Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-05
NO. 45.

| the pleadings and papers, Mr.. Cham
berlain proceeded to deliver his argu-
ment in his usual thorough and
scholarly manner Mr.. Williams then
rose to reply and for some two hours
delivered the most brilliant and mas
terful argument, completely demolish-
ing the attorney general, and winning
his case at every point.
Judge Melton knew Mr.. Williams
well, and upon Mr.. Chamberlain
narratirg the circumstance to him,
gave 1t as his opinion that Mr.. Will
liams was one of the most brilliant
minded lawyers at the bar of this
state. Judge Melton stated that Mr..
Williams was modest and retiring to
the point Of difference, and that had
he possessed a reasonable amount Of
aggressiveness, he must have been one
Of the foremost and most successful
lawyers Of the time"
In a personal letter to me, written
in 1907, Gov. Chamberlain thus de-
scribes that visit to Mr.. Williams:
Il met him but once, but this one
meeting formed an incident which
has stuck in my memory ever since
it's occurrence. 1t was in the fall of
1868, that in company with the late
Isaac w. Hayne of Charleston, 1 went
to Yorkville to see Mr.. Williams re-
garding some matters he had in hand
pnnnanta6 wifi ha old
state.
We found Mr.. Williams in his office.
very small detached little building
with only one room, and with almost
no furniture and a rickety wash stand,
two carpenter made wooden chairs and
a very small dial table. When we call
ed, Mr.. Williams sent out for one more
chair. He had no desk whatever, and
here comes the matter which I have
many times told to illustrate the ex-
tremity to which the south was reduc-
ed after the war;
He told us he had good PRACTICE
though cash did not come in very fast.
Going to our business, he turned to
what had been a flour barrel and we
saw written rudely on the side Of the
barrel the titles Of some twelve or fif-
teen cases, written one above another;
and thrusting his arm down in the bar
rel at the point opposite our case, he
drew out the papers which he proceed
ed to discuss. He showed himself at
once to me to be an astute lawyer, ex-
tremely familiar with South Carolina
cases and well equipped generally in
fact, an unusually strong lawyer. He
showed us his law library, lying on the
floor under his little table; it consisted
Of two volumes Of a three volumed
Kent, a copy Of Adams Equity and six
or eight scattered volumes Of s. c.
Equity Reports.
He was perfectly cheerful, made no
complaint, and seemed thoroughly hap
py in his work l confess regarded
him with admiration and on returning
to Charleston got hold Of a third vol
ume Of Kent which sent to him, which
brought a noble letter Of thanks. He
was a fine type Of the old time country
lawyer Of South Carolina, Of class
with which the state then abounded."
The late James Hemphill Of Chester.
told me that Mr.. Williams great
strength lay in thorough preparation,
clear statement and persuasive man
ner; he literally reasoned with court
and jury and brought them to his point
Of view.
Though this great lawyer was in full
practice nearly forty years he died
poor; he did not have a mind to make
money.
In 1868, with no solicitation on his
part, the Republican legislature elected
him circuit judge. He declined, un-
fortunately, to accept the office, and
William NJ. Thomas Of Charleston was
next chosen. In the same year. at the
very close of it, and in Columbia while
attending upon the courts Mr.. Williams
suddenly died. He was perhaps the
greatest lawyer the Sixth circuit ever
had.
Towards the end of Smiths career,
and in the beginning Of that OF Geo.
w. Williams, there were born at YORK
vile two boys who became notable law
yers. Their father was Samuel Mel
ton, the village postmaster, and ther
mother was a Davis. The motner was
the seat of power; she was a woman OF
mark in the community where she
lived Roth of the sons were scriyen-
ers in the old court house, ana tnere
learned to write, an accomplishment
now quite lost to the bar. Both were
graduated at the South Carolina COL
Iege in 1S43 and 1852 respectively.
CYRUS Davis settled at Chester, Where
he had married; he practiced law
there until the close Of the war ana
then removed to Columbi... Saruuei
Warren settled first at Yorkville, and
he also edited the Chester Standard
in 1853 and 1854. In 1855 ne oought
The Enquirer at Yorkville. he came
to the bar in 1857, practiced at Ches-
ter and York, and in 1866 he also went
to Columbia.
or the former l gave some particu-
lar account a few years ago before the
State Bar association, and l shall not
repeat it here. The latter was class,
mate Of Judge Hudson at college; ana
Judge Hudson gave as his opinion that
"Sam Melton was as effective an ora
tor in college as he ever was at the
bar" He had more art than ms
brother, but was perhaps inferior 10
him in solid attachments.
Judge Melton had large and varied
career in the state. He was the friend
and associate of the accomplished
that gentleman kindly
gave me his estimate Of Melton, ana
il is perhaps the best that could Dc
made; this is what he wrote:
IL had a familiar acquaintance WIN
tho Melton brothers-C. Davis Melton
and Samuel w. Melton-from the tlne
of nv coming to South Carolina, De-
cember, 1865, to the time OF my leaV-
ing the state, April 1877. The oroth-
ers were partners in law practice at
Columbia. G. Davis Melton was, OF
the two, much the more accomplished
9ll-round lawyer. Indeed, have otten
said. and such is now my opinion, that
Davis Melton was as thorough law
YER as I have known in my long eXpe-
rience and observation of the bar in all
parts of the country. Both the broth
ars were. as minor but not unimport-
ant. accomplishment, perfect penmen
"a rare thing among lawyers, and
their chirography was not impaired by
years Of rapid use. A bill in equity
drawn by Davis Melton, and enrolled
on heavy paper Il. the old style, duly
folded and endors 1, was as fine
avtarpollv and intprnAllN,