The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-30

challenged cdmlration as an example
of judicial dignity and strict Impair
TALLY. HIS serenity ana benignity
was only surpassed by his notable
fairness and innate sense OF justice.
Guided by the Ariadnes thread Of
conscious rectitudc. lie passed. with
out faltcrlng, through the labyrinthine
maze OF legal tcchnicalitles which
mark the progress OF a criminal trial.
criminal Judge whose services on
the bench extended over almost a
quarter OF century might be ex-
pccted 10 acquire q reputation for
hardness To use a popular exores.
sion he is apt TO become "A Hanging
Judge. 1t was marked character
istic of the subject or this sketch
mat length OF services only made him
more charitable to human fra!ltfes
and enabled him to distinguish be-
tween the crrins sinner ana the incor-
rigible criminal That love was the
iuiilling Of the law seemed To Judge.
witt 10 be sound legal principle a.
Wen as a religious precept Hence
his hnppiest culoGists are the poor
and humble who VIII strangely miss
his guiding hand in their family trou-
bles ana In the correction and dis
cipline OF their maynard children
calm dispassionatcness win be that
Samuel Il. Witt left Il reputation sec
ond TO mono for the wise and sue
cessinl manner In which lie dis
charged his judicial duties
Talent for Friendship.
Time does not permit of our
dwelling at length upon the great
and versatile talents with which ma
ture endowed Judge Witt Among
these talents we would select as the
most prominent his talent for fc.erd-
ship. The universal comment. when
tine community nrst learned OF is
loss was that he had more friends
than any citizen who ever lived in
NlcAmond. The cause OF this Is not
TOR to seek. AS al extensive reader
OF Wonderfully yctcutive memory.
judge Witt was doubtless familiar
with tho maxim OF Emerson. that to
have friends one must be a friend
40 sorrow ever v.sltcl an acquain-
tcnoe that he did not make that sor-
row hts own and by his sympathy
Tighten It's lead no reward was gained
by d friend that Judge Witt was not
the nrst TO offer HIS congratulations.
ne could enjoy the success Of lis
friends, which IS often moro DIM
cult task th8n to synpathi7n with
their sorrow Ills "n;tle unreinem.
sercd acts OF klnduess and OF low"
would III a volume
Another OF ms talents was what
usually described as personal ~ q
neiisn We ala know the erect OF
this quality when Va come under its
influence, though We cannot define It,
Judge Wltt possessed II In an emi-
nent degree. 1t made MIN ever inc
centre %. = circle OF charmed listen
crs. The ready Jest. the humorous
touch which often threw "a searcnlsht
upon The subject Of MS conversation.
delighted those who feel under the
charm OF his table talk II his VIII
IS sayings could have been preserved.
he would have oLtrauked many pso-
fcssioufl entertained li!s humor was
united VITA personal charm and liter
ary flavor tina, beggars description
Ills pathos was as exquisite as his
humor FOR. like all great nurorlsis
his laughter lay close to tears
rIoum.nt en-. NJ sn...,
70
M. 81 sPe,H'
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ra o', 'he inomen,
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49, go ''s ''e''H ana nus aN
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ror 60 49, ,,,,r ne "nse's AN
h"aFeH ana
' Spet. % ''u as the
c'.Hu4sttc 'HoHEHtS cIolNco IN yet more
tion on their ears.