Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-09
R. w. Soule Empori
Market Square, The Big Furniture Store

profession with intense industry and
never failing enthusiasm. He i'm
pressed himself upon the community
IN which he lived as a young man Of
superior natural endOwmentS and
fearless integrity, and was promptly
recognized as a young lawyer of eX
collent abilities and splendid promise.
In 1863 he was accordingly chosen
city solicitor Of the City Of Portland
and in discharging the duties Of this
office during the next five years and
in his entire career thus far. at a bar
comprising lawyers who were dis
tIn-uished throughout New England
for their learning and the strength! of
their service. he continually added to
he public estimate Of the fullneSS Of
/ his own learning and his own
strength rs a lawyer He had ac-
1Uircd a State vide reputation as u
lawyer OF profound and accurate le
"a. learning ana as an advocate Of
logical power and glowing eloquence
in argument But he had also identi-
fed himself with the public life OF the
community during his residence in
Portland, and was known TO be man
whose probity and good faith did not
depend upon the commands of the
statute or the requirements Of his
cath OF office as an attorney at law
They we're inherent in his character
and instructive with his life. He was
also known to be 4 courteous and
kindly gentleman with that "vigila11t
TrI, faifc RI
slider the rights. the interests. and
rensibilties of others in all the re-
Iations Of life.
Thus when vacancy occurred IN
1872 on the bench of The Superior
court Of Cumberland county, Joseph
" Symonds was promptly iesignat-
cd by the Governor. At the request Of
the Cumberland bar. to fill the va
canCv. For six years he presided
over this important and useful court
as 4 magistrate who not only realized
that the trial Of Il cause is for the
| purpose Of discovering the truth, but
was imbUcd with 4 deep sense of
judicial responsibility that the truth
! should prevail and justice be done.
And when in October, 1878. a vacancy
on the bench Of the Supreme court
was occasioncd by the death Of Asso-
ciate Justice Diclierson. Judge Sy-
monds was n once recognized by the
Governor as in all respects the best
qualified and most admirably
equipped of all those suggested to fill
that vacancy, and he was accordingly
appointed.
In the trial Of cnuses before the
Jury. he never forgot that he was
presiding over n tribunal in which the
dearest interests of the people are
constantly at stake. and all the facul-
ties of his keen and cultivated in
tellect, the ripe fruits of his valuable
experience and the best qualities OF
an honest and kindly heart were con-
stantly employed in the furtherarce
of that Justice which is the queen Of
all the moral virtues" and the chief
end of human society.
His written opinions as a mem Der
Of the Law Court Of the State. pub
lishcd in the seven volumes of our
Reports Of Judicial Decisions from the
fSth 70 the 16tI, volume are IN ordur-
ing monument to the extent anu va
rietv Of his learning in the law. 70 his
luminous exposition Of it n the ad
ninist~-tio1 CT Justice. and his fac
ultv of adapting the flexible prnci-
Pies Of the common law 70 the chang
in- conditions If progressive so
ciety. whore new occasions teach
new duties"
But Baron Pollock gave as his rea
son for declining a judicial appoint
mont that he deemed the functions
OF an advocate more agreeable and
more hono~ah than those Of 4 mag
istrate." ana either for this reason.
or for the more practica! and sub
stlntiAl reason tllat he believed the
-cmune-a ton rf his services as a
practitioner at the bar would be sew
era! ines greater than the salary he
was then receiving as justice Of the
Supreme Court. or for both reasons
combined. Judge Symords rendered
his resignation in March. 1884. and
! retired from the bench to resume his
practice IT the bar.
Soon after his retirement Judge Sy-
mOn0S N1S ndfr'eu 10 Mary lamp
| bell stuart Of Huntington. ". z. and
he is survived by one son. Stuart
Oakley Sy:nonds. A talented member
Of the Cumberland bar and now 4
member Of the board Of aldermen in
the city government OF Portland.
From the time Of his retirement
from the bench. until the time Of mis-
decease Judge Symonds was engaged
! in the active practice Of his profess
sion in Portland, first as senior part
ner of the firm Of Symonds & Libby,
and subsequently of the firm OF Sy-
monds. Snow & Cook. and Symonds.
Snow. Cook & Hutchinson. He was