Newspaper Page Text
Utailg Simes.
VOL. 6.—NO. HO.
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
LATEST EVENTS BY CABLE AND
WIRE.
Was General Longstreet a Traitor?—A
Colored Tragedy in Texas-Terrible
Disaster in Charlotte, North Caro
lina—A Midnight Wedding—Race
War Imminent in Alabama-
General Items of Inti rest.
Atlanta, May 14.—Dr. J. W. Jones,
Secretary of the Southern Historical bo
ciety, in a lecture here Tuesday night, made
a statement that if Stonewall Jackson had
been in command of the Confederates at
Gettysburg, a certain leading General would
have been shot on the field. “Do you refer
to Longstreet?” he was asked afterward.
“Yes,” replied Dr. Jones.
A MASS OF RUINS.
An Entire Buildicg Falls to the Ground
and is Wrecked.
Charlotte, N. C., May 14.—At 9 o’clock
this morning a three-story brick structure
occupied by Hammond & Justice, hardware
merchants, on Trade street, two doors east of
the Central Hotel, fell to the ground tn a
mass of ruins. The catastrophe was caused
by an excavation for the foundation of the
new Shiff building recently destroyed by fire.
It was excavated too close to the
walls, when the earth suddenly
gave way, and the . whole
structure collapsed. Time'.y warning was
given by cracking walls, and everybody fled
in time to escape being caught in the
wreck. The ruins took fire, but it is now
extinguished. The building was owned by
John H. McAden. Loss $7,000. Ham
mond & Justice’s loss on stock $25,000.
lusurancesll,ooo An adjoining building
owned by W. J. Yates was damaged to the
extent of SI,OOO, but is in imminent danger
of collapsing.
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
A Negro Fiend Kills His Wife with an Axe
Marshall, Texas, May 14.—Between 12
and 1 o’clock Tuesday night a cabin in the
western part of this city was the scene of a
horrible tragedy. Sam Kenson, colored
and his wife had a family quarrel during the
day, and at night Kenson entered the cabin
and found his wife praying. Stepping back
he obtained an axe, and quickly returning,
dealt the woman two blows on the head, and
was about to strike again when Dora Lick, a
colored women living in the house, interfer
ed and after a struggle got the axe away
from him. She screamed for help mean
while, but before it came Kenson escaped.
He was subsequently caught and lodged in
jail.
MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT.
A Determined Bride Propped Up in Bed
to Get Married.
Cincinnati, 0., May 14—Last night a
carriage containing Joseph Von Wahle and
Miss Mamie Reedy, who were on their way
to church to be married, was run away with
and overturned, the bdy being very seri
ously injured. At midnight, however, the
marriage took place, though the bride had
to be propped up by pillows in bed while
the ceremony was performed.
A RACE WAR.
Threatened in Alabama.
New Orleans, May 14.—Gov. O’Neill,
of Alabama, has received advices from home
indicating that his presence is needed there
on account of an apprehended war of races
in Bibb and Chaiton counties. The trouble
grew out of a recent assault on a white woman
by a negro, and the lynching of the negro’s
father in consequence thereof. The Sheriff
fearing an uprising, has called on the Gov
ernor for troops.
FROM ATLANTA,
The Governor Gone Fishing—The Varna
do© Trial, Etc.
Special Dispatch to the Daily Times.
Atlanta, May 14.—Governor McDaniel
has gone to Albany to enjoy a week’s fishing
with friends in that region. The executive
office is in the hands of the Secretaries,
Cal. Varnadoe, who was on trial three days
of this week for the murder of Asbury
Whitehead, was convicted of voluntary man
slaughter. He will carry the case up.
General Hancock is still here looking for
a site for the proposed barracks.
The Convention of the Y. M. C. A. is
attended by about 500 delegates.
Beil’s Rebellion Ended.
Winnipeg, Miy 14.—1 tis believed here
that the rebels have been so badly beaten
that they will make no further stand.
The Dynamiters’ Trial.
