Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-11-16
Death of Mr.. B. L. Abney in
Columbia.

y
Benjamin Lindsey Abney, one of
the ablest and best known members
of the South Carolina bar, died yes
terday afternoon at $3.50 o'clock fol-
lowing an illness of a little over
week. Mr.. Abney died at the home of
C. L. Blease on Washington street
where he had resided for number of
years.
His only immediate relatives, Col.
John R. Abney CT New York,
brother, and Mrs. J. C. Hunter,
sister, were at his bedside when the
end came. Colonel Abney has been
here since last week and Mrs. Hunter
arrived from her home in Atlanta
early yesterday morning.
Mr.. Abney had not been in the best
of health for some time and the last
week was taken seriously sick. He
had rallied earlier in the week, but
Thursday grew worse and was un-
conscious all Thursday night and un-
til his death yesterday afternoon.
Diebetes and pneumonia were given
as causes of his death.
Funeral services will be. held to-
morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock at
Trinity Episcopal church and the in
terment will be in Elmwood ceme-
terry. The Rev. Henry D. Phillips,
newly chosen rector of Trinity, will
probably conduct the services.
Was Able Lawyer.
Benjamin Lindsey Abney was rec
ognized not only by fellow members
of his profession, but by laymen as
well as one/ of the ablest lawyers in
the state, having few, if any, peers
among the South Carolina bar. In ad-
dition to being learned in the law he
was deep student otherwise. He had
one of the finest private Libraries in
South Carolina.
Mr.. Abney had handled some of
the largest cases ever carried before
South Carolina courts, included
among these being the famous South
ern railway merger suit in which he
gained wide distinction for his work.
In this case some of the most prom
inent attorneys in the country were
engaged, including A. P. Thonl, then
general counsel for the Southern rail-
way. Mr.. Abney was division counsel
for the Southern at that time and had
charge of the entire case, being as
sister by a number of other attor-
neys. Another important case>he was
engaged in was the Seminole suit
and the last case of Importance in
which he appeared in court was the
Columbia canal case. He was engag-
ed by the state of South Carolina for
this case, the commonwealth winning
in the court of common pleas.
He was division counsel in charge,
of South Carolina for the Southern:
railway for a quarter of century,
resigning in 1917.
Mr.. Abney practiced law in Co.
lumbia for SO years, coming here
January 1, 1882 from Edgefeld. He
practiced with his brother, John R.
Abney, until the latter went to New
York in 1883 and then formed a part
nership with John P. Thomas, Jr.,
which continued for many years.
Mr.. Abney was born in the old
Ninety Six district in what is now
Edgefeld county February 25, 1859,
and was therefore 63 years old at the
time of his death. He was educated
at the common schools of his district
and attended Newberry college when
this institution was located at Wal
halla, his father owning a simmer
home there. He later went to the Un-
iversity of Virginia where he was
graduated in 1879.
Family From England.
Following his graduation at the
University of Virginia Mr.. Abney
read law under his brother and other
leading attorneys in the district. He
was admitted to the bar December
Is, 1880, and had been practicing his
profession since that date, little
over a year in Edgefeld and the re-
mainder of the period in Columbia.
Mr.. Abney inherited his talent
from a long line of distinguished an
cestors in England. The family NOV
ed from England to Virginia, and then
William Abney, the paternal ances-
tor of Ben L. Abney, was granted
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