Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-20

sponded from the bench in an address
that although not long was master
piece of eloquence.
Judge Spears Response from the Bench
Gentlemen of Kennebec Bar:
presume my acquaintance with
Judge Hall antedates that of any
member of this bar / first met him
in 1888, in the Maine house of repre-
sentatives of which we were both
members. In 1885 we We're again as
sociated in the same relation. Our re-
lations were much more intimate than
those of ordinary membership, as we
were associated together in 1885 upon
the commission then appointed for
the revision Of the Statutes. During
tn. months that we were thrown to-
gether in the performance of this
work, we became intimately acquaint-
ed and formed a personal friendship
that continued undated through the
subsequent years. After he was APP
pointed to the superior bench in 1890
I practiced in his court until 1902.
period Of Il years. During this time
l tried many cases before him, some
of importance. especially upon the
criminal side of the court. l accord
iagly feel that l am able to speak of
judge Halls activities from the ex-
perience of a business life time, COW
ering a period of 10 years; and also
from that intimate knowledge that
grows cut of legislative association.
ard the close relations always existing
between the bench and the bar.
And here | wish to note that upon
my first acquaintance with him l was
impressed with his genial bearing, uni
form courtesy, and fine sense OF re-
gard for the feelings of others. And as
the years have passed l have never
observed in his demeanor an act or
word that in the least detracted from
my first impression.
Az very few of those present can
have had any personal knowledge of
Judge Halls legislative career, l feel
that 1t may not be improper for me
to here allude to il, as it represents
his powers Of leadership and control
over popular assembly. which could
not be made to appear in judicial work.
In 1888 and 1885 he represented the
! city of Rockland. The session of 1883
| forbode the appearance of certain i'm
| portant matters in 1885. In this Legis-
| lature he was made chairman OF the
! Judiciary committee, the leading COM
mittee of the house. as all we'll know.
! The late Charles Hamlin was Speaker
| of the House. Among his associates at
/ that time were Charles E. Littlefield,
| former congressman, General Mat
tocks. the late Herbert NJ. Heath, For
mer Justice F. A. Powers. the late
| Governor Powers. and many other
| strong and prominent men. Yet, with
| these able men around him, Judge
/ Hall was easily the leader of that
House, and was the chief instrument
| ality in securing several of the NEST
| important enactments. that have ever
| come before the people among them
the restratiop of the law providing
for capital punishment, and an act
providing for capital punishment, and
an act providing for DEGREES nisi in
| divorce proceedings, and other acts
of great interest. Upon these measures
the interest of the State was fully
aroused, and the fierceness of the con-
test and the aspirity of debate thta
were engendered, have never been APP
proached in my day, at least. But
| But Judge Hall by cogency of reason
| ing. prLanity of manner and fairness
in debate, became the brilliant and
successful leader through all these
turbulent scenes.
l wish now to call attention to the
sequel, which marked the manly quail
tiles and true characteristics of his
| leadership, that when the battles
were over, no expression of bitterness,
no pangs of wounded feelings was or
could be entertained by even the fierc-
est opponents of his contentious, one
of whom / myself was.
Judge Halls long judicial career
has been so fully alluded to that what
/ might say would necessarily be mere
! repetition l desire, however. to eX-
| press my concurrence in all that has
| been said, and add, that my Intimate
| acquaintance with Judge Hairs judi
cial career of q years justifies me in
| the statement, that his administration
| of Justice was impartial, honest, con-
| scientious and true; and that no suit
or ever departed from his court with
| out having had not only fair oppor-
| tunity to he fully heard, nor without
| feeling that he had had such oppor-
| tnnity. In private life he was a man
! of kind heart, pleasing address, REIN
! ed tastes, gentle and reserved DISPOSE
| ton, scholarly attainment and broad
| colutre: an accomplished gentleman,
loved most by those who know him
best.
It has been truthfully said. that
| "the multitudinous voices of earth and
| air are prophecies of a world to be-
| The flowers of the field rising from
countless graves; the unfolding leaves
| OF spring; the meadows bursting into
| bloom; the winged minstrels filing the
| air with song, are the evangels demon
| strating before our eyes the victory or
| life over death, and fill us with con-
| fidence that. Beyond the waking. and
the sleeping, beyond the smiling ana
| the weeping, we shall meet again.
AS a further token of respect to the
memory of our deceased brother.
now order this court adjourned till to-
morrow morning at $40 o'clock.