London, May 14.—The trial of the al
leged dynamiters, Cunningham and Burton,
was resumed this morning.
Probabilities.
Washington, May 14.—For the South
Atlantic States fair weather, variable
winds, preoeded by Northerly winds in
Northern portion, stationary temperature.
Another Trial of the Dolphin.
Washington, May 14.—The Secretary of
the Navy has ordered another trial of the
Dispatch boat Dolphin.
Hunt’s Remedy cures speedily bilious head
ache, costiveness, dyspepsia, strengthens the
stomach and .purifies the blood.
MACON MATTERS.
The Southern Carriage Builders’ Associa
tion—A Business Sensation—Minoi-
Mention.
Special Correspondence Daily Times.
Macon, Ga., May 13.—The Association
of Southern have been in
session here to-day—a good number was
in attendance. Business for the year is re
ported in fine condition. Every member is
enthusiastic over the bright prospects
Mr. W. W. Collins, of the Collins Manufac
turing Company of this city, was elected
President; J. W. Weitzel], of Atlanta, Sec
retary, and J. M. Smith, of Atlanta, Treas
urer. The Convention for next year will
be held at Atlanta the second Wednesday
in May.
President Collins took the members out
in carriages this afternoon and showed them
through the immense shops ot his company,
and afterwards drove over the city and up
on the hills, where the beautiful residences
of our fair city sit in majestic repose. A
banquet was also tendered the association
to-night at the Brown House.
The sensation in the city to-day has been
the sudden changing of hands of the large
stock of the bankrupt firm of W. A. Juhan
& Co. Messrs. H. B. Claflin & Co., of
New York, recently bought the stock, as
they were large creditors of the firm, and
to-day a tride was made between Claflin &
Co. and J. W. Rice & Co., of Macon, who
have been occupying for years the apex of
Tiiangular Block, on Second street, and
next to Juhan & Co. Messrs. Rice & Co.
also bought the stores of Juhan & Co. The
price paid for the stock was $17,000, and for
the stores $27,000.
Messrs. Rice & Co. will push the dry goods
business with great energy and enthusiasm
when they get things in shape.
The Philomatheans, a literary society of
the Wesleyan Female College, celebrated
last night the sixtieth birthday of the phi
lanthropist, George I. Seney, who gave in
round numbers $125,000 to the Wesleyan. A
letter was read from Mr. Seney expressing
regrets that he could not be present.
The Southern Cadets, the young military
company of Macon, celebrated their third
anniversary at the Park to-day by target
practice and a basket picnic.
All lovers of the popular base ball are
greatly discouraged over the reports about
our nine since leaving home. They have
won oily one game out of seven played.
The score with the Nashvilles to-day was
lost by thirteen to three, Miller, the brag
catcher for Macon, got his finger broke
early in the game, and Morrisey being put
in his pl ice the game was easily won by
the Nashvilles. Macon’s nine will be great
ly strengthened however, if mouey will se
cure players. Harold
Few York Stock Market.
New York, May 14 —At 1:30 p. m. to
day quotations were:
Union Pacific
Missouri Pacific—•••
Western Union Telegraph Co 58
Pacific Mail o*
Lake Shore
Louisville and Nashville
Texas Pacific W/s
Denver and Rio Grande 5
Michigan Central4B
Delaware, Lackawanna & West n
Northwestern
St/Paul
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Oregon Transcontinental J 4%
Northern Pacific
Rock Island
Jersey Centralßs
Memphis and Charleston*
isast Tennessee, Va. & Ga (com) 20*4
East Tennessee, Va. & Ga. (pfd) 5
Philadelphia and Reading
Omaha (com) 20
OmahaJipftD . <1
New York Central-
Kansas and Texas}B
Erie••
Hon. S. S. Cox Decided to Go to Turkey.
Washington, May 14.—Mr. Cox has
concluded to go to Turkey, notwithstanding
the appeals of his constituents to the con
trary.
New York Produce Market.
