The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-27

In the passing OF Judge Samuel
Hot Springs. Ark, at $3.50 O'Clock
yesterday morning, was received early
by Governor Mann. Virginia has lost
one OF -her-most- famous and beat
known turists. and Richmond one Of
her best beloved and most highly
honored citizens.
Judge Witt had been an Ill man
for several months, and for a. long
time was confined to his bed at his
home SOS Cathedral Place. He rail-
lied in the early part Of May, and on
May Sth, upon the advice Of his
| friends and attending physicians, went
to Hot Springs. Ark, where he raj
lied further and seemed to regain
much of his lost strength. But a few
weeks ago one of his trained nurses
who had accompanied him on ths
long trip returned to Richmond.
bringing news that the beloved judge
was hopeiessly Ill and that he could
not recover. BUT, even after that,
faVorab Bile news came occasionally A.
to his condition. and his friends hoped
against hope that he would recoEar-
and that again his familiar fgura
would be seen on the bench OF the
Hastings court. On Wednesday =.
friend--a colored friend. one among
thousands Of colored admirers OF
Judge Witt--returned from the
Springs. and said that he had talk
ed with Judge Witt and that he was
In his usual joyial hnmor and APP
pcrently far upon the road to conn
piete recovery. The jurist had lauglf-5
ed and talked with his colored friend.
and sent back many messages to those
he knew would inquire for him.
But Judge Witt was suffering from
n complication Of diseases which h11
physicians knew could end in but ono
way. He rallied at times, and as often
tSenk into a condition where he hover-s
ed between life and death.
End Came Suddenly.
The end came suddenly. the lime
mediate cause OF death being heart
failure Around his bedside were
gathered his faithful wife. his son.
Foster and Nelson Robins a Rich
mond newspaper man. and one Of
Judge Wits closest friends, who had
been unwayering in mis- attentions
since Judge Witt first became I'M.
News Of the passing was .,telexraphA0s
TO Governor Mann by MFR. Robins.
He said that tho end came suddenly.
| but peacefully. and that the Begin
ming of the painless journey was made
without pain.
Governor Mann gently broke the
news to Miss Brent Witt, the GidG1t
daughter. who has been guest At 1
the governors mansion. The other
six children are on a Visit to rela.
tives of Mrs. Witt In Fauquier county.
The sad news was telegra phed to-
them. and they returned to their home
last night.
News of the famous Jurist's death
spread rapidly. Governor Mann inn
mediately communicated with Judge r.
G.. Southall, who has been presiding IN
Judge Wits stead in the Huntineu
court, and Judge Southall adj0urnS8
the grand and petit juries. which wet0
then in session Court was adjourn96S
until Monday morning. and the eAd
service of draping the court room lH8
| heavy mourning was Immediately b.
| gun The Chancery court was Aio08
adjourned. The City Circuit court tos
not in session. The Law and Equity
| court, II was said. would take soma
fitting cognizance OF the passing a. \
| Judge Witt Il
City Officials Shocked.
Everywhere in the city hail thar
were marked signs OF grief. ChArjo0S
Jones. an attache of the Husttnue
court. who had but the day befQ1e1
paid Judge Wits dues in secpee
order. almost collapsed when the naNM#
was conveyed to him He had knONKS
Judge Witt ever since the latter $3.50
tered into public life, and for q QuArtMrA
of a century had been his f9ikh4~3
friend and willing servitor. uufl
Judge Wits illness he had heeu
constant attendant, and when :
judge went to Hot Springs 10 to~
charge Of his friends AFFAIRS. He rs1
mayed through the dead Judges pay1
and brought out copies of adaEe4
which had helped make Judge
famous as an orator. and in br4
voice read them to the other C
attaches. who had gathered ebouk
city Sergeant John +. SattSr
spoke or his dead friend - hur
voice. Walter Christian. clerk ox
court: Deputy Clerk Breeder an4
uts- Sergeants Paul LAtOuc211
lconffnued ON TA&rd - SS9