Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-02
TRIBUTES PAID
DEPARTED JURIST
Lawyers of the Circuit Eulogize
Memory of the late
Judge W. H. Gest.
EVIDENCES OF RESPECT
Many Volunteer Takers at Services
Held Saturday in the Circuit
Court Room.

Many were the tributes paid |
the late Judge ". H Gest at the |
Memorial services held Saturday af-
ternoon at the court house by the
members of the Rock Island, Mercer
Henry and Whiteside county bar an
sociations. About half a hundred law
yers and friends of the family we're
present, as we're also Mrs. Gest, her
daughter and sons. Court was regu-
larry convened in order that the mat
ter might be included in the court
records, Judge F. D. Ramsay of Nor
rison being on the bench. After the
reading by c. L. Walker of the report
and resolutions of the memorial COM
mittee, as contained in The Argus of
Saturday, Judge Ramsay called on rep
resentatives of each of the four coun-
ties in the circuit for short addresses.
Judge George A. Cooke of the state
supreme court spoke for Mercer coun-
ty in lieu of the venerable |. n. Bas-
IL.
j. H. Andrews of Kewanee spoke for
Henry county, Hon. H. c. Ward of
Sterling spoke for Whiteside, and Hon.
/ William Jackson delivered a beautiful
| tribute on behalf of the bar of Rock
Island county. All the speakers based
their eulogies on their personal knowl-
| edge Of the deceased.
I NANV UnU
Following the scheduled addresses,
Judge Ramsay called for voluntary
remarks, and the following took ad-
vantage Of the departed jurist: W. r.
Moore, Moline; B. D. Connolly, presi-
dent Of the Rock Island County Bar
association, Rock Island; Hon. Will
liam McEniry, Rock Island; c. F.
Dietz, Moline; c. B. Marshall, Rock
Island; Judge R. w. Olmsted, Rock
Island; S. NJ McCalmont, Morrison,
and Circuit Clerk George w. Gamble
OF Moline. Each was personally &C
quainted with the deceased and each
expressed his own personal grief at
the loss of friend and counselor and
one who was and will always be an
inspiration for all that is good and
manly.
In the course of his talk, President
B. D. Connolly of the bar association
suggested that the picture of the late
1urist be permitted to hang directly
behind the bench for the remainder of
this year and in their talks, various
OF The other speakers heartily Sec
onded the idea and with the consent
OF Judge r. w. Olmsted who presides
here, Judge Ramsay ordered that the
plan be carried out. Afterwards, the
picture will be hung on the south wall
OF the court room and beside it will
hang the likeness of the late Judge Hi
ram Bigelow.
Judge Ramsay ended the speaking
OF the day by delivering a splendid
! though brief address after which court
was adjourned until this afternoon in
honor of the late jurist.
JUDGE RAMsAY's SPEECH.
Following is Judge Ramsay's eulogy
TO Judge Gest:
Il have listened with intense inter
est TO the splendid tributes that have
today been paid to the memory. char
acter and worth of Judge Gest; not as
: a judge alone, but as a man and citi-
zen, both in public and private life.
The fall of our brother has shocked us
S like the fall of a huge tree in a great
: forest; and after the fall it is fitting
y and proper that We meet and take &C
y count together of its significance.
AS members of our proud profes
i sion; taught 70 uphold the right, be
cause it is right; jealous in an extreme
D degree of regulations that can be earn
I ed only after years of toll and anxiety
4 We have a common interest in teach
J. ing those We meet and deal with. thai
D the law we do teach, that governs
: mems actions, is majestic, powerful
I and a commander of respect. But
}. higher than the law we teach. more
J, perfect in every way, is that other Law
which reaches US first at the cradle anC
e guards our faltering pace through
d brief span of sunshine and shadow Il
r. the end of that life We can know bu
d little about. to the other life which W.
d know nothing of, till the gate at tn
?. END or our earthly path swings bacl
b into the eternity beyond.
This superior law has called int
the second life one of our bravest an,
most respected brothers, and today W
: lay aside the turmoils, the strifes an
= the eager ambitions to render a tribut
of esteem and deep regard 20 the men
: DRY Of Judge Gest, our fellow laborel
% yet so often our guide and counselor
h 81 have known Judge Gest for man
years, yet during the earlier portion Q
that time not so well as some of tn
speakers of today; still knew hin
even during those earlier years, we
enough to treasure his friendship an
y harn for hi charnnrnr H. r..o.r -.