The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-12-08
JUDGE MASON DEAD
Expired Suddenly at His Home
Here.
lust JUDGE, CULTURED GENTLEMAN
His Death a Great Shock to the
Community.

Judge John f. Mason died at his home
in this city on Monday at one O'Clock
2. Nj. No death which has occurred in
fredericksburg for long time caused
such shock as the sudden and uneX-
pected demise of Judge Mason.
While he had been sick for quite
long time, yet following an operation
performed on him in Richmond about
two months ago, his health was be-
lieved to be improving, and his family
and friends looked forward to his speedy
restoration TO health and the resump-
ton of his duties on the bench, which
he was forced to forsake on account of
the illness which eliminated in his
death
Judge Mason had been up and about
for some time and the final attack did
not come on until twelve O'Clock on
Monday. Two physicians. DR.. A. {.
Doggett and DR.. c. Mason Smith, were
Immediately summoned, but in an hour
Judge NJ. had passed beyond the power
of medical skill. He passed away peace
fully with his family at his bedside, and
in a few minutes the sad news of his
death had become generally known IN
the city and been telephoned to Spot
sylvania, where Judge Wells. OF Rich
mond, had just opened the December
term of the Circuit court Of that coun-
II for Judge Mason.
Judge Mason was born at Edge Hill,
Albemarle county, Va, on July 18th,
1854. His father was Charles
Mason. of King George county, and his
mother before her marriage, Maria JEFF
ferson Randolph, daughter of Colonel
Thomas j. Randolph, of Edge Hill, and
great granddaughte of Thomas Jeffer-
son. On both sides of his house he was
descended from the most distinguished
families in Virginia. being through the
Masons and Randolphs connected with
the most noted and illustrious families
OF the State.
His early education was obtained in
the Locust Dale and Bethel Military
Academies. from which he entered the
University of Virginia in 1874. III
health required him to leave the Uni
versity before his graduation, and after
two years spent at home he attended
the Columbian College at Washington,
from which he graduated in one year
with the degree of bachelor Of law.
In September, 1873, he was admitted
to the bar of King George county, Va,
and began his successful career as
lawyer.
/ In the spring of the following year
/ he was elected Commonwealth attor-
ney of his county, serving three terms
in succession, and was in 1889 elected
to the House of Delegates, where he
served three terms.
In 1895 he was elected member OF
the State Senate, when he served I'M
til 1898, where he was elected Circuit
Judge for the Tenth District.
In the reorganization of the judicial
districts of the State under the new
Constitution he was elected Judge of
the Fifteenth Circuit without opposi-
ton. He was again elected by the
Legislature of 1910 for a term of 3
years.
His experience as a member of the
Legislature was remarkable, having
been successful as an ardent Democrat
in a strong Republican district.
! He was a member of the Episcopal
church, and a communicate Of st.
/ Georges church, of this city. He mar
ried Miss Kate X. Henry, of Washing
ton, daughter of Captain James
Lake Henry, of the United States
Army, and Kate Kearney Henry.
daughter of Capt Kearney, sur
geon in the United States Navy.
Besides his wife, two children
Miss Flora r. and Thomas Jefferson
Mason survive him.
Judge Mason moved from his country
home in King George to this city about
five years ago, the increasing duties OF
his position requiring his presence at
more central point in his circuit.
He bought and had remodelled the
old Marye home, on Princess Anne
street. where he resided at the time OF
his death.
1t is impossible in few words to de-
scribe the life and character of a man
like Judge Mason because no simple word
picture would be adequate to protray
the deep, tender sentiment which went
to make of him the gentleman par ex-
cellence or the judicial purity and
learning which made him one of the
foremost members Of his States judici-
airy. =.
Descended from long line of dis
tinguished Virginia ancestry he uphe'd
during his entire life the traditions and
the standards of his race. His affec'
tionate nature, affable manner and un-
flinching loyalty attracted to him q
host Of warm and devoted friend;
whose friendship once retained re-
NAMED friends to the end.
No where will Judge Mason be more
missed than from his position on the
bench, to which position he brought
the fairness and impartiality Of learn
7 ed Judge and the legal knowledge OF
. skilled lawyer.
Immensely popular with the m ember'
of his bar and the officials of his cour
he gained their esteem by the sheer
force of an attractive and loveable dis
position and by the impartiaity OF his
rulings on the bench. Required TO de-
eide many cases of great importance
arising under the new constitution anC
otherwise, he made for himself name
as an able lawyer and was generally
looked upon as one of the leading Cir
cult Judges of this State. He was II
every seuse of the word, whether from
private or public view point, a maj
} of high character and ability and hi
absence, both as a citizen and a judge
will be greatly missed in this city, II
HE circnit and in the State