New York, May 14. —Flour fine $2 50
a3 65, superfine $3 50a3 85, common to fair
e :tra choice $3 80. Wheat No.
2 red winter, June $1 04 1 8..
Corn No. 2 mixed May 55 38. Oats
No. 2 mixed, May 39}. Rye and barley
nominal and unchanged. Pork du’l, mess
sl2 25. Lard, $7 59 for June, $7 18 for July.
M lasses quiet.
Chicago ’Change.
Chicago, May 14.—Opened—Wheat, for
June, 90jc; July, 92jc; August, 94.1 c. Corn,
f>r June, 47fc; July, 48le; August, 48§c
Oats—June and July, 34j. Pork —June
$11; July, sll 07; August, sllls. Lard —
June, 6.82; July, 6 90. Ribs—June, 5.57;
July, 5.65; August, 5.75.
Grant Growing Worse Again.
New York, May 14. —The pain in Gen.
Grant’s throat had increased to such an ex
tent yesterday that he had to suspend work
on his book. His physicians say throat
trouble is again making marked progress.
Bank of England’s Discount Rate Reduced
London, May 14 —The Bank of Eng
land’s rate of discount his been reduced
from 3 to 2 1-2 per cent.
“I have, sir, great faith in Dr. David Ken
nedy’s “Favorite Remedy,” said H. S. Bene
dict’ of Troy, N. Y. “I suffered all my life
from dyspepsia and biliousness, and found no
relief until J tried ‘Favorite Remedy.’ One
bottle made’ me feel strong, and now I am
well. I consider it the best blood remedy in
the market?
An Arkansas widow who has had thirteen
husbands, married the fourteenth. She
was unwilling to leave off with an odd’num
ber.
‘‘ROUGH ON TOOTHACHE.”
Instant r elief for Neuralgia, Toothache
Faceache. Ask for "Bough on Toothache.
15 and 25c.
L. Freid never advertises to sell at or
belew cost, but guarantees good value for the
moneyl
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, MAY 14 1885.
SAVANNAH ARTESIAN WATER.
Analysis by Prof. White, State Chemist—
A Water of Remarkable Purity.
Capt. D. G. Purse recently forwarded to
Prof. 11. C. White at Athens, State Chem
ist, a specimen of the artesian water from
his well, corner of New Houston and Cuyler
streets. The Professor made a careful an
alysis of the water, and his report thereon
will be read with great interest by every
citizen of Savannah, as he gives it one of
the best and strongest indorsements ever
given to any water in the United States.
Prof. White writes as follows:
University of Georgia,
Chemical Laboratory,
Athens, Ga., May 12,1885.
/). G, Purse, Esq,, Savannah, Ga,:
Dear Sir—l have examined, carefully
and with much interest, the sample of water
from your artesian well at Savannah, for
warded by you several days since.
The water is perfectly clear and transpar- 1
ent, entirely free from suspended matter, •
without odor, is slightly sparkling frem ■
slow escape, on standing, of dissolved car
bonic acid gas, and has a fresh, pleasant :
taste. Ou exposure for five days to summer
temperature no odor is perceptible, and no 1
“muddinesa” or growth of vegetable mould ■
is observed 1 On repeated testing only the
faintest traces of free and albumenoid am- i
monia could be detected. Even for an ar- :
tesian water this is remarkably free from
these indications of possible pollution.
On evaporation the water yields, per
United States gallon, 21 0245 grains of solid
matter, as follows:
Solid Matters Grains per
Dissolved. U.S. Gallon.
Carbonate of 50da11.3312
Chloride of sodium3.l62l
Sulphate of soda 3.2130
Sulphate of lime, 2.1014
Sulphate of magnesia 0.1157
Carbonate of Irou 0.0208
Nitrate of soda 0.1214
Silii-late o’ 50da0.6013
Silica, 0.12i'5
Organic matter and combined water.. .. 0.2201
T0ta121.0245
The total quantity of dissolved solid mat
ter is about the same as that found in the
other artesian walers of this State and is
very much less than that yielded by many
otters elsewhere. The composition of the
dissolved matter is that usually found for
artesian waters. This is a pure, healthful
water, of most excellent quality and admi
rably suited for drinking and other domes
tic purpe ss.
