The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1896-10-07 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE LATE MR. R. B. MOORE.  It is with deep regret that we announce the death ' of Mr. It. B. Moore, the well-known solicitor, which took place on Sunday, at his residence,Fairview-road, Oxton. The deceased gentleman was one of the most successful lawyers in the provinces, and only retired from active practice about five years ago. His declining years had been passed in quietude, and although the pressure of advanced age told npon him, be was active and cheerful until within the last few weeks. Quite recently, he has failed rapidly, but his death came unexpectedly. He leaves a widow, three sons and two daughters, all of whom are grown up. Mr. R. B. Moore, who was seventy-nine years of age, was born at Carlisle, and served his articles with a solicitor in that town. After obtaining his diploma he came southward and settled in Birkenhead, which then, a little over forty-five years ago, was rising into prominence. Se soon won the reputation of being one of the most skilful practitioners in the north of England, and gained a wide and varied practice, especially in the criminal courts, his special knowledge of this department making him a most successful pleader in the police courts. At this time he was the only lawyer of eminence in the town. As the place grew, his practice grew with it, and he obtained& lead in his profession, which he never relinquished so long as he was able to attend the courts. His law library was kept up to date by the acquisition of almost every legal book published; and thy the application of earnest study, much practice, and above all his inherent cleverness, amounting almost to genuia in his profession. Mr. :loom speedily became known as one of the very smartest and most successful criminal lawyers in the provinces. Indeed, he was frequently consulted by clients, legal as well as lay, in distant parts of the country, and his services were sought after very eagerly. He had for some time a branch office in Liverpool, but gave it up to devote himself entirely to his Birkenhead practice. To enumerate the great cases in which he was oonoerned would be to give a list of almost every trial of note in Birkenhead during the last half century. One of the more recent ones, however, was the Rock Ferry murder case, in which, although his client, Travis, did not secure an acquittal at the trial, he was, largely through Mr. idoore's efforts, afterwards released from gaol with a free pardon. Mr. Moore was widely known for his ehrowdnee% aptitude in getting at the kernel of the matter, and an infinite capacity for taking pains in working up a case. In many important tnals clients would urge a preference for the oonduct of their cases by Mr. I Moore himself rather than that he ahould instruct . . .  i;;;;Lsel, and moms generally justified their choice. Oittside of his profession he did not take much part in pul•kc life, but no man wasbetter known in the borough, and he was by no means without influence in the town's affairs. His sons, Mr. Frank S. Moore and Mr. Robert Moore, have carried on the business of Messrs. R. B. Moore and Sons during the last five years, and Mr. Moore has enjoyed the rest which his long service entitled him to take. His other son, Mr. Beadle Moore, practices as • solicitor at Derby.