Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-01-31
Saturday, January 81, 1914.
Judae oliver Gray Hall.


higher life on Friday, when the Dan
ouet to Judge oliver Gray Hall, May
"a. 1911, was called to mind. That ocea-
s;o,, yas g tribute of respect and hon
or TO the retiring judge of the superior
court of Kennebec county. There FRANK
axnrossion of the men of the bar VINO
knew him best found expression 10
our mind nc more deserved or httlng
commitment has frightened the living
hours os a faithful public officer than
the words uttered at that time by ehiei
Justice Whitehouse. His words true
then. are as true today and carry new
meaning to the hearts of those VINO hao
come in contact with the sweet ana
brave character just departed from
,be address of Justice whitehouse we
clip a few paragraphs that touch ih'i-
mate,v upon the service and character
of Judge Hall:
II is altogether fitting and proper
thar this compliment should be PAID 10
faithful and judicial officer ana that
n,bl;c attention should be directed 10
n such meritorious and exemplary ser
vices during the lifetime OF the onicer
as an incentive and example 10 oeheis'
"Too oft the flowers that aecs t we Diei'
Had better frightened living eye
And eulogy-that public tear
FaIleth a distilled sopnstry .,a
DER genius that deserved and sighed
Yet being dead IS delheo'
Let it be made known to MIN "nlie
living that the conscientious and faith-
full discharge of public judicial duty
though in the good State of Maine II
is exnected as of course, is none the
less appreciated and henored by the
Bar and people of the state.
II mas often been said that the ca
reer of those devoted to the legal pro-
fession whether at the bar or on the
bench, passes from public memory
soon after its close; that when thei.
work is done the great majority oi
them pass into the shadow OF d swlie
and prompt oblivion. l do not Iulis
concur in the statement so often mace,
for believe that the long life-work OF
GOOD Judge or a good lawyer, cannot
fail tn leave an impress upon the COM
munstv for the public veal which ex-
er+s an influence beyond the genera
tion which witnessed It. but however
that NAV be, there is an oblgation
resting upon the bar to make such
m,bl,c recognition of their beneficent
example as will tend to guard their
memories against the encroachments
of time and dissipate as far as prachca-
BILE the mists and shadows OF threat
ened oblivion.
IT is not fitting here to indulge In
fulsome eulogy, but Judge Hall had
given u of the best years of his lie
to the administration of justice in one
of the most useful and important
courts in our State. During all these
wears no cloud, nor speck, nor stain
has rested upon the fair fame of his
court. or the purity of his motives; no
untoward incident has ever disturbed
or ruffled the serenity of his judicial
demeanor and no conceivable consid-
Grafton except that of the law ana
the Justice of the cause has ever been
suspected of controlling or affecting
his rulings or his Judgment. without
magnifying the Importance of his OF
fee, but impressed with deep sense
of it's responsibilities, holding his
court for the administration of justice
and not simply for the dispatch OF
business. he sought with absolute i'm
partiality and singleness of purpose
TO have the truth discovered and de-
cIared and justice done in every
cause. All the faculties OF his mlno,
the ripe fruits of his experience ana
his robust moral principle were ever
employed in the furtherance OF that
Justice which seeks to crystaiize into a
Judgment, the enlightened sense OF
common right which prevails among
men. He was careful, considerable and
tender of the rights of all suitors
whatever their condition in life ana
uniformly exemplified the graces OF
kindness and patience, charity and
mercy.
but he drew the thing as he saw IT
For the God Of things as they Were'
and during his q years Of well sus-
tanned service upon the bench, he mer-
tied and received the entire confidence
of the bar, of suitors before him and
OF the people Oh lllS SouuSS ebhu DtceS'
No higher tribute than this can De
rendered to the soundness of his judg-
ment, the kindness Of his heart and
his conscientious application Of the
law to the facts before him. His ex-
ample of judicial honor, of public
principles and private virtues may
well be commended to those called up
on to perform judicial service in our
State. He closes his career with credit
and honor TO himself; honor to the
bar and honor to the people OF this
state, and in defiance Of all predic-
tions Of oblivion for lawyers and
Judges, il is my belief that the rec
ord of such judicial service as have
hastily and imperfectly sketched, can
not fail to transmit to generations be-
vond ours the unimpeachable fame OF
the upright and successful judge, the
exemplary citizen and the Christian
gentleman.
In conclusion wish to express the
earnest hone that our honored guest
NAV have many remaining years OF
comfort and happiness, chesred and
blessed by the pleasant memories OF