Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-24


sound judgment or practical common
sense. a faculty Indispensable to a
successful career either at the bar or
upon the bench.
His moral nature worked in har-
mony with his intellectual qualities.
His positive and conscientious cOnvic-
tons upon moral and religious ques-
tons, his enlightened sense of public
duty, and his strong personality were
manifest in his judicial career If in
the administration of the criminal law
he ever appeared severe in his judg-
ments. it was never toward the youth
full offender, but the confirmed and
hardened criminal upon whom he
deemed some degree of retributive
punishment not only essential to the
protection of society but justifiable
and beneficial for it's influence upon
the offender himself. But he was
never Intentionally more harsh than
truth or more uncompromising than
Justice" He deteSted vice but did not
hate the vicious. He was quick to
temper justice with mercy whenever
consistent with public duty.
1 have reason to believe that he had a
genuine sympathy with the sentiment
expressed by Mr.. Howclls in "a Boy
Town" at seems best to be very
careful how we try to do justice in this
world and mostly to leave retribution
of all Kinds to God who really knows
about things; and content ourselves as
much as possible with mercy whose
mistakes are not so irreparable."
During his twenty-eight years of
well sustained service upon the bench
of the superior court, a tribunal having
extensive jurisdiction in both the civil
and criminal departments of the law,
he never failed to hold the entire con-
fidence of the bar and the people of
Cumberland county and Of the State.
No higher tribute than this can be rem
dcred to the soundness of his Judgment,
his practical grasp of the law and his
conscientious exposition of it in the adj
miniStration Of justice. His example
of judicial honor. of public principles
and private virtue may well be COM
mcndcd to all those called to perform
judicial service in our state.
Gut Judge Bonney'S useful activities
were not confined within the sphere of
the legal profession or judicial service.
He always became promptly identified
with the public life of the community
in which he dwclt and evinced a genu-
inc interest i'm its welfare and prosper
ity. He was ever 4 WatChful and in
tclligcnt observer of public affairs and
all Of his sympathies and cndeavOrs
were in unison with the best interests
of society. In all his fiduciary rela-
lions and in the conduct of all business,
his duties were performed with
scrupulous fidelity and accuracy.
As a loyal son of Waterville College
he has maintained constant and
genuine devotion to its interests. and
been active and earnest in all his on
dcavors to promote the welfare and
prosperity of his alma mater. He was
a member of the board of trustees
from 1876 to the time of his death and
succeeded Mr. Drummond in 1902 as
president of the board. He was also
for many years treasurer Of the insti-
tuition.
He was also president of the board of
trustees of Hebron Academy, and for
more than twenty years prominently
and closely Identified with its manage
ment and with every movement for its
and improvement. 1t was
located within three miles Of the place
of his birth, and it was the fitting
school in which an important part of
his preparation for college was made.
Judge Ronncy was A member of the
Legislature from Portland in the years
1869 and 1870 and at both sessions rem
dered valuable service rs member of
the judiciary committee. He was a
member of the Phi Beta Kappa of
Colby University and member of the
Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He
was also a member of the Maine His
toricaI Society and of the Fraternity
Club the leading literary society Of
Portland. Fer more than 20 years he
was director in the Union Mutual
Life Insurance Association.
In religious fellowship Judge Bonnev
was always identified with the Baptist
church and was Il consistent member Of
the Free Street church of Portland.
With him a conviction Of the benefi-
ccncc Of a cause. or belief in the
Of a doctrine was an in
SEPARATION to practical aid in its adj
mt AMI support. He was for
several years president of the Maine
Baptist Missionary Convention. an or
ganization designed to promote the
cause Of religion and awaken new in
trrcst in the church according to the
Baptist faith. But his was a religion
Of works as VOL as Of faith. religion
of Chcerfulness and of hope. and he had
no controversy with those who could
not accept his creed. but were willing
to have salvation measured and deter
mined by the actual quantity of human
goodness. He was an optimist in re-
ligion as well as in all other interests
of human life.
Many of the pleasantest memories Of
my own college life are mingled with
tn" cherished Companionship OF the
spirits in South College that
included Percival ROnney. The rela-
tinns Of sincere personal friendship
then formed between us continued
without interruption until the day Of
his tlsath. He was always genial. af-
fable and ingenious with trusted
friends. hut towards casual acquaint-
ances or prcsuming strangers. he some
times had quiet dignity and reserve
that tended to repel a too familiar ap-
proach.