Esq, and
Marsden Bellamy, Esq.
In connection with this action of the
Wilmington bar, the following from
yesterdays Charlotte Observer, con-
corning the memorial prepared by the
bar Of that city will be read with in
tereSJ.
AT the converting of the superior
c0Urt yesterday morning, a committee
consisting Of Senator HIN. Pharr, So
licitor HeriOt ClarksOn and Mr.. Craw-
ford D. Bennett, in behalf Of the Char
lotte bar, which "a present in a
body, introduced q memorial to the
late judge, o. P. Meares, formerly
judge Of the old criminal court Of
Mecklenburg and New Hanover
ties. The memorial was read by Mr..
Clarkson and it was moved that it be
spread upon the minutes of the court.
Judge r. B. PEBBLES made the order re-
quested and also instructed Clerk of
the Court J. A. Russell to send a copy
OF the memorial to the family of the
late judge at Wilmington.
The memorial was as follows:
"Oliver Pendleton Meares was born
in the city of Wilmington, February
oath, A. D. 1923, and died in the city
of his birth, November 21st, A. D.
1906. For nearly 70 years he lived,
moved and had his being in the city
Of his nativity. He was a son OF
VIM. B. Meares, a distinguished law
yer in his day and time, was a student
at Bingham school and graduated at
the University of North Carolina in
1S48. He was admitted to the bar in
1850 and practiced his profession until
he joined the southern army in 1861
and rose to be lieutenant-colOnel and
served through tic entire war. IL
1885 the counties of New Hanover and
M~ecklenburg had the Legislature OF
North Carolina to pass an act eslab-
fishing a criminal court, and Judge
Meares was appointed its judge and
held this office for over ten years.
Prior to that time he had been for
many years judge of the criminal court
of New Hanover county.
He .yaS 4 mai ~ IN lid COuTag
he believed that the furnaces. the lp-
teliIsence, Tie nigh character Of the
bar are under Providence, he HUrest
and the best safeguard of q just and
we'll regulated freedom, and that all
the institutions of our country will be
perpetuated in health and vigor, so
long as the bar maintains its unstaln-
ed integrity and honor. He had such
an influence on the members OF he
bar, who practiced before him, that
if n ever had a mind to stOop to
conquer, they were afrais o ashamed
to attempt it in his court. He was a
terrier to evil-doers and the strong arm
of the law administered by him held
in absolute subsection he CT E.inai
class in the counties owe which he
was Judge. They feared him n the
Iaw-abiding citizens hOnored him and
felt secure and safe and knew that he
would see to it that the law Would DC
Justly administered. He 1espised Il
moan act and never bent his knee to
any false clamor and never set HIS SAIL
to catch the passing breeze. Compa
tive by nature, tsrOng in his likes and
dislikes. but at all ines true to con-
viction his fra nix and manly charac-
ter. noble bearing and elevated stan
dard of morals, BILE lGed with dignity
of department, ~consrircd. TO make him
IGNORED by all who Co:.d apprecl tie
the noblest qualitie7 Of our nature.
AS a criminal judge there was no SUI
perior; stern, ~unbending in the right;
he was a model to patrer3 after.
A soldier of the south, a lawyer OF
the old school, a judge without fear,
and without %reproach; Snail we ever
meet his like again.
Foregoing respectfully submitted,
H. y. Pharr,
~ n RnpnStt