The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-03-31

funeral of Judge Pope at the First
Baptist church at o'clock in a body.
Every member is earnestly requested
to be on hand promptly.
Mrs. J. E. Norwood, President.
Life of Former Chief Justice Young
John Pope.
Chief Justice Pope rendered his
RESIGNATION as chief justice to Gov
ernor Ansel on January 6, 1909, to
take effect April IS, 1909. For two
years and more preceding his resig-
nation, he had been in wretched
health, and for Il while ducirs the
year preceding he was absent from
the bench. With characteristic fidel-
ity to duty, however, he could be
found laboring at his post of duty ex-
cept when physical disability made it
absolutely impossible. His letter OF
resignation to the governor WAS brief,
but eloquent. ':Realizing that my
time of active service is drawing to a
close" he said, "and conceiving it to
be my duty to retire from Office,
hereby tender my resignation as chief
Justice of the supreme court of South
Carolina"
The legislature of 1909 elected AS
sociate Justice Ia B. Jones, another
native Newbe:1iln, to fill the vacancy
caused by Chief Justice Pope's resig-
nation. s
Following his retirement from the
bench Judge Pope lived quietly at his
home in Newberry. During the year
1909 he sold his old home to the city
for school purposes, and erected a
new home on the western corner OF
the same lot
Born in 184l,
Judge Pope was elected associate
justice OF the State supreme court on
December 3, 1891, at which time he
was serving the State as attorney
general. On January 80, 1895, he was
reelected under the new constitution
for a full term Of eight years. On
January 20, 1903, he succeeded Chief
Justice . IIenry McIver,; deceased, as
chief Justice, and after filing out the
unexpired term he was on January
%, 1906, reelected for the full term
of eight years. His resignation in
1909 brought. to a close a service OF
more than seventeen years on the su-
preme bench.
Judge Pope was the son of Thomas
H. Pope and his wife, who was the
second daughter Of Young John Har-
rington. He was born in Newberry
on April 10, 1841. He received his
elementary education at the Newberry
academy, under the management of
Leonard W. Means and F. W. Pope.
He then went to Furunan university,
from which he graduated with the de-
gree of Bachelor of Arts in August,
1860. Following his graduation he
studied law under Chief Justice John
Bolton O'Neall, but at the outbreak of
the War Between the Sections he en-
listed, in April, 1861, in the Confed-
crate service. Becoming a member of
Company E, Third S. C. Infantry, he
was, in May, 1862, elected first ser
geant, and was then promoted to first
lieutenant and aG1utant of the regi-
ment. At Cedar Creek his left eye
was shot out by g. minnie ball, and
during his distinguished service in
the army of the Coufeieracy he was
wounded six other times, being
wounded twice at Gettysburg. Dur
ing the closing months OF tne war ne
served as assistant adjutant general
of the brigade commanded by Gen.
James Conner.
Following the war Judge Pope re-
turned home with his comrades to be-
gin the work of rebuilding the lost
fortunes Of his State. He took up the
study of law where he had left off to
heed the bugle's call to arms, and in
1865 he was admitted to practice in
tie law and equity courts, and short
ly afterwards in the United States
courts. He began the practice of his
profession in NeWherry, and was re-
markably successful from the begin
ming.
Public Service Began Early.
His punlic service in civil life be-
oo, in 12SI U-;o1., he Was elected bV