The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-23

and vas once a candidate for the
democratic nomination, but did not
receive the nomination and vas soon
thereafter elevated TO the bench Had
he entered congress in earlier life,
there is little doubt that he would
| have attained distinction that body
and before the country. His strong
personality, which always commanded
confidence and respect, n his intel
lectual endOwments, which were Of a
very high order, would have COM
bined to have placed him among the
first men Of his day in the national
councils.
In 1877, the criminal court Of New
Hanover county was again created,
and he was elected by the legislature
to the Office of Judge OF that court,
serving eight years. In 1885, the leg
islature created the criminal circuit,
composed Of New hanover and Neck
1enburg counties and again elected
him judge Of that court over which
he presided ten years, when the GRIM
inal court of New Hanover. Mecien-
burg, Robson Vance, Edgecombe,
Warren, Halifax and Craven was Gre
ated and he was appointed judge.
Having presided over these courts for
a period Of twenty-0ne years, he re-
signed il 1897 and withdrew from &C
tive life.
He was onca asked by Governor
Scales if he would accept the appoint
ment Of the superior court judge, a va
cancy having occurred, but he declln-
ed to do SO, because of its duties sep
arating him from his home. After
his retirement from the bench in 1898,
he did not again enter upon the prac-
tice of the law, and has since lived
quietly at home in this city.
He married in 1850 Miss Il Eliza,
the daughter Of DR.. Thomas H.
Wright, Of this city, and a grand
daughter Of Judge Wright, who was a
native of Wilmington. DR.. Wright,
her father, was one of the leading
fnanciers of the state. president OF
the Bank of Cape Fear and a citizen
of distinguished p~osltion; and his
daughter, the wife Of Judge Meares,
was a lady of rare personal attrac-
tons, intelligence, refinement Il
gentle Christian character. Mrs.
Meares died several years ago. The
surviving children Of this union are
Miss Caroline Green Meares. Mr.. Oil
yer Pendleton Meare5 Of Baconton,
Ca, Mrs. H. B. Short Of Lake Wacca-
NAV, and Mrs. Ernes Y. BaltZer CT
Savannah, Ga.
HIS CHARACTER AND PUBLIC
SERVICE.
The dominant characteristics of his
mind were those of vigor, discrimina-
ton, independence and power of ex-
position. His mind quickly grasped
and analysed any subject he consider
ed and in the formation Of its con-
c%lusions, was not Influenced by pre-
vailing fashionable opinion.
He was in his Gay a strong speaker
and commanded great attention. In
the clear exposition of any subject, in
the presentation of facts and in argu-
ment, and particularly in command
of forcib1e and direct language he was
endowed with exceptional intellectual
power. He seldom useG an adjective;
he rarely, if ever, used an illustration,
but he spoke always with b strength
Of conviction, with dignity Of manner
and in clear forceful language. He
could not have been the advocate Of a
cause, however popular, which h did
not approve, and he would have stood
for any cause, which he deemed right
and the occasion demanded, however
unpopular, without fear or thought
Of its personal consequences.
His public reputation rests, how
ever, primarily upon his long record,
ability and character as a judge. By
this record he has reflected great
credit upon his native county and
state. When he first went upon the
bench, We were not sufficiently re-
moved from the denoralizing tenden-
cies of the war to have restored this
section and state to normal condi-
lions. There was much general law
lessness and the criminal courts, over
which he presided, were created in the
first instance to meet unusual condi-
lions. He brought to the bench the
ripened experience OF the lawyer and
the publicist and those qualities o.
strength and power that marked his
life and character. Having high
ideals of the duties and responsible
tiles of his position, he presided with
dignity, firmness and impartiality,
and his court and name soon created
a powerful influence in the repression
Of crime.
He presided over this court and in
this city for many years, when ccndi-
tons were unsettled, but so strong
was the respect for tie court and so
, feared was it by the lawless element,
| we did not have the disorder which
, followed upon his retirement. Had
he remained On the bench it is more
= than probable that the causes, which
| led to our local revolution of 1898,
would not have arisen. After Judge
, Meares retired, the administration Of
the criminal Jul tended to destroy
D.. respect for law, and with the
} loosening Of the reigns of justice, the
criminal instinct of our lawless ele-