Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-30
BAR OF CIRCUIT IN
TRIBUTE TO JURIST
INJOINT MEETING
Attorneys of -Four Counties
Have Memorial to the
Late W. II. Gest.
RESOLUTIONS ARE READ
Speeches Delivered by Justice G. A.
Cooke and Other Distin-
suished Members.

menOeTS oI me ROCK lSlanu, MST-
Ger, Henry and Whiteside county bar
associations comprising the 14th judi
cial circuit, met at the circuit court
room In the Rock Island county
court house this afternoon to pay tri-
butte to the memory of the late Judge
w. H. Gest of the circuit bench.
About half a hundred were present
B. q. Connolly, president of the bar
association Qblled the meeting to or
der and then asked for the report of
the special committee which was nam
ed to draw up resolutions. C. B.
Marshall, chairman of the committee
arose and asked that court be con-
vened in order that the days pro-
ceedings be matter of court record
and accordingly Judge F. D. Ramsay
of Morrison, convened the court. Col.
onel c. L. Walker, member of the COM
mittee on resolutions then read the re-
port OF his committee which includ-
ed in addition to the following, a very
complete biography of the late judges
life.
THE MEMORIAL.
The memorial sets forth that 'the
committee to which the solemn duty
OF drafting a memorial to our departed
friend and brother, Judge w. H. Gest,
approached its preparation with sad
ness, yet withal, with some gratifica-
ton In sadness, because of the very
great misfortune that has come>to us,
the members of the bar, in the loss of,
Judge Gest, constant friend, loyal as
sociate and conscientious and able iur-
ist. And in qualification, because Of
the fullness Of his life, and its replete-
ness in instances of effective, gener-
Gus and loyal services to the public,
the bar, and to US as individuals. In
deed his life was so full of valuable
and effective effort, that our difficulty
has not been in finding something to
say; but instead to determine what We
are compelled to omit"
! WITH PROFOUND SORROW.
The memorial continue, 1.-The bar of
Rock Island county, with profound
sorrow, announces the death of Hon.
William H. Gest, formerly one of the
judges Of this circuit, at his home in
the city of Rock Island, on the 9Th
day of August, A. D., 1872" and then
follows q sketch of Judge Gest's life,
concluding with this resolution:
Therefore, be it Resolved, That
in the life and character of the
late William H. Gest, we recog-
nize the grand and noble type of
the Christian gentleman. Born and
bred a gentleman, his every i'm
pulse and intuition was that of his
station. Gifted by nature with I'M
usual power of intellect and analy-
sis, he, by education, study and re-
Election, cultivated and strength
ened those to a high degree, yet,
: withal, was one OF the most mod
est and retiring OF men. His in
tegrity was unquestiOned: and his
fearlessneSs in the administration
> of justice, without reference to the
power, wealth or station of liti-
giants before him, having consid-
Grafton only for a righteous and
humane judgment. made him uni
; versally recognized and esteemed
Dy the Dench, bar and people, as
a worthy type of jurist, Judge and
man. OF most kindly disposition,
patient and courteous to a degree,
pure and true in private life and
family relations, he was revered
and loved by family, friends and
the community alike He was a
close and accurate observer OF
: character, and although his posi-
ton and long experience upon the
/ bench showed him that the weak
nesses and frailties of human ma
; ture were constantly before him,
yet he was unstained thereby, and
throughout life remained in all re-
lations devout, honest and straight
: forward. We are indeed grateful
for the opportunity we have had
Of association with such a man.