Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-25
JUDGE WI TURP|N
DIES AT HIS HOME
Presiding Justice of Civil Court
Passes Away After
Brief Illness.
ON CIVIL BENCH SINCE 1908
Was Formerly President Of
Board Of Aldermen and Ac-
tive in City Affairs.
ON CIVIL BENCH SINCE 1908

Judge William Miles Turpin, who has
presided over the Civil Justices Court
since 1t was created, nine years ago.
died at 1880 o'clock last night, after
brief illness. lasting about two weeks
Preparations were being made TO have
him removed from his home 500 North
Eleventh STREET.-THE q hospital when the
end came Death was ascribcd directly
TO heart trouble.
Few of Judge Turpin's friends were
aware of his Illness. Until he was
forced 10 take to his bed two weeks
ago. he daily occupied his bench at the
City Hall. His last illness was char
acterizcd by unusual nervousness. and
yesterday it was thought advisable to
remove him TO hospital for treatment.
He was in his sixty-fourth year.
Judge Turpn was probably one OF
the most widely known citizens Of
Richmond He had planned to observe
next Sunday as the ninth anniversary
OF his appointment to the Civil Justices
Court bench. Having completed his
first term, he was named at the last
session OF the Legislature to serve for
eight more years.
RECEIVED HIS DEGREE
AT RICHMOND COLLEGE,
Eorn in Richmond, the son of Mr. and
Mrs. William II. Turpin. Judge TURIN
received his education in this city. He
was a master of arts of Richmond Col
leSe. Upon his graduation from the
latter institution he became principal
of the Hampton Academy. of which
Colonel John r. Cary was once prin-
cipal.
Giving up this work. Judge Turpin.
who was looked upon as one of the
best-read men i'll Virginia. gave his
time 10 travel. He visited England
Scotland. France, Italy. Greece, Aus
tria. Germany, Egypt. and travelled
through Palestine ON horseback
Upon his return to Richmond Judge
Turpin took up the study of law in
the Office of the late Major Leigh J.
Page, and rapidly won for himself an
cnviahle reputation in his chosen pro-
fession. He represented jefferson
Ward for many years in the Board OF
Aldermen and for a long while served
as commissioner for both the Law and
Equity and Chancery Courts. He
served as president Of the Board of
Aldermen for eighteen years.
WAS At ONE TIME EDITORIAL
CONTRIBUTOR TO NEWSPAPERS
Judge Turpin was an ardent student.
devoting most of his idle moments 10
reading. He possessed what is said
braries in Richmond. Always literary
in his tastes, Judge Turpin for several
years was an editorial writer and con-
tributor TO various Richmond news
papers.
In his many years service in the
City Council, Judge Turpin was known
as an enemy of waste and an opponent
of unreasonable salary increases. a de-
fender OF the city treasury and "A man
with the greatest confidence in the
city's future. He resigned his seat in
the Board of Aldermen and as presi-
dent of that body on being elected by
the General Assembly of 1905 to the
bench of the Civil Justice Court. which
was created at that time to take over
the civil docket. hitherto part Of the
work of the Police Court. On the
bench Judge Turpin has made repu-
tation for fairness and promptncss,
handling constantly growing docket
without unreasonable delays or con-
tinuances, and his rulings have bccn
uniformly upheld when appeals have
been taken to the higher courts
Judge Turpin never married. and his
nearest surviving relatives are four
ncphews and one niece. II. L. Cooke,
+. Is. Cooke. l.. II. Cooke and G.. =.
Cooke, and Mrs Vincent Mosley
Arrangements for the funeral will
be announced to-day. 1t is expected
that ii will be held some time to-mor-
row. and the services will probably be
conducted from the First Baptist
Church. of which Judge Turpin was a
member.