Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-10


FLAGS ARE HALF-MASTED.
Out OF respect TO the jurist the flags .
at the court house and the city hall
were half masted today.
Circuit court would have been de- !
clared adjourned temporarily in his /
memory, had it not been that his fam ,
lily expressed a belief that could the
judge make known his wishes. they
would be that the wheels OF justice
should not be stopped. Accordingly
court was not adjourned.
EXPRESSIONS OF SORROW.
The following expressions come
from those in his profession who best
knew Judge Gest- Judge E. c.
Graves Of Geneseo, associated on the
circuit bench with Judge Gest said:
The death Of Judge Gest has come
to me as a great shock, although
have for some time appreciated the
serious character of his ailment He
was one Of the really great lawyers OF
the state. He was not especially not
ed for the spectacular IN the trial OF
his cases. which by many is consid-
cred a sign of greatness, but his &C
curate and exhaustive knowledge of
the principles OF law and his clear and
concise presentation of the same was
such as to justly entitle him TO be re-
garded as a man with few peers and
no superiors.
He was man OF strong and posi-
tive character, ardent alike in his likes
and dislikes, and having most definite
opinions on all questions of right and
wrong as applied 10 private life and
public affairs. He was an able and
fearless jurist, always intent upon see
ing 10 it. so far as he could properly
control il, that the right should pre-
vail
The memory of Judge Gest will long
be cherished by all who knew him, and
his example will be emulated by every
young lawyer who aims at high ideals
/ in his profession"
Bernard D. Connolly. president of
the Rock Island county bar associa-
ton says:
Judge w. II. Gest as a man and a
jUrist was held in the highest esteem
by the legal fraternity. His conscien-
ciOus discharge of duty was very
marked; he never shirked any labor
that was thrust upon him. The posi-
ton OF judge of this circuit is one
that means many arduous tasks and
requires the closest application. The
integrity of Judge Gest was a by
word among his fellowmen. The
bench has lost an able and fearless
ludge-Lhe bar an honorable, high
minded and upright lawyer-the COM
munity an earnest, public-spirited and
Christian worker
The death of Judge Gest is a loss
that Will be far-reaching as his
friends in this county and ELSEWHERE
were legion"
IONG TIVE CLERKS TRIBUTE
George ". Gamble, clerk OF the cir
cult court Tor % years paid The jurisr
the following tribute.
Il have known Judge Gest intimate
ly for many years and in his death
feel that have lost q person.l friend
and this community has lost a just
man who was always interested in the
lettering Of society and this judicial
district has lost a judge whose only
ambition was TO do his duty witnou,
fear or favor. ! do not believe thai
his dearest friend would have received
any more consideration at his hands
as judge, than would his bitterest
Z enemy. The judge was unf0rtunateN
one OF those men whose real Charac
Ter and worth could not be judged by
: his manner of speech. | never knew
a man whose heart beat more sympa
| thetically with love for his fellow MAJ
than did his. ! feel the loss Of tn,
II Judge most deeply for he has treated
/ ne with the kindness of a father"
i BAR ASSOCIATION MEETS.
The Rock Island County Bar assC
citation met this afternoon in the gran
jury room at the court house an
President b. d. Connolly appoints
Judge X. ". Olmsted, c. E Dietz an
N. J. McEniry as a committee to no
fly members Of the association of thi
and adjoining counties and also 81
Ereme Court Justice George A. Cook
OF Aledo of the death of the juris
Another committee comprising B. |
Connely, c. B. Marshall, ]. T Kel
worthy, Adair Peasants. ]. B. Oaklea
and L. NJ. Magill was named TO ca
upon the family of the deceased an
learn its wishes regarding the funer;
service and then make known III
same to the members OF the bar