I congratulate you upon your success in
obtaining such excellent water, the supply
of which, I trust, may be equal to your
wishes and demands.
In your note of the 7th you state the well
to be 700 feet deep and the water to be
within thirteen inches of the surface. I
hope you will not be content until you get a
flowing well. This you can certainly get, 1
believe, probably with a few feet more of
depth. Your supply through a two-inch
pipe must be comparatively small. The grand
fact is demonstrated, however, that artesian
water can be had at Savannah. If you
have preserved any records of the borings,
strata penetrated, &c., could you put me in
the way to get access to them to study
them ? lam very much interested in your
enterprise.
Sincerely yours,
H. C. White.
Georgia State Dental Society.
The third days meeting of the Georgia
State Dental Society was held tc-day in
rooms Nos. 13 and 14 of the Pulaski House.
Dr. A. G. Bouton presided. The first busi
ness was the reading of a paper on “The
Nervous Forces,” by Dr. E. A. Parsons, and
one by Dr. Coyle.
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year:
J. H. Coyle, President.
J. 11. Holmes, Vice President.
C. F. Osborne, Second Vice President.
L. D. Carpenter, Corresponding Secretary.
W. L. Smith, Recording Secretary.
H. A. Lawrence, Treasurer.
Executive Committee—George W. Whit
aker, Sandersville; L. D. Carpenter, At
lanta; S. P. Barfield, Macon; R. P. Adams,
Gainesville; N. A. Williams, Valdosta.
The following resolutions were offered by
Dr. W. L. Smith:
“Resclyed Ist, That the heartiest thanks
of the Georgia State Dental Society be
tendered the Savannah dentists for their
great courtesies and lavish hospitality.
Also to the ladies who aided so mubh to our
great enjoyment while in their bsautiful
City by the Sea.
21. That to the proprietor of the Pulaski
House, Mr. Jas M. Case, for the royal man
ner in which he cared for us, and for the
beautiful parlors in which our session was
held. We tender our thanks; also to the rail
roads and press for courtesies extended and
accepted bv us.”
The society adjourned to meat in Macon
the third Tuesday in May, 1886, at 10
o’clock.
Electric Light Company.
The annual meeting of the Electric Light
Company was held last evening at Metro
politan Hall. Mr. Malcolm Mac
lean was called to the chair,
and the president, 8. P. Ham
ilton, Esq.; submitted his report showing
the condition of the company to be satisfac
tory. He stated that arrangements were
being made looking to the introduction of
incandescent lights for private buildings.
The annual election for directors took
place, which resulted as follows:
S. P. Hamilton, D. G, Purse,
George Walter, J. C. Rowland,
C. H. Wilcox, L. Kayton,
S. S. Guckenheimer, Leeßoy Myers,
M. Mo clean.
The board will meet this afternoon at
the office of Capt. D. G. Purse, for the pur
pose of electing a president and other
officers 1 .
—The wires being down between Savan
nah and Tybee we are without our usual
Tybee report to day.
pretyt women
Ladies who would retain freshness and
viyacity. Don’t fail to try “Wells’ Health
Benewer.”
AN UPRIGHT JUDGE.
RECEPTION OF THE PORTRAIT OF
HON. JOHN ERSKINE.
