Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-10
JUDGE JOHN c. HART
KILLED
N EAR UNION POINT


Judge Hart was walking down tn:
bed of a small stream, because they
were hunting for single birds.
HE either slipped or stumbled, and
fell. The gun exploded and the full
charge entered his neck. His jugulal
vein was cut and so was the Spina
column. He was killed Instantly"
The remains of Judge Hart were
taken to Judge Sibley's home.
Funeral Monday
Funeral services were held or
Monday afternoon It 3 o'clock at the
Presbyterian church at Union Poinc
The six nephews of Judge Hart
acted as paIIbearers.
The funeral services will be con
Quoted by the Rev. w. ". Mem
minger, pastor of All Saints church
Judge Hart was 81 years old. lie
is survived by his wife and five chill
dren-three sons and two daughters
His home had been at Union Point
until nve years ago. when he and
his family moved to Atlanta, making
their residence at 727 Peachtree
street.
His sons are Hal Hart, of s25
Peachtree, who is engaged in bust
ness in Atlanta; and Lieutenant John
Hart, Jr., and Lieutenant George f.
Hart, both of whom are with tbs
American forces in France.
Lieutenant George +. Hart, of the
Three Hundred and Nineteenth ma
chine gun detachment, Eighty-SeconC
division. was gaSsed recently and II
Is understood that he is to be invalid
ed home. Lieutenant John Hardt
Jr., is with the Third Pioneer infan-
try.
Judge Harris two daughters, Miss
Ann and Miss Dolly Hart, are stu
dents at Agnes Scott.
Prominent Georgian
Judge Hart served three terms in
the Georgia legislature, was eight
years judge of the superior court OF
the Ocmulgee circuit, and for about
IL years was attorney general OF
Georgia. As attorney general he
instituted suits by which the state
was enabled to collect approximately
million dollars in back taxes. Five
years ago he was appointed state
tax commissioner by Governor John
M. Slaton.
Judge Hart was a man of great
tenderness and true courtesy. No
citizen of Georgia was more beloved.
He was born July l, 1854, on his
fathers plantation at Union Point.
In pioneer days his grandparents,
Thomas and Ann Hart, moved TO
Georgia from Virginia and settled in
Greene county. That was in the
days before railroads and the fam
lily rode the whole distance on horse
back, bringing their household goods
IN couple of wagons. Later. when
the revolutionary war broke out,
Thomas Hart served as an officer of
the Virginia Continental Line. He
was a farmer and a. contractor
Among the buildings erected by him
was the first chapel of Franklin col
leSe, now the University of Georgia.
1t is a coincidence that he also built
tho courthouse at Greensboro in
which his grandson, Judge Hart, held
court as judge of the Ocmulgee cir
cult.
Judge Harris father, James Hart,
was born i'll 1926 at the old home
stead, but at an early age went to
Augusta to engage in business. As
q member of the city council of
Augusta he did much for the eity's
beauty and progress. 1t was under
his supervision that the trees which
now adorn Greene street were plant
ed.
On his mothers side, Judge Hart
descends from the Collier family, one
Of the most influential in south
Georgia. His grandfather, d. Collier
was a noted physician, and his
many, member of a prominent Geor-
gia family.
Able Jurist
Judge Hart entered the sophomore
class at the University of Georgia
in September, 1872. and graduated
in 1875 with the degree of bachelor
Of laws. The class of which he was
a member was one of the most IA
nous in the history of the state. Ii
included, among others, w. H. Flem-
ing, of Augusta; Judge Hamp Nc
Whorter, Boykin Wright and John
Temple Graves.
r. ]. Massey, writing of this class.
says: Seldom, if ever. has 1t been
surpassed for the brilliance and sue
cess of it's members. Journalism. the
bench. medicine, the business, profess
sional and official life of the state
have all been enriched by his class. "
On leaving college Judge Hart be-
gan the practice of law at Union
Point, and soon became known as
one of the ableSt lawyers in Georgia
IN 1884 he was elected to the legis-
Iature as representative from Greene
with such prominent Georgians as
w. Y. Atkinson, A. s. Clay, G. l.
Bartlett, w. G. Brantley and W. A
Little. He was reelected in 1886 and
again in 1888.
Judge Hart was elected in 1894 4
the judgeship of Ocmulgee circuit
and served in this high office for two
terms. a total of eight years. HIS
decisions were marked by such SOUND
judgment and impartiality that M
was seldom reversed by the suprem'
court.
In 1902. at the solicitation of his
friends, he resigned as superior cour'
Judge and announced his candldac!
for attorney general of Georgia, be
ing elected with practically no oppo
sition. As attorney general he SerF
ed the state with a devotion tina
will give him a permanent place II
the history of Georgia.
Things INSTITUTES
suits for back taxes against various
railroads that brought into the treas
ury of Georgia approximately on
million dollars. The most famou:
litigation of this sort was a SUI
against the Georgia and the Contra
railroads. for back taxes on stool
that the two roads owned In tn
Western railway of Alabama. judge
Hart carried these suits through TN
state superior and supreme courts
and the United States supreme cou,
finally winning decisions that result
ed in the state collecting about three
quarters of a million dollars IN baci
q. Murphey Gambler. chairman Of
the state railroad commission, III
speaking of Judge Harris public serv
"ie was one of the greatest attor
new generals Georgia has has evel
known. He was prudent, JudiclouS
and vet showed the greatest energy
in working for the interests OF th'
state. This was particularly tru'
in the collection of back taxes owe
by railroads. He made an eXcelIen
Judge and was a lawyer OF sOunt
Judgment and conservative action
After serving the state as attor
ney. general for about IL years, judge
Hart resigned and for several year:
devoted himself to his private ar
fairs at his home at Union Point.
In July. 1918, the office of state
tax commissioner was created and
he was rendered the appointment by
Governor Slaton. He held the office
until the time Of his death, the frs
and only tax commissioner Georgis
has had.
During his residence in Atlanta