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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

which have been noted in the professions and in commerce, and have filled many import- ant offices in the nation and state. Among the children of Mr. and Mrs. Battle was George Gordon, of whom further.

(VII) George Gordon Battle, son of Turner Westray and Lavinia Bassett (Dan- iel) Battle, was born at the home of his I)arents, "Cool Spring Plantation," Edge- coml)e county. North Carolina, October 26, 1868. He received his education at Hanover Academy, in Virginia; at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Caro- lina; at the University of Virginia, Char- lottesville, Virginia, and Columbia Univer- sity. New York City. He was graduated at the University of Virginia in 18S9 with the degree of Master of Arts. While at the University of Virginia, Mr. Battle served as the editor of the "College Magazine." In January, 1890, he began his course of study in law at the Columbia University Law School, acting at the same time as law clerk, and in 1891 was admitted to the bar. On the recommendation of the faculty of Columbia University Law School, he was appointed as an assistant district attorney by De Lancey Nicoll, then district attorney of the county of New York, in 1892, and he served in that capacity until 1897. His work consisted in the presentation of cases to the grand jury, the drawing of indictments, the trial of cases and the preparation and argument of appeals. He participated in the Carlisle Harris case and other notable prosecutions. No indictment drawn by him was ever successfully attacked on demur- rer. After the termination of the term of Mr. Nicoll, he was reappointed by Colonel John R. Fellows, and on the death of Colo- nel Fellows the latter was succeeded by Hon. William M. K. Olcott, and Mr. Battle resigned, although Mr. Olcott requested him to continue in office.

He formed a partnership with his asso- ciate, Flon. Bartow S. Weeks, also an as- sistant district attorney and afterwards a justice of the supreme court of New York, under the name of Weeks & Battle. Mr. H. Snowden Marshall, afterwards United States district attorney, soon became a member of the firm, which continued in practice for some years under the name of Weeks, Battle & Marshall, and among the notable cases conducted by this firm was the case of Roland B. Molineaux, who was on

trial for alleged murder. Judge Weeks withdrew from the firm, which continued as Battle & Marshall until 191 1, when United States Senator James A. O'Gorman, upon his retirement from the bench of the supreme court and election to the United States senate, became a member of the firm. The firm continued as O'Gorman, Battle & Marshall vuitil Mr. Marshall became United States district attorney and withdrew. Mr. Almuth C. Vandiver then became a partner, and the firm still continues as O'Gorman, Battle & Vandiver, at No. 37 Wall street. New York City, where it is engaged in the general practice of law.

Mr. Battle has been active in politics, having been a consistent Democrat, and was the candidate of that party for district attorney of the county of New York in 1909, his successful opponent being Hon. Charles S. Whitman. He was chairman of the com- mittee on speakers of Tammany Hall. He has also been interested in and identified with military afifairs, serving for five years as a member of the Seventh Regiment, Na- tional Guard of New York, retiring in 1896.

Mr. Battle attends the Episcopal church, and is a vestryman of the Church of the Ascension in New York. He is a member of of the Bar Association of the City of New York ; of the New York State Bar Associa- tion ; of the New York County Lawyers' Association ; of the Southern Society, of which he has been secretary and vice-presi- dent ; of The North Carolina Society, of which he has been president for two terms ; and "The Virginians," of which he has been governor during the year 1912-13. He is president of Parks and Playgrounds Asso- ciation of the City of New York, as well as a member of many other civic societies. His clubs are the Metropolitan, Calumet, St. Nicholas, National Democratic, The Law- yers, Stock Exchange Luncheon and the Oakland Golf.

Mr. Battle married, in Richmond, Vir- ginia, April 12, 1898, Martha Bagby, daugh- ter of Dr. George W. and Lucy Parke (Chamberlayne) