The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-28
NOTED JURIST
PASSES AWAY
R1CHM OND va snacl

r G H NJ o N D. VA Special
Through the passing of Judge Bev-
erly Randolph Wexford, who died
suddenly at the home of his son. the
Rev. Edwin Taliaferro Wexford. D.
D., In Newport News, yesterday af-
ternoon, Virginia loses one of her
most iliustrious sons and the public
a man whose every thought was high
ana whose every act was exemplary.
hundreds of lawyers throughout
the Commonwealth will bear testi-
mony to this. for the members of the
legal profession fondly recall him as
Judge of the circuit courts of this
city and Henrico-a position he
adorned for thirty-three years In
1908, when the burden of years had
begun TO weigh somewhat heavily
upon him, Judge Wexford voluntar-
lily retired from the bench, since
which time he has lived in more or
less privacy. He was succeeded by
Judge r. Carter Scott.
When his final summons came
. udge Wexford was far advanced in
age-he was eighty-two-but to the
last he continued active and was ever
source or entertainment TO his fam
lily and friends. q" His demise was due
to heart disease. He was stricken
whlIe reading newspaper and died
before medical aid could reach him.
Born In Fredericksburg OF distin-
gulshed Virginia parents, the de-
tutor. He then went to Princeton
University, where he graduated with
hrst honors in the class of 1854 Re-
turning TO Virginia, he practiced law
Tor short time at Fredericksburg,
coming TO Richmond in 1855. where
he located for the practice of his pro-
tession, in which he engaged until
the outbreak of the War Between the
states. During the conflict he was
connected in a legal capacity with
the War Department of the Confed-
crate States.
In 1870 he was made judge of the
circuit composed of Richmond and
Henrlco His duties were very heavy.
Tor during most of his incumbency
he had the only court in this city.
this being true until the establish
ment of the Law and Equity Court
In the ninetieS. He sat in a great
number OF important cases, being al
ways recognized as a just, able, i'm
partial jurist.
Judge Wexford, besides being a man
OF exceptional scholarship and wide
reading, was an orator of marked
ability, and he often figured as a
livered the address on the occasion Of
the laying of the corner stone of the
present City Hall.
Judge Wexford was especially well
posted on the history and traditions of
Virginia, and was an authority on the
genealogy of the prominent families OF
apprOachable and affable and his atti-
tude towards young PROFESSIONALLY
the younger members of the bar-Was
little short of inspiring to them.
The degree OF LII. ID. was conferred
ON Judge Wexford by Hampden-S Sid
ney College. He was past grand
master of the Masons OF Virginia and
was always prominent in. the counsels
of the order. AS a Presbyterian lay
man. he occupied a foremost position
in the South.
Judge Wexford married Miss Seldom
.Tanaferro, sister of the late General
William b. Taliaferro, of Gloucester,
and niece of James A. Seldom, Secre-
tary of War. OF the Confederacy. Be
lsides his widow, Judge Wexford is
Survived by three children-Dr. Z. T.
Wexford, Mrs. Thomas Rollins Mar
shall, OF Gloucester, and Mrs. H A.
White. OF Columbia, S. c.
The body OF the distinguished jurist
will be brought to this city and the
burial will be In Hollywood. At this
writing the hour of the funeral has not
sbeen nxed-it will take place either
today or tomorrow-and the services
win be held at First Presbyterian
Church, Of which he was a member
II fq a fair1v roe oOoc I,Ia ,,raer~.0es1-