Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-06-03
ELOQUENT SPEECHES
TESTIFY AFFECTION
Resolutions Are Ordered Spread
on Court Records and an En-
crossed Copy Sent to Family
Members OF Bar Join In
Tribute to Legal fMind.

met at 10 o'clock this morning at the
court house for a memorial service
to honor the memory of the late w.
B. Childers. The meeting was presid-
ed over by Judge Ira A. Abbott and
speeches were made by various MEM
bers of the bar. The committee on
resolutions, E. w. Dobson, A. B. NC
Millen and o. N. Marron, which was
appointed some time ago. reported as
follows:
Hon. Ira A. Abbott, Associate JUS
tice of the Supreme Court and
Judge of the Second Judicial Dis
trict, and to the members OF the
bar of said District court.
The undersigned committee ap-
pointed on the 4th day of March.
1908, to report resolutions on the
death of William Burr Childers. a
member of this bar. respectfully sub
NIT the following:
William Burr Childers was born in
Pulaski Giles county, Tennessee, on
the goth day of March, 1854. He died
in the city of Albuquerque. territory
of New Mexico. on the 4th day of
March, 1908. He came from hardy
stock, his father being of English and
his mother OF French Hugenot de-
scent
After finishing the local schools of
his native town he entered Washing
ton university in September, 1870.
Upon the death of its famous presi-
dent, General Robert e. Lee, month
later that institution took the name
of Washington and Lee university;
from which Mr.. Childers received
the degrees Of Bachelor of Arts and
Bachelor of Law, the latter in June,
1874. He was admitted to the bar at
the age of 81 years, and soon there
after went to the city of st. Louis
state of Missouri, where he practiced
law until January, 1880, when he
came to New Mexico, locating in
Santa Fe. In March of the same year.
before the advent of the railroad and
the laying out of the town of Albu-
querque, he settled in the village OF
Old Albuquerque. He was a promi-
nent figure in the organization and
building of modern Albuquerque. He
was its mayor in 1887, and later
served as d member of the city copn-
ell and was identified with every pub
lie question affecting it's interests
He was a thirty second degree,
Scottish Rite Mason. He was the
prime mover in the organization of
the first lodge in Bernalillo county,
being a charter member and the first
master of Temple Lodge No. 6, A. F..
& A. NJ. He was chosen Grand Mas
ter of the Grand Lodge of the Terri
tory of New Mexico In 1888. and was
in
that fraternity.
For eight years he was president or
the board of regents of the University
OF New Mexico.
On reaching New Mexico. Mr.
Childers entered at once upon the
practice of his chosen profession and
soon gained the distinction of being
one of the leading lawyers of the ter
ritory.
on the 18th day of June, 1896 he
was appointed United states attorney
for New Mexico by President Cleve-
land, for a period of four years, and
on the expiration Of his term or or
flee was reappointcd by President
Mckinley for a like term.
He was president Of the Territorial
Bar association for the year 1902.
on all public questions he was an
active and aggressive leader. HE was
honest. conscientious. and determined.
There was no uncertainty as to his
attitude upon a given question, HaN-
ing espoused a cause, he advocated II
with all the enthusiasm Of his ardent
nature.
Mr.. Childers was a ripe scholar
sound thinker and a brilliant lawyer.
He was aggressive, tenacious and de-
termined, and admitted defeat only
on appeal to the court Of last resort
He possessed in the highest degree
the moral courage necessary for great
achievements as a lawyer. He was
faithful, loyal and devoted to the in
terests of his clients. Possessed Of
natural legal mind, a liberal educa-
tion, thorough legal training, marvel
Gus capacity for work and ripe ex-
perience he was a formidable antag-
Onist in legal battle.
No lawyer had a larger or more
varied practice in the territory OF
New Mexico, and ne was held in the
highest esteem by the judges and law
yers with whom he came in contact.