General Jackson's Remarks on the Pre"
sentatlon Judge Speer’s Response—
Remarks of Messrs. Mercer, Gar
rard, Lawton and Erwin—Tri
butes to a Man who Stead
ily Refused to Soil the
Judicial Ermine,
At 9:30 o’clock to-day the following mem
bers of the Savacnah bar assembled in the
United States Court room: Gen. Henry R-
Jackson, Col. Wm. Garrard, Capt. Robert G’
Falligant, Hon. J. R. Saussy, Capt. Geo. A
Mercer, C. N. West, Maj. A. B.Smith, William
M.Hey ward,P. J. O’Connor,Col.James Atkins,
A. R. Lawton, Jr., Judge D. A. O’Byrne,
Capt. H. C. Cunningham, M. A. O’Byrne,
Col. J. L. Whatley, Hon. Wm. D. Harden,
Judge of City Court, Hon. A. Pratt Adams,
Judge of the Superior Court, Geo. W. Owens,
R. G. Erwin, W. R. Leaken, Isaac Beckett
and Henry McAlpin. Col. E. C. Wade,
United States Marshal, opened the court in
due form of law, and Hon» Emory Speer, the
Judge thereof, who had invited
Hon. A. Pratt Adams to a
seat on the bench, said that inasmuch
as the bar had assem! led fora particular
purpose, court would take a recess until the
business was transacted.
Colonel Garrard then moved that Gen.
Henry R. Jackson take the chair. On
motion, M. A. O’Byrne, Esq., was appointed
secretary. Colonel Garrard then moved
that committee of three or five, as h>
chair thought feasible, be appointed to draft
proper resobUions in the presentat..on of the I
portrait of Hon. John Erskine to the court
The chair appointed the following members
of the bar lor that purpose: Col. William I
Garrard, Capt. George A. Mercer, Cap', i
Robert Falligant, Judge D. A. O’Byrne j
aud Col. James Atkins.
The committee retired and shortly after
wards, through its chairman, reported reso
lutions, which were submitted by General
Jackson, in presenting the portrait, in
the following eloquent language:
May it please Your Honor:
It has been made my grateful duty to
present to the Court this, the portrait of the
Honorable John Erskine, and to pray that
an order be granted which shall fix it per
manently in this hall. lam further in
structed to submit the following preamble
and resolutions to your honor and to pray
that they be placed upon the minutes of the
court:
The Honoraole John Erskine, having at
tained the age of seventy years, resigned
the office of United States District Judge for
the Southern District of Georgia in Decem
ber, 1883, having performed the duties
thereof since January, 1866.
The services of Judge Erskine were in
valuable.
He took his place on the bench just as
the smoke of the late civil war was clearing
away, and when society was in a chaotic
state.
A new order of things was about to be
established; peculiar Consti 'iiional amend
ments and statutes incident to the times had
been and were being enacted; the people of
Georgia were bleeding from their wounds,
and this State, ravaged by war, was practi
cally bankrupt.
The position of the presiding Federal
Judge in Georgia was necessarily a most
trying and delicate one. Firm as a rock and
entirely fearless, Judge Erskine so dis
charged the functions of his trust that, while
the law was administered, the people were
not oppressed, and the prosperity of Georgia
was advanced.
We are not here to praise him, nor to
delineate his entire career. Enough that he
was a Judge, able, learned and impartial,
who did his full duty, under all circum
stances. What more can be said ?
His intercourse with the Bar was marked
by uniform courtesy, affability and friend
liness..
We are not forgetful of his worth, and
and desire to attest our regard for him as a
jurist and a man.
To this end we have caused this portrait
of him to be painted, and we now present.it
to the Federal Courts for the Southern Dis
trict of Georgia, to be hung on the walls of
the court room in Savannah, there to re
main for all time, as a memorial of our
personal esteem and of the profound respect
entertained for him by us, in common with
the peo, le of Georgia.
Be it resolved, Ist, That His Honor Judge
Speer is requested to receive this portrait,
of Judge Erskine, for the Courts of the
United States for this district, and to cause
the same to be placed upon the walls cf the
court room, there to remain forever.
2d. That His Honor is requested to di
rect that this preamble and these resolu
tions be spread upon the minutes of the
Court, and to cause the clerk to send a cer
tified copy of these proceeedings to Judge
Erskine.
