Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-01-10
MO 1oHNsoN's TRIBUTE.

Stuart, Mr.. John NJ. johnson said:
MAY it please the court: Before the
usual business is taken up, ask leave
to read and present to the court the
Alexandria Bars resolutions upon the
death OF one OF their number, the late
Albert Stuart, and to request that after
those members OF the bar present, who
desire to speak, are heard, the court
will receive the resolutions and direct
them to be spread on the minutes as a
permanent memorial to him.
Your honor, the resolutions just reau
give the honest opinion of the surVN-
ing members OF the Alexandria bar.
THEW ara beautiful and truthful, ano'
in INV oyinion, they are peculiarly ap-
propriate; and what is more anu win DC
acknowledged by all who read them'
the subject OF them deserves all they
express.
It may be that not anything more
ought to be said, but, your honor,
am moved to speak briefly at this time
because I was intimately acquainted
with him and enjoyed his friendship
ever since I began the practice OF law,
more than third of century ago.
Albert Stuart was an honor TO the
profession he loved. He loved the law.
she was his only mistress. He looked
upon and practiced law as . profession,
not as trade. Dollars and cents he
counted as trash, he was actuated oy
higher and loftier motives. He was
not tainted with commercialism, he
had no opinion. Of, and did not care to
affiliate with, the commercial lawyer.
He may have been old fashioned about
this, but il we reflect it must De
acknowledged that it is the influence OF
such men that maintains the hlsh
standard of our profession ana retains
the honor and respect OF the people OF
a community.
No client ever had more faithful
counsel than he was. He gave his
best to promote his clients, interests
and in his service. Time and labor,
both physical and mental, and any
amount OF care and attention was moth
ing to him as compared to his duty, as
he saw it, to his client. He was man
of the incest sense Of honor and I'M
bIemished character. He was extreme
" sensitive Of his good name. In fact
he believed his reputation was the
immortal part of him and what
remained was bestial. He was
ambitious only to see right over
como wrong, truth prevail against
error, and that justice instead OF in
Justice be done. His conduct towards
the court, his brethren OF the bar and
litigants was not controlled by any
code OF professional ethics. On the
contrary, he intuitively treated the
court with the greatest Difference, his
brother lawyers and litigants with the
greatest courtesy, never offending them
by word or manner.
Albert Stuart was not only ripe
and fine classical scholar, but he was
likewise learned in the law, thoroughly |
grounded in the general principles
thereof; and his opinion upon a ques-
ton that he had looked into was OF
Tim, from the time began to praetioo
until he retired from active practice,
with some question almost too difficult
for me to solve without assistance, and
asked his opinion about it, and there
from I obtained clear view of
the subject; and l DOW cheerfully
and cordially acknowledge my obliga-
ton to him therefor. 1t was in this
way I learned to appreciate his pro-
found knowledge OF the law.
For many years he was disqualified
on account OF deafness from participat-
ing in trials before juries. Consequently
he did not appear in common law cases
in the memory OF majority OF the
members OF this bar. This was great
priyation to him. Notwithstanding it,
he never lost his interest in jury trials,
He considered trial by jury to be the
best system ever devised for finding
facts from evidence. He especially en-
loved the arguments of lawyers TO
juries. Many of us vii recall him as
he appeared in the court room listening
to arguments with the deepest interest;
and, in memory now, can see him as
he once appeared there while murder
case, in which I was one Of the coun-
sci, was being argued. He talked with
me more than once about this case, and
expressed his pleasure in heslins tho
argument OF 1t.
He was a good chancery lawyer,
careful and cautious in the preparation
OF bills and other pleadings, and always
accurate in the statements contained in
them. The man who employed him
in an equity suit might rest assured
that he would do all that was necessary
to be done in the cause, and loaye moth
ing undone which was required to be
done to protect his rights.
He was more familiar with the
titles to properties in this city, and
with the family history of its people
than any other lawyer / have ever
known. His principal work for the
last forty years OF his professional life
was examination OF titles, preparation
OF conveyances, contracts and tesla
mentary papers, counsel for estates,
and legal adviser to and attorney for
a building association. In this kind
Of work he was very particular, pains
taking and thorough. He was most
anxious 10 avoid any complications
that might arise from his work, aud
he was very proud OF the fact that
after being an attorney for building
association for more than Fifty years
no loss to the association had ever
occurred by reason OF his work, and