The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-03-15
DEATH CLAIMS
NOTED JURIST
Judge BIeckIey, Distinguished Geor-
gian, Crosses Dark River,
WAS AN EX-CHIEF JUSTICE
One of the Host Uniqu, Characters Of
the South and Man of Deep
Legal Learning.
WAS AN EX-CHIEF JUSTICE

Judge Logan E. Bleckley, former
chief justice of Georgia and the first
citizen OF the state, died at his home
near Gainesville, Habersham county,
Wednesday morning, OF brlghts dis
ease, from which he had suffered for
some months
His final hours were peaceful and
he went out without fear or pain.
About his dying bed were gathered
his wife and children.
Logan H. Bleckley was born July B.,
1927, being at the time Of his death 70
years old. He was a mountaineer Of
mountaineers. Born on the hiIltops Of
Rabun county, Georgia, he, as his sires
before him, found his dearest happi.
ness there. He has lived for the great.
or part of his life in Clarkesville, but
much Of his time has been spent in
his lonely lodge on screamer noun
tain, one OF the most isolated peaks
of the Blue Ridge.
Early in his youth he decided to
enter the legal profession, and when
scarcely more than a boy, opened an
Office in a little town in his native
county.
Finding that the practice of his pro-
fession in that remote village would
not support him, he accepted clerk
ship in q transportation office, which
position he held for three years until
appointed as one OF the secretaries
OF the executive department by Cover
nor Towns.
After being at the capitol for about
a year. he again turned to his profess
sion and opened a law Office in Allan
ia in 1859 at the age of 25,
One year later, Notwithstanding his
youth, he offered for the position OF
solicitor general OF the Coweta cir
cult, which at that time embraced the
city of Atlanta. He secured the cleo
ton and for six years served in the
capacity with distinction.
In 1864 he became reporter OF the
supreme court, but three years later
resigned to take UP again the practice
OF law.
lii July, 1875, at the age of As, he
became by executive appointment one
of the justices of the supreme court
Of Georgia. This honor was at first
declined by the distinguished lawyer,
but later accepted and served for 1--WE
years, when he resigned
However, he was not to be permit
ted to pursue the practice of his be-
loved profession, for again In 1887.
when Just sixty, he was called to the
supreme bench, this time as chief JUS
tice. Il was during the twelve years
Of his service as chief justice that
judge Bleckley made his greatest re-
nown. There was probably no more
difficult legal position in the United
States during these years, as this
court was one OF the hardest worked
and poorest paid in the country. The
supreme court now has five justices,
then 1t had only three,
None but a man, who had like Judge
BleclSley, been reared on q farm in
the mountains of North Georgia,
could have stood the strain which
was his lot for the twelve years OF
his occupancy Of this high position.
His decisions during this time have
been quoted from one end of United
States to the other and he made for
himself fame that is national
Al the age of on, in 1894, he re-
signed as chief justice and retired
to his home in the mountains OF
North Georgia, where he spent the
last years of his life,
Governor Terrell issued q procla'
nation, highly euloglzing the dead ju'
rist. and ordering that the state fags
be displayed at half-mast for ten
DAYS. and that the Offices of the cap
itol be closed during the hours set
auart for the funeral obseQuies.