By these proceedings the members of the
bar, whose willing representative I am, de
sire to pay honor to whom they feel that
honor is justly due; to the judge who as
cended the bench in the darkest of days,
when the results of a disastrous war had
thickly populated the dockets of the court
with questions of the "gravest import,
and who brought to their solution a head so
clear, a learning so large, and a labor so pa
tient, that few judges have so rarely erred.
To him the opportunity was given, by a
harsh —nay ! by an inconsiderate —exer-
cise of official power, to make the ad
ministration even of justice itself painfully
oppressive in a court-room whose very air
was electric with voiceless, because it might
be regarded as lawless, emotion. He soothed
the perturbed elements by the emanations of
a kindly heart, and by a bearing always gen
tle, always patient; the hearing inspired by a
generous nature, and, therefore, the bearing
of a courteous gentleman. A distrustful com
munity was loth to receive him when he
came; I venture to say that the same com
munity did not hold a solitary man who
knew him at all, who was not loth to part
with him, when he left. And, to-day, no
spectacle can be more welcome to its people
than his venerable form revisiting our streets
and our homes. So, by being true, at one
and the same time, to the inexorable dictates
of official duty, and the warm impulses of a
brave, generous and affectionate nature, he
has won for himself a triumph, and for his
name a memory, of which any man might be
justly proud.
REMARKS OF CAPT. GEO. A. MERCER,
May it please Your Honor:
It affords me very great gratification to be
able to participate personally in rendering
this tribute from the Bar of Savannah to the
ability, integrity and popularity of your im
mediate predecessor. Fending the period of
Judge Erskine’s appointment to the position
occupied by your Honor, there existed in
this section of our country a critical condi
tion of anxiety and unrest.
Amidst the recent clash of arms, legal in
stitutions had been silent. The courts of the
State in many localities were either barred
or imp tent. The great central power had
not yet begun to exert its authority through
the regular operation of its laws in its organ
ized courts of justice. Military tribunals un
lied every gordian knot with the sword, and
donbtful questions were resolved in accord
ance with the crude notions, prejudices or
passions of the presiding provost. Disquiet
ude and alarm as to the outcome of the
future pervaded all classes; and to
the members of our profession, who, after
gallantly serving their section, had doffed
their military harness and returned to re
sume, if possible, their legal labors, it did,
indeed, seem that like Othello, their occu
pation was gone. Judge Erskine received
his appointment in January, 1866, and held
his first term of this Court in the ensuing
May. He was a stranger in our midst. It
was well understood that he differed with us
in political sentiment, and that he earnestly
opposed the movement which most of us had
so ardently embraced. We had been in
structed in the liberty loving methods of the
common law, and we yearned for a return to
its established principles and its safe prece
dents. Our professional knowledge and sense
of propriety had been shocked by the law
less administration of military tribunals and
the travesties of justice witnessed in the
Provost Courts. How would this stran
ger, imbued, as we supposed, with the
views of our late enemies, wield the
rod of justice entrusted to his hands.
Would the scales maintain their even
equipoise? Would this dread arbiter of an
angry nation’s law behold with faultless
vison the truth and right, and remain blind
only to the passions and prejudices of the
day? Would this august figure, lifted into
the lofty seat of Federal justice—pre-emi
nently the embodiment to bar and people
of the might as well as mercy of the gen
eral government—so administer his high
and delicate prerogative as not only to dis
pense justice, but to quiet apprehension, to
repel passion, to win confidence, and, in his
own personality, to smooth the yet wrinkled
front of war. These were the anxious que
ries which suggested themselves to us.
One of the earliest and most important
questions which came before Judge Erskine
for decision involved the right of lawyers to
practice theii profession without first tak
ing an oath which those of us
who had been faithful to our State, and the
dictates of our conscience found it impotsi
sible to take. Judge Erskine, in a well
considered, learned and able opinion, held
that the profession of a lawyer was his
property, and that no man in this free
country could be deprived of his property
without due process of law. Had Judge
Erskine made no other decision, the bar of
Georgia became his lasting debtor for this.
