Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-15
I. ROSSER,
FAMED BARR|STER.
CLAIMED BY DEATH

/ Luther Zeigler RoSSer, a leading
lawyer at the Atlanta bar for more
than forty years, and one of the
ablest lawyers in the United States,
died Tuesday morning at 4 o'clock
at his home on Oakdale road in
Druid Hills, after a very brief ill
ness.
| About a month ago Mr.. Rosser
slipped on wet pavement in alight
| ing from his automobile and broke
his nose. He went right along with
his work in spite of the pain and dis
comfort Of the injury. In some way
the injury became infected and COM
plications developed rapidly. Last
Thursday he was forced to take his
bed. High blood pressure rendered
the infection difficult to cope with.
was the rupture of blood vessel on
his brain!
Announcement of his death shock
ed everyone who knew him, as the
news of his illness did not become
generally known. He was trying a
case in court the morning of the day
when he. took his bed. Even the
members of his law firm were not
prepared for the blow.
Mr.. Rosser was born in Gordon
county in 1859. His father was Rev.
1 James A. Rosser, a minister Of the
North Georgia. Methodist conference.
His mother, before her marriage, was
Miss Temperance zeigler. On both
sides of the family, Mr.. Rosser in
herited the rugged qualities of Amer
! lean pioneers, his father coming from
old English stock and his mother be-
ing descended from the Salzburgers,
who settled in Effingham and
Screven counties a few years after
the colonization of Georgia.
AS boy Mr.. Rosser was reared
| in a godly home in the Methodist
itineracy. His preliminary education
was obtained in the schools where
his father served as pastor. and in
due course he entered college at
Emory. From there he graduated in
the class of 1873, with a tie for first
| honor. 1t was characteristic of him
to surrender first honor to his class
mate and take second honor for him.
self. His salutatory address deliver
ed in Greek was letter perfect when
it went to the late DR.. Hopkins, pro.
| fessor of Greek, for examination.
Start of Brilliant Career
Mr.. Rosser started the practice of
| law at Fairburn, the county site of
Campbell county, shortly after his
| graduation. He formed a partner
ship with the late Judge L. S. Roam,
OF the Fulton superior court. In
1880 he moved to Atlanta and en-
tered the practice here. From the
very start he stamped himself upon
the bench and bar as a young lawyer
of brilliant promise. In all the sub
| sequent years of his practice that
promise was abundantly fulfilled
| There probably has never been a
lawyer in Georgia of greater ability.
Shortly after coming here Mr.. Ros-
ser formed partnership with Z. V.
Carter. They practiced together
some years under the firm name of
Rosser & Carter. Then Mr.. Rosser
| formed partnership with Morris
Brandon, and they practiced together
for years under the firm name of
Rosser & Brandon. In 1913 when
John M. Slaton was elected governor
the firm of Slaton & Phillips was
consolidated with the firm Of Rosser
& Brandon under the new name of
Rosser, Brandon, Slaton & Phillips
Governor SlatOn withdrew entirely
from the practice and earnings of
the firm and only his name remained
in it. When he retired as governor
he rejoined the firm. Mr.. Brandon
withdrew a year or so later and
formed a partnership with John A.
Hynds. The late Mr.. Ben u. Phil
| lips died some years later and the
firm was changed to Rosser, Slaton
| & Hopkins by the addition of Stiles
Hopkins. The two survivors are
now Mr.. Hopkins and former Gov
ernor ,Slaton.
The bulk of Mr.. Rosser's law prac-
tice throughout his career was in
civil cases. He often remarked that
! the only criminal cases he ever ham
| died were accidental" cases. Yet
some of these were among the most
| famous in the annals of the Georgia
courts, notably the case of Leo M.
Frank, who was defended by Mr..
Rosser in association with Reuben
| r. Arnold. 1t happened that Mr..
ROsser represented the National Pen
Gil company in civil matters. Frank
was general manager of the COM
pany. That was how Mr.. Rosser be-
came his lawyer when he was
charged with murder.
Had Large Civil Practice
Mr.. Rosser's civil practice was
one of the largest in the state. For
years he has represented the Geor-
gia Railway & Power company in
all Of their rate cases as we'll as IN
matters involving security issues. He
was general counsel for the Atlanta,
Birmingham & Atlantic railroad for
years. He represented the Old Col
Ony Trust company of Boston for
years. He represented the Coca
Cola bottlers in their famous litiga-
ton with the Coca-Cola company
settled out of court to the satisfac-
over bottling rights. That case was
ton of his clients. He represented
S. A. Lynch in the recent Tanlac
litigation which was settled out of
court to the satisfaction of his
clients.
Mr. Rossers chief characteristics
as lawyer were his loyalty to his
clients, his courage in representing
their interests, and his interchangeable
energy. His law library is said to
be one of the finest in the south. if
not the finest, and there lis not a