The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1917-07-26
BRIEF sKErcH on MAJ. HOLMEs

Mai. Hal Holmes was born near
YOfkville, in the 9Th civil district OF
Gibson county, Tenn, in June, 1878,
and his father died when he was
quite small. Soon after that his
mother moved to Pennsylvania and
carried him with her.
In 1898 he left school and yolun--
teered in the army Of the United
States to fight Spain. Soon after his
enlistment he was sent with Penn
sylvania regiment to the Phlllipne
Island for active service. In q lew
wears after his arrival in the Phill-
nine Islands he was sent with anoth-
an soldier to watch for the approach
Of the enemy. In the night time
they observed the enemy IN some
force right upon them, and MAI
Holmes sent his companion back to
camp and undertook to hold the force
in hand single-handed and alone. In
the UNEQUAL contest he was wounded
in the breast and was not found until
the next morning. Upon examination
the arrny doctors gave him very little
attention. thinking that he could not
live but few days. In spite OF poor
treatment, he began to improve and
was carried to the hospital, where
he remained for five weeks and was
then sent to San Francisco, and there
in the Marine hospital had large
mart of his breast bone taken out
AS soon as he was able to leave the
hospital he went to Nebraska and
worked on a ranch and studied law
for year or so and then moved back
to Gibson county and began the
practice of law with Gen. w. w.
Wade at Trenton.
Soon after his return ne was
awarded two medals for bravery IN
the Philippine Islands. He never
speaks of his fearful wound nor OF
his medals, and very few of his init
mate friends know of the existence
Of either.
While associated with Gen. Wade,
he was assistant attorney general
and in fact did large part OF the
work of that Office and did it very
efficiently. His work there attracted
the attention Of the late Jas. K. Dea-
son. one of the best lawyers that Ten
nessee has ever produced, and Mr..
Deason invited him to become q mem
her Of the firm of Deason, Elder u
Holmes. Since he joined that firm in
1903 he has been associated with
practically all the large cases tried
IN Gibson county, and his services
have been secured in many important
cases in neighboring counties.
In January, 1916, he was appoint
ed special Justice Of the Civil Court
of Appeals in the place of Judge Hall,
who was sick at that time. He served
with marked ability on that court
for an entire term and rendered
many strong and important opinions
His service there was highly salts
factory to the bar and he attracted
much favorable attention on account
of his force, clearness and learning
In June, 1916, when war was immi-
nent with Mexico he again volun-
teersd his services to his country and
was elected major Of the Third
battalion of the First Tennessee In
fantry, and in September of that
wear was sent to the Mexican border,
where he remained until January,
1917, when he resigned and came
home and took up his practice of law.
Mai. Holmes has had a broad ex-
perience in the practice of law. He
has at times acted as special judge
in the trials Of cases in the circuit
court, and his experience and bust
ness qualifications make him most
desirable man for the Office of chan
cellor Of this district. Maj. Holmes
is inclined to be very retiring in dis
position, but when once the reserve
IS penetrated the depths Of his feel
ings and the stability Of his friend
ship are very pronounced and ne re-
tains all friendships once establish
ed. His great worth and popularity
at home is attested by the unanimous
support that is being so cordially
given him by the people Of Trenton
and Gibson county. ADV.