If his determination of this, and other quest
lions involving the issues and passions of
the late conflict, served to quiet the appre
hensions of the bar, and to assure them that
a just and fearless judge, and not anermined
partisan, sat upon the bench, hip, uniform
courtesy and grace of manner, and evident
kindness of heart, soon drew our members
into closer personal contact, and revealed to
them the fine and attractive qualities of the
incumbent. Judge Erskine in no instance
failed to exact the just dues
of the central authority, and
in those troubled times its plain justice
often pressed sorely upon the suitors; but
with the fortiter in re was the suaviter in
mode which extracted the sting, and com
mended to Bar and people the power he so
fitly represented, as well in the strength
and firmness of his judicial attitude as in
the bending aud attractive qualities of his
nature.
Suffice it to say that, after presiding in
this Court for a period of nearly two de
cades, he has retired full of years and hon
ors, having achieved the reputation of a
learned, just and upright judge, having
performed his full measure of duty to the
Government, which he honored in his char
acter and person, and leaving behind him in
the ranks of the profession which knew him
best and among their clients not a single
enemy and very many warmly attached and
abiding friends.
The picture which is to be hung in the
court room is a truthful and beautiful
delineation of the respected original, and,
his fine qualities of head and heart glow
legibly upon the canvass.
By this generation of lawyers it can never
be regarded with careless eye, or with
pulseless heart; and to other generations
it will be transmitted with the tradition
of our profession, as the “counterfeit pre
sentment” of a cultured gentleman, of a
good man, and of a Judge wise, learned,
upright and just.
REMARKS 'OF COL. WM, GARRARD.
This occasion, may it please your honor,
is to me one of intense pleasure.
The bar of Savannah tender to the keep
ing of the Federal Courts this portrait, to be
suspended on these walls, for all time; a
tribute by an appreciative profession to an
able and an upright judge.
But a short time since, the Honorable
John Erskine occupied with great dignity
and to the satisfaction cf the government,
the people and the bar, the judicial chair,
which your honor now so acceptably fills.
For nearly a score of years he dispensed
justice here.
We knew ; him, honored him, and loved
him, and now that he has resigned his high
trust and has retired to the shades of pri
vate life, with, “Well done, good and faith
ful servant,” sounding in his ears from the
people at large, there can be no impro
priety in this slight attempt on our part to
express our regard for him and our
appreciation of his judicial services.
When he took bis seat upon the bench a
great civil war had torn this country almost
asunder, aud the gravest of questions pre-
S6OO A YE AR
sented themselves at once for his decision.
He was equal to the emergency and to the
delicate requirements of the crisis, and not
only displayed in the solution of these issues
Wisdom, J us'.ice and Moderation, but also
unshaken nerve and consummate tact.
To the end, sir, that the law was respected
and vindicated, rights triumphed, the Gov
ernment lost nothing, and the people of
Georgia became his everlasting debtors.
When passions calmed, when the hot
blood of war cooled, when once more gentle
peace prevailed, this impartial aud learned
Judge, who had met bold issues boldly
settled down to the calm routine of hia
duties, and the dockets of these courts—
criminal, equity, common law, bankruptcy
and admiralty—testify to the immense vol
ume of business disposed of by him.
In the court he was “every inch” a judge;
out of it, he was our social friend; always
urbane and genial whether he looked down
on us from lhe bench, or broke bread with
us, around “the mahogany.”
He loved the Common Law, and always
insisted on going up to its sources; he was at
home in the broad fields of Commercial Law;
in the Admiralty he delighted, and in this
branch, he especially excelled.
But, sir, why apply the dissecting knife?
Judge Erskine is not dead, thank God!
This is no funeral occasion, nor a time far
panegyrics.
He is in fair health; his merits and his
virtues are his still, and we trust,
in the dispensation of Providence, that many
more years of life will be .accorded him, that
he may be among us, may come and go
among these familiar scenes and often look
upon his own portrait, in this room where
his judicial voice was once heard.
The electric wires stretch between him
and us, and to-day his good heart shall thrill
with pleasure as the result of these proceed
ings is flashed to him.
