The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-10-04
JUDGE MCKNIGHT.

Truly death loves a shining mark
Nauyy county has suffered an IRE
parable loss in the death of James
Trtmble Mcknight, Judge OF the Coun
ty@snd Criminal Courts and one OF
the foremost citizens OF the state. He
was rare combination of the quail
ties that peculiarly fitted him for the
place that he 80 well filled in the
county and state. Men Of Judge Nc
Knights character, courage, devotion
to duty executive qualities and pro
gressive spirit are exceedingly scarce
Ills death Is blow to the progress
sive forces In Maury county, for
Judge Mcknight had been their ac
knowledged leader for the past eight
years.
In the full vigor of manhood, just
across the fortieth milestone, men
tally alert, thoroughly honest, with the
courage always to do what he conceiv.
ed to be right, regardless Of its effect
upon the fortunes Of friend or foe
this young turist and county financial
agent has left his impress forever
tpon the people Of Maury county. He
cana here Jess than twenty years
aso,.a briefless young lawyer, without
powerful friends or clients or money,
butlby his sheer strength Of charact.
Dr. his force of intellect and his de.
yotion to duty he had become In few
short years one of the first citizens
OF 1.-the county and by many proclaim.
ed It's most influential factor in shap,
ting the civic affairs OF the county.
ssJudge Mcknight had just entered
Upon his second term. During his
first eight years on the bench he made
arecord that will ever remain source
cf pride to his friends. To his eff
forts, more than to all others. is due
credit for making Maury county &C.
sually "dry." He was the terror OF
he bootlegger. Recognizing the
Wsakhess OF the old jury system, he
Instituted one Of his own that attain
Sd.the desired results. He began te
sife the dealers In liquor work house
HsntAHces and in few short months
kealcompletely changed conditions il
ths.county. He made it SO hot for the
Arata sellers that they either fled the
Ceunty or submitted to the mercy OF
the court. Many Important legal ques.
lions were raised during his service
on the criminal bench and to them he
gave the most painstaking and careful.
thought and usually his judgment fin.
ally became the law of the land.
AS the presiding officer OF the
county court and the financial agent
Of the county, Judge Meningitis rec.
ord Is indelibly written In the county's
record OF progress for the past eight
PEARS, Under his leadership the coun.
tvs, appropriations for benevolences,
for improved public buildings and fol
highways were increased. He was e
potent factor In having the old ante
qu2ted toll road system abandoned.
a Judge Mcknight was the true friend
Of education. He never hesitated t.
- ~s,9s ha - nj hn
lie, supported the University of the
state, aided materially in obtaining
the splendid endowment given it by
the last legislature, and without his
untiring efforts the Middle Tennessee
Experiment Station would never have
been located In Maury county. To
him IL due credit for the county's
handsome and modern new Jail.
s,Hee never Intentionally spent dol
lar textravagantly. He was more par.
ticular In the expenditure of the coun.
TVS funds than. he was in spending
his own. No unclean dollar ever pass.
ed through his hands and he would not
allow the money of the taxpayers to
DO diverted, not a dollar of 1t, from the
purposes for which it was intended.
He,swas thoroughly conscientious,
never took step until he was sure
that he was right and then no power
upon earth could swerve him from the
plain path OF duty.
Judge Mcknight was active in all
good works. He went over the coun-
" preaching the doctrine of better
living, cleaner morals and more in
telligent effort. He was perhaps the
county's best public speaker At the
great war conference held in Nash
Vile last January his speech was pro
nounced by. many competent judges
the best heard. At the exercises upon
the occasion Of the transfer Of the
Experiment station to the University