The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-27
End Comes Peacefully
After Illness of Sew
eral Months.
HELD HIGH PLACE
IN PUBLIC ESTEEM
Widely Known as Learned At.
torney, Able Judge, Courteous
Official and Friend, He Had
Held Office Without OPP
position for Many
Years.

Ending tight Of moro than six
months against disease. Samuel Brown
Witt. judge OF the T7us;inss court OF
Richmond. died yesterday morning at
$3.50 o'clock at Hot Springs. Arkansas.
where he had gone for treatment. Al
though his condition for months had
been critical. the end was unexpected.
the last few days having shown some
improvement in his condition Inc
night before his death he appeared TO
be in better condition than for weeks
past Death came suddenly and PAIN
iessiy. Mrs. Witt and her son. Foster
witt were with him
The funeral party left Hot springs
Yesterday afternoon at $50 o'clock,
bringing the body to Richmond. On
arrival tomorrow afternoon, the BODY
Will be taken to the Witt home sos
Park Avenue Further arrangements
Tor the funeral have not been COM
pleted, but the service will probably
take place al the Grace Street Bapttsr
Church. which Judge Witt attended.
The interment will be made in Holly
wood Cemetery.
Court -idjourns out of Respect.
Judge Southali. sitting for Judge
Witt In the Hastings Court. ~ an
pointment OF Governor Mann. was in
formed yesterday morning or the death
OF Judge Witt and at once adjourned
the grand Jury then In session until
Monday Tho courtroom has been
draped in black II was remarked
that Judge Witt last sat on the bench
on the afternoon OF January g. being
taken i'll that night. Before he went
TO Hot Springs. Judge Witt was re-
elected BY the Legislature for a new
term. beginning July l. 1913. and
qralined before Judge Ernest H WelIs
and Clerk Walter Christian who went
TO his house to administer the oath OF
ofnce
Governor Mann yesterday sent IN,
following telegram to Mrs. Witt 1T
Hot Springs:
AS close, personal friend Of your
late husband, I desire To express M
sorrow at his death and my sympathy
for you and your children. AS Gov
ernor OF Virginia. and speaking for
the people OF the state. and especial
ly for the people OF Richmond. will
say that faithful and efficient iudge
and beloved citizen has hcen taken from
us He Will always he held in low
ing and honored remembrance."
Governor Mann's Tribute.
Later in the afternoon the Governor
issued the following tribute to Judge
Witt:
Because OF the clcse ana tendc,
ties which bound the friends OF Judge
Witt to him. there can he no true
estimate OF the loss sustained oy the
state and its capital city until these
feelings have been softened by time.
All OF us feel the personal loss
a if,ts
friend, whose presence was a pleas
ure and hencdi zion hut we must not
forget tho splendid services or tn ur
right and impartial Judge. whose Judi,
cial record is so pure that hos,,Is
criticism has never been directed
against it .
His decisions have rarely been re-
Versed. aud while he was always
genial and T'casant, nothing was per
rnitted 10 swerve him from inc
straight path OF Justice ana right
We honor the Just and righteous
judge and will never forget our
friend sam Witt. as all n us delighted
to cali him.
Long Battle TOR Health.
''dSe witt was one of the most vide
~ known men in th- State. recognized
for his ability on the bench. his learn.
ing in law his keen insight INTO
human nature and his genial and Kind.
ly qualities. both as citizen ana I'm
private life
Early ia ths winter he was seized
with severe attack Of pneumonia
from which he never fully rallied Az
ter partially recup rating Rright.s
disease developed and for davs hie
physicians have held ont no hone ~
MS recovery He s survived bv his
wife. who was Miss Foster of Fan
duior county. daughter of Major John
W Foster. to whom he was married
on Novomher -. 1851. md hy eish,
children-Nnssos Mary Brent Ellen
Caskie, Lucy Temple lean ana Eliza
beth and Dan, Foster and Samuel
Witt Jr.
Had Wide Acquaintance.
CIV men nave mad wider ac-
1naintancc than Judge Witt among an
ranks Of society his friends nnmhc~-
ing those high and Low Enactmonts
Of recent years added greatly to his
duties. the new state Constitution hav-
ms made the iudEe OF tho Corpora-
ton or Hastings Court the arhiter
IN many matters while bv city ana
state enactments many burdens and
esponsihilities not strictly Of legal
nature have been placed upon him
and in all instances bee measured up
TO the responsibilities and 20 the trus,
reposed in him IN the granting of
licuor licenses alone great responsi-
hility was placed on fudsc Witt and
few mon have had more dihicult
duty than the enforcement OF the Law
which cut the number OF licenses IN
Richmond from nearly 500 TO $50 For
weeks he studied the problem weed
ing out the undesirable element 1s
far as was practicable. and his mai
s.leatlnn Met win sMeh annrovhl thnt