The Forrest City times., 1912-11-15

| desired to play conspicuous part and yet it usually resulted fin his talk l ing the lead in the case. This was hy common consent of counsel associated with him and was due to his superior 1 Judgment. One uf the most striking traits Of his mind was its absolute independence. He never adopted an Idea because some one else enter tained such view, 1t must have ap- l pealed to his reason and it was neces- sary that he be convinced of the truth or fallacy of the proposition. Always ready 10 learn the truth and to gain information, 1t was never diff hcult to convince him of the right.
 Being high minded and free from smallness in his dealings he pitied rather than condemned any one who lhdulged in trickery and deception in any form. His sense of fairness in the trial or a case was enc of his marked characteristic. He was never known to take an unfair ad- vantage of any adversary or in the slightest degree Intentionally de- ceive the court. His disposition to respect the rights of others was so pronounced that he sometimes sui Tered at the hands of those less con- sderate, yet of course in the end, his was the victory.
 MT. Norton never desired pO- Iltical honors, but prefer d to advance the cause of the pro- ieSslon Of his choice, in which he stood at the head, in the Eastern portion Of the State, and had few, if any superiors in the State. He was an incessant reader of the works of his profession and possessed large fund of information on general topics. He made no pretensions of oratory yet was a forceful and convincing speak. CT, went straight to the point under discussion and rarely. if ever, strayed from 1t. It is not difficult to find a lawyer to testify to the effectiveness of this trait
 Many who knew him well and had tue opportunity to feel the force and power of his great mind believed him to be the greatest lawyer the State has ever produced and certainly the profession will accord to him a place among her abest.
 While MT. Norton was great law yer, his ability as such did not repre- sent the strongest side of his char ac- q able man, his refinement of feeling and fondness for his friends and those he loved were not surpassed by any one. Ills devotion ran so deep that there was little display and surface indications of it. He was, what might be termed, in many respects, a timld man, not in the sense that he hesitated to advocate the right and to vigorously eSpouSe any just cause, but he at all times hesitated to in- trude upon others his views in any matter that did not directly concern him. He held it to be duty incum- bent upon every man to diligently avoid interference into the affairs of others. He was very willing that men should think and act as to them seemed best so long as their conduct did not interfere with the rights of their fellow men. Holding this view he had no thoughts in common with the professional reformer and the political demagogue. He believed that all questions affecting private rights and public interests should be settled on the merits and by those making study of the questions and was therefore opposed to any appeals to the passions and prejudices of the ignorant Being clean and pure in thought he never suspected deceit in others, or felt it necessary to Haunt his views, nor to correct any mis- statement of his position on any question affecting him personally. Be. cause of this disinclination on his part to make his own position clear on such matters, man have an erroneous view of his attitude on many Ques- tions It is true he made no preten- sions to holding any religious views, his was not life of pretension but one of real thought and action. He respected all forms of religious wor- ship, but held such matters to be with the individual. The basis of his religious views were entirely in accord with those held by his Chris tian friends, but beyond this he never went. His great respect for the forms of worship restrained him from any character of discussion of the subject. His master mind having once reached conclusion and found a resting place. held it without giving expression. except to the fewest num- Der
 His relations to his family and friends were ideal and his untimely death was keen blow to them. With his family he was kind, atfectionate and generous It was refreshing to be in his home and observe how thoughtful and considerate he was of the comfort and pleasure of his fami- ly. He was as plain and simple in manner as a child, his children were his companions. and his wife was the 1 object of his tenderest thoughts and herwish his will If all families had such q head there would be little use for organized government, the fountain of society would be so pure that the intermingling would not create friction
 The young man. and especially the young lawyer, instinctively knew him to be his friend. His advice and coun- sel were more frequently sought by the young practitioner than that of any other lawyer perhaps in the State covering given period of time. He gave aid cheerfully and with such spirit that the recipient knew it to | be unseltsh and that it was prompted