Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-19
Thomas Leigh, Esq.

The following tribute was given py
Thomas Leigh of the committee, whose
law offices on Water street joined
those of Mr.. Heath:
The Kennebec Bar in the death OF
our late Brother Heath has suiterea
an almost irretrievable loss, acknoWi-
edged to be at the head of his profess
sion in this county and generally re-
garded by those who know best ms
work and achievements in his chos-
en- field to be the leader of the Bar or
the State in all that goes to make UP
real leadership. Another has said, =
star of the first magnitude has drop
ped out of sight. Death has set its
seal on perhaps the most eloquent
Inns in all Maine" The noise OF his
political and legal battles filed the
State only yesterday, as it seems. and
now there is only silence A great per-
sonality, in many respects unique
personality, also is now but mem
orv. and Herbert NJ Heath will never
charm by his wit, arouse by his elo-
ouence and influence by his logic. the
world of living men again, and many
cases on the dockets of the courts OF
Maine and of the United States dis
trict court will be finished by others.
A splendid life of real achievement in
law and business incident thereto is
over and Maine is the poorer because
she has lost true man, and the pro-
fession because it has lost its fore
most advocate and most successful
practitioner.
He was a scholar. as we'll as a law
Yer. deeply learned in the law, he was
equally so in many other branches Of
science. literature and art. He loved
books and he fingered lovingly over
them His scholarship took the wild
est possible range. He was wonderful
ly effective before a jury because his
preparation went down so deeply and
he covered so fully every branch of
his case. He was a great advocate
because he was first of all patient
worker. He was never unprepared and
he was always an antagonist to be
feared. He met an assault at the Bar
with an outpouring of law and logic
! and sarcasm. but once outside the
courtroom and all was forgotten ex-
cept brotherly relationship, and he
never failed to be his time cour-
teous self. He had the artFof the true
orator and he knew how TO move men.
His logic was sinvincible, his speech
persuasive During his notable car
reer at the Bar he helped to frame
and was responsible for many OF the
statutes of our State and ms lnnh-
ence on Maine legislation was very
marked for many years. His work al
the bar will live after him, his sue
{ cess was notable in every branch OF
the law, on the criminal side as wen
as on the civil side, and during the
last two years of his active practice
he fought through the State and fed
eral courts to a successful issue one
of the most important equity SUITS
that has ever been heard or adJudi-
Gated in our State. He was upright
and of unspotted honor as every man
with whom he had social or business
relations will bear witness. HIS ideals
| were high and his scorn for meanness
/ was profound He was kind TO all and
| his heart was great. Many are the
/ members of our bar who can recall
/ With emotion the helping hand stretch
| ed out when the way was hard ana
1.-the steps were hating ! believe ne
1 loved to help young member OF the
i Bar just beginning the struggle for he
| always had for him word OF encour-
Iagement and good cheer.
AS a man and citizen those VINO
knew him best commend him most.
Never has a word been spoken in pub
i lie or private in criticism CT his char
acter for his private life was above
lreproach. To have known him COM
n