The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-08
TRIBUTE To NOBLE NICHOLS.
Memory of Lamented Jurist Eulogized
by Bench and Bar of Twenty
Seventh Judicial District-Many
Citizens Attend Exercises, De-
spite Rain.


l Citizens Attend Exercises, De
spite Rain.
The people of Donaldsonville ant
Ascension parish joined with the
bench and bar Of the tWenty-seventh
judicial district last Sunday Afternoon
IN paying tribute to the memory OF
one of Ascension's1 most illustri
GUS sons, Francis Tillou Nichols, late
chief justice of the supreme court OF
Louisiana. Despite the downpour OF
rain which set in shortly before 4
O'Clock, the hour designated for the
memorial services to begin, the dis.
rrlct court room was well filled when
Judge Paul Leche assembled the bench
and opened court in regular form,
the audience comprising nearly all
the members of the bar of the
tWenty-seventh district and a large
humber Of leading citizens of this
section, as well as many ladies
There were also present a delegation
of members of Major Victor Maurin
Camp No. SO, United Confederate
Veterans, some of whom had served
with General Nichols in the civil
| war.
The exercises We're the most inn
pressive ever held in this commu-
| nifty, and constituted a fitting tribute
| to the memory Of the fearless soldier,
| distinguished jurist and beloved citi-
zen whose death the whole state
| mourns
Upon converting court Judge Leche
announced that Judge Taylor Beattie,
Of Thibodaux, who had been re-
luested 70 preside over the exercises,
was unable to be present. The fol-
towing resolution, prepared by Judge
6eattie, was read by Walter Lemann,
of the local bar:
Resolved, That we, the citizens of
he parish of Ascension, in common
with our fellow citizens of the state.
ieplore the death of Francis Tillou
Nichols, but to us the loss is special,
born as he was in our midst We
claimed more Of him during his life
and we feel the more grevously
his loss.
Going from the home of his youth,
he entered the service of his coun-
try as an officer of the army, and
returning to live amongst us, he was
called again to arms in defense of
the rights asserted by all of his peo-
ole. To him there was no question
of absolute right or wrong-it was
the call of his people to which he
returned to his native state, taking
hardened as to the voice of his
Maker. Grievously manned in the
great conflict he returned to his
native state, taking up the profess
sion of his choice, in which he
ieaped the highest honors at bar and
bench.
Called upon by his people, he be-
came the standard bearer in the
great political struggle which resulted
in the absolute supremacy Of the
white race. Honored by those whom
he led, he was no less esteemed by
those whom he opposed Tor his TN
wagering devotion to duty, his I'M
fiinching insistence upon the rights
and the protection he endeavored to
bestoW upon the poor and ignorant.
Louisiana mourns her son, Ascen-
sion mourns her beloved, and amidst
her tears and grief appeals to her
younger sons to follow the example
of this great and good man, who
upon all occasions of stress and
storm turned to his people as the
sunfloWer turns to its Cod
Mr.. Lemann followed the reading
of the resolution with beautiful ex-
temporaneous eulogy to the memory
of Justice Nichols, and addresses Of
a similar nature were delivered by
W E. Howell, of Thibodaux, Ed
mund Maurin, of the local bar, Attor
ney General Walter Guion, of Ma
poleonville, and DR.. John S. Thibaut,
of Donaldsonville, in the order
upon Justice Nichols notable ser
vices TO the state and to his coun-
try in the capacity of citizen, sol
der, statesman and jurist, and the
noble character, upright life and sub
lime fearlessness of the lamented
justice were culogized in eloquent
and touching terms by the several
speakers
The exercises were brought to a
EtOSe VIII dill duCIGSS ny JuuSG
Lechc, who spoke in part as fol
lows:
THE name of Nichols is indis-
solubly interviewer with the tradi-
tons and history Of the parish of
Ascension. The records of this court
show that in 1847 Thomas c. Mich
oils, after years of practice in this
court, became its presiding Judge.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
Wellman Nichols His other sons,
Edward F. Nichols and Lawrence
D. Nichols, were for many years
clerks of this court, and Francis T.
Nichols acted as deputy: and before
this forum all these brothers COM
menced the practice Of their profess
sion.
To-day the grandson of Thomas
Z. Nichols, Edward Nichols Pugh,
is the senior member of our bar.
Thus for period of nearly a cen
fury, sons of this family have been
continuously officers Of this court.
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