Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-24
B. ". SCOTT IS
LAID TO REST
LOCAL ORDER OF ELks CONDUCT
SERVICES AT THE HOME AND
sHAUL CEMETERY

Funeral Address Delivered by John
w. Lewis-54th ResinnentaI Band
and Male Quartet Provide Special
Music for the Occasion.
The faults of our brother wei
write upon the sand, his virtues upon
the tablets of love and memory
With these beautiful words taken
from the motto of the B. P. o. E.,
John w. Lewis paid a glowing tribute
to the late B. W. Scott in the funeral
address delivered this afternoon.
The funeral services were held at
the late residence, 108 South Ward
street, at 2 o'clock this afternoon, in
charge OF the local order of Elks. The
regular ritualistic services were OBJ
served.
/ The members of the lodge assem-
bled at the Elks' hall on East Second
street at 1880 and proceeded to the
residence in body. Special music
was provided for the occasion by the
54th Regimental Band and male
quartet composed of Ernest Mitchell.
James Swirles, w. A. Martin and J. J.
| Treneman. The pail bearers were ].
| w. Lewis, ]. N. Weidenreller. T. AL
| Paliister. c. G. Ayres Harry Ayres and
James Gee. The Elks officiated both
at the house and the cemetery.
The remains were Inferred in thei
Shaul cemetery.
Following is the address delivered
by Mr.. Lewis:
Bennett w. Scott was born fifty.
three years ago at Brandenburg Ohio
county, kentucky. According to the
verdict OF the coroner's jury he came
to his death by a pistol shot wound in
the head about $50 o'clock D. m Jan
uary 20, 1907, at his Office in Ottumwa,
Iowa. but by whom inflicted and wheth.
er accidental or otherwise, is to this
jury unknown
The parents of Mr.. Scott were Geo
W. and Nancy c. Scott. When about
Is years of age he removed with his
parents from Kentucky to southern
Indiana. where he grew to manhood
and read law, being admitted to the
bar in 1873. In 1879 he was united in
marriage to Mary E. Marshall In 1885
Mr.. and Mrs. Scott located in Ottumwa.
Iowa, where and since which time and
until his death Mr.. Scott was actively
engaged in the practice of his chosen
profession
| THE deceased is survived by his
wife and daughter, Milre, also by his
aged mother, three brothers and two
sisters, who reside at Tell City, Ind.
Not Commonplace Man.
Thus may we briefly sketch the b.
ography Of the deceased. 1t is the old,
old story, told countless, millions OF
times since our race was born. the
Igreatest of all stories, the story of hui
man life ard death. B. w. Scott was no
mere commonplace man. During the 20
years ne practiced the profession of
law IN this city he sustained high rank
IN his chosen specially as criminal
advocate. Throughout all this time he
was familiar figure in the state and
federal courts of this part of Iowa. He
defended always with zeal. often with
marked ability. His name is of record
IN large number of state cases of ,ex-
ceptional interest and Importance.
There are, no doubt, many men living
today who owe their liberty at this
moment to his earnest and persistent
advocacy
Always a difficult task to analyze
and catalogue the elements that ex-
plain the success of a lawyer at the
bar, it seems doubly difficult to me now
! to point out just what were the chief
elements Of strength OF the deceased.
1t would be insincere to say that he
was close and profound student Of
the law. He frankly admitted that
study of it's dry technicalities and
abstruse distinctions was tiresome.
However, he possessed safe working
knowledge of his branch of the prac-
tice and sound comprehension of it's
underlying principles. 1t would be ex-
travagant to ascribe to him high or
der Of forensic eloquence Yet his
style was forcib]e and impressive /.
Reasons for Success.
From many years association with
him rs a fellow member Of the bar
would ascrbe the success of Mr.. Scott
chiefly to three things.
"First-His intelligent Judgment Of
human nature
"Second-His industry and ZEAL
"Third-His partisan earnestness
"His remarkable acumen in reading
the character of those who figure as
:. witnesses and parties in lawsuit,
served him WE'LL His industry was
tireless and his zeal for client was
without bounds. Lastly, his earnest
ness often made a very weak case
seem strong and not infrequently he
carried the jury by the very persist
ency Of his appeal.
"a long list of cases might be COM
piled in which he secured acquittals
! for persons accused of crime, any one
of which should justify the claim that
. B. w. Scott will long be remembered
as one OF the able criminal advocates