Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-03
JUDGE JAMES KEITH
DIES AT HIS HOME
Former President of Supreme
Court of Appeals Passes
Away.
HAD DISTINGUISHED CAREER
Funeral at St. Paurs Episcopal
Church on Friday at Noon.
Interment in Hollywood.


Richmond, for moro than twenty years
president OF the Supreme Court OF Ap-
peals Of Virginia, and A distinguished
veteran OF the famous Black Horse
Cavalry OF the War Between the
States. after brief illness from pncu-
monia.' died carly yesterday morning
at his Richmond home, 1IO Cathedral
Place.
Burial will be in Hollywood Gene
tory Friday afternoon. The funeral
services will be held in ST. Paurs Epis-
copal Church ct noon tomorrow. The
active pallbcarcrs will meet At the
home, 10 Cathedral Place, Friday
morning at 1870 O'Clock: the honorary
pallbearers will meet at the church at
ll:45. but are not expected 10 attend
the burial.
The active pallbearcrs arc J. IT.
Stewart Jones. Bruce Bowe, Warren p.
Taylor, NJ. 3. Watts, Henry G.. RELY.
Jonathan Bryan. Mayor George Ainslic,
Nelson Ingram. Gray Garland and Fos-
ter Witt.
The honorary pallbearers are Judges
John A. Buchanan, Richard II. Card :
we'll. George NJ. Harrison. Stafford c..
Whittle. Joseph L. Kelly. Robert r.
Prentis, r. w. Sims, Martin r. Durks
and l.. l.. Lewis and Governor Henry
Carter Stuart, Colonel w. Gordon Nc
Cabc. Colonel Thomas Smith. TT. Rev.
ID. j. O'Conncll. Major Jennings c. Wise.
Major Henry Z. Carter. Messrs. James
L. Pace. Henry r. Pollard. Fred S. VAL
entine, Edgar IT. Ferguson, W. w.
Scott James D. Patton. Il. Walton
Moore. II. III. Downing, Hugh Hamilton,
Moses VI. Green. William II. White.
Wyndham Il. Meredith, Fred W. Scott,
Eppa Hunton, Jr.. Henry P. Taylor. Jr.,
Alfred p. Thorn, John Stewart Bryan.
Harry 6. Payne. Thomas p. Bryan and
Is. II. Wexford.
WAS DIRECT DESCENDANT OF
CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL
James Keith. the son OF lsham and
Julia Chiffon Keith. OF Fauquier Coun-
", was descended from long lire OF
distinguished ancestors on both sides
of the house. being Ercat-great-
grandson OF William Randolph, a great
great great grandson ors Henry Ishai,i.
andea direct descendants Of CHIEF Jus
tice Marshall.
Judge Keith was born on September
:. S3a. Though feeble in childhood. he
was robust in youth. He was reared
in the country and had the usual ad :
rantases OF the country boy of his
time. He was educated in private
schools. the influence OF his mother
creating In him the inclination to study
and in large measure shaping his
life for the greatness he afterwards 5
attained. He studied law in the Office
OF John NJ. Forbes and at the Univer-
sity of Virginia, where he graduated
in 1860
In 1861 he enlisted as q volunteer
private i'll the Black Horse Cavalry
Company II, Fourth Virginia Regiment.
In 1865 he was made adiutant of the
regiment. in which position he served
until tho close OF war. In 1861 he
was at Harpcr's Ferry. in accordance
with Governor Letcher's orders. He
was at AppomattoS. but being part
of the cavalry on General Lees right,
he succeeded il escaping the irnmedi-
ate surrender. IIc was in the cavalry
charge that drove Sheridan back for
two miles. capturing tw>. pieces of ar
tillery, and not being halted until they
encountered the Army OF the James.
under General Ord, to whose over
whelminE numbers and resources no
and the others were compelled to yield.
GAVE GREATER PART OF LIFE
no SERVICE on THE BENCH
Having studied law under the great
John Is. Minor and received by birth
ana application the qualities OF sue
cess. Judge Keith entered the prac-
tlce or his profession at Warrenton ir
1868, lover of law and literature,
which make his opinions while OF the
Court of Appeals masterpieces OF Legal
writings. Four years later he was
elected to the General Assembly from
ifauquier County. This position nc was
not permitted to fill for long. rs he
was. in 1870. elected judge ct the
Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which posi-.
ton lie filled with wisdom and dignity
until promoted to the Supreme Court.
on January ], 1896. From this date
until less than two years ago he re-
manned member OF that distinguish ed
body OF Virginia jurists, being prcsi-
dent OF the body nearly the entire
twenty years.
As lawyer. Judge Keith was re-
Eardcd as able. competent and faith
ful. As judge. he enjoyed a wide
reputation as one OF the hest IN a
court whero all were regarded as good.
As Democrat, he was loyal and of
great influence. And as man he
was known to be righteous aud big
IN his judgments. of the finest social
graccs ages of excellent ancestry can
afford. OF engaging conversational fac
ilties. of sourd. character and unsul-
lied reputation. Recognizing in Judge
Keith these qualities of the great man.
Washington and Ice University con-
fcrred upon him the degree of doctor
of laws.
Judge Keith was married twice. His
first wife was Lilias Gordon alsrson,
daughter Of Arthur Alexande% Nor
son. of Warrenton. They were mar
ried in 1872, her death occurring about
fi"e years later. In 1857 he was re-
married 10 his first wife's sister. Fran
ces Barksdale Morson. to whom we're
born Two chilareH--hIrs, Juliet t-Iinton
Keith and Lieutenant Morson Keith,
Of tho United States aviation corps.
Continued on Third Page.)