The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-10-06
MEMORIAL TO JUR1sT

|
The Death OF Levin Wethered
Wickes, Late Associate Judge OF
The Second Judicial Circuit OF
Maryland.
Levin Wethered Wickes was born
in Chestertown, in Kent County, on
December IT, 1866, and after gradu-
ating from Washington College he
attended John Hopkins University
for brief time. Washington Col
lege honored him several years ago
with degree of Doctor of Laws
Judge Wickes has been On the
Bench in the Second Judicial Circuit
for around fourteen years, becoming
associate Judge upon the death of
Chief Judge Albert Constable, when
Judge Adkins was elevated to the
vacancy created by the death of the
! former.
Judge Wickes may be said to have
lived in the center of circle, the
circumference of which was not far
flung, but which may be q scribed
with radiating circles. Kent County
being the center with the Eastern
Shore and the State of Maryland
succeeding in the widening. He
was content with his surroundings,
his home, friends, State and County.
and the work upon the Bench, and
car ed little for travel. He cared
more for the history of his State and
his County than the history Of all
else.
| Judge Wickes' knowledge of the
law grew marvelously after he went
on the Bench and it was largely due
to an innate desire to solve all ques-
lions correctly, in fact, or in law, or
in equity.
except that he expended upon its IL
limitable study and industry and was
never satisfied until he found what
appeared to him as solution and
which could be considered as settling
the question. Those of us who did
not know Judge Wickes when he
practiced law will largely agree in
this statement, because of the fidel-
ity, study and industry he gave each
case after he went on the Bench.
Judge Wickes grew in stature in the
profession Of the law each succeed
ing year while he was on the Bench
and when he laid down his Iabors
we must all agree that no case ever
passed thru his hands but what re-
ceived the benefit of clear thinking,
and in his written opinion there was
sound, clear and cogent reasoning. .
In the death of Judge Wickes our
Bar feels that it has lost a learned
and just Judge and it must be proved
to us that those who come after him
on the Bench will be\ able TO equal
him in his legal and mental acumen,
all things fairly considered. In the
execution of his Office as a Judge, it
a worshipper of liberty, friend Of
the oppressed.
The home life Of Judge Wickes
was incompatible. There is no
other word that will express it. He
was loving husband and an indul-
gent father. His circle of friends
was wide and none knew him but
to respect and love him. 1t is doubt
full if any man ever occupied the
Bench in this Circuit who received
and held the confidence of the prac-
ticing lawyers and the pubic more
closely than did he and this Bar has
gone on record to say that it was its
desire that Judge Wickes should be
elevated to the Court OF Appeals
upon the retirement of Judge Adj
kins, and we do not regret it.
1t is hard to believe that Judge
Wickes is dead; that the loving hus-
band, father friend and Judge is
dead. He was in love with life, rap
tured with the things about him,
and we can hardly believe that his
dexterous, disciplined faculties, SO
clear with us in our March Term,
were dissipated and dispersed with
that parting breath of his on April 8,
1888. However, it is true but we
hope that his strong and subtle ener-
gies are contending in another forum
than here for the supremacy of right
and justice.
! May it please the Court Tat this
minute be accepted as our tribute;
that the Clerk of this Court spread
| the same at large upon the minutes
of this Court as of this Term and
that suitable copy of the same be
sent to the widow of Judge Wickes
and copies distributed to the press
of the County.
JOSHUA CLAYTON.
IN