Sir, I conclude as I began—this event is
most delightful to me.
Almost since the day when Judge
Erskine signed the order admitting me to
this bar, he has been, and still is, my firm
and fast, personal friend.
In the future, when amid the busy scenes
of these courts my eyes fall upon this
portrait, I will not only recall the Judge,
but also the charming companionship, my
friends, he has permitted me to enjoy with
him.
Mr. A. R. Lawton, Jr., followed with the 0
pertinent remarks:
.Maj/ it please Your Honor :
I regret exceedingly the unavoidable ab
sence of a member of this Bar with whom
my personal and professional relations are
of the closest. lam sure that he would be
glad to add his testimony as to Judge Ers
kine’s character to that which has already
been given. I will not undertake to speak
for him, but I cannot omit so favorable an
opportunity to speak of Judge Erskine’s
kind consideration of younger members of
the Bar. He was always ready and anxious
to assist them in their awkward stumbling
up the steep path to success, to correct their
errors, to encourage their efforts, to make
suggestions to them when in doubt, and
alwavs being ready to lend them a helping
hand. Experience teaches that they are
often sorely in need of encouragement and
wise suggestion, and I can never forget how
much of both they received at his hands.
I will not speak of his other virtues, which
have been so eloquently presented by my
seniors; but I feel that the junior bar can
not be silent on this occasion. They join
heartily in the sentiments expressed by the
resolutions, and in the prayer that they will
be adopted bythe court.
Mr. R. G. Erwin arose and stated his re
gret at the absence of his partner, but that
he could not omit the oportunity to pay
tribute to the kindness and consideration
always shown the junior members of the
Bar by Judge Erskine.
At the close of Mr. Erwin’s remarks Hoa,
Emory Speer then addressed the bar.
REMARKS OF JUDGE SPEE’I.
The Court has listened with unaffected
gratification to the resolutions of the bar
and to the graceful and ass ecting observations
from the gentlemen who have spoken in
furtherance of their scope of purpose.
Surely no occasion could so appropriately
enkindle the enthusiasm or suggest the elo
quent utterance of the members of a pro
fession whose generous admiration for dis
tinguished ability and public services, is one
of its best known and most valuable tradi
tions. Nor could that admiration, possibly
find so adequate and felicitous expression as
in this speaking canvass. Nor has it been
more richly merited than by the distin
guished jurist, the memory of whose judi
cial excellence and charming social virtues
you have assembled to perpet
uate. The court accepts and
will take proper order that this noble
work of art shall be carefully preserved to
adorn this Chamber, and that the faithful
portraiture of the benignant and lofty fea
tures and highly bred bearing of the Honor
able John Erskine shall remain a perpetual
reminder how an honorable and gifted Bar
have loved and admired a just and emi
nent Judge; a monument of honor both to
the Court and to the Bar.
Happy must be that venerable man in
the possession of the unstinted meed of the
approbation and affection from the gifted
and the great which this day
and these proceedings have so
amply testified. Well do we know that
his sensitive and refined nature will de
lightedly and with exquisite accordance re
spond to the sentiments, the congratula
tions, the animating impulses of this hour.
He is indeed fortunate in that he may adopt
the noble consolation for the presence of
these lengthening shadows, which attend
the declining pathway of life to be found in
the simple, and yet majestic thoughts of the
great jurist of the English Revolution, Sir
Mathew Hale. “ Doth not thy
conscience bear thee witness that
even in the worst of times thy
have been ‘good’ and for the service of the
unquestionable interest of the nation, not
withstanding they be prejudiced or misinter
preted? Content thyself with the serenity
of thine own conscience and the testimony it
gives to thy integrity; good actions, happen
ing in a time when there were many evil,
may, in the tumult and hurry of change,
undergo the same, or very little better, .inter
pretation than the worst actions. The indig
nation against the latter, or the times wherein
they were acted, may cover the best actions
[continued on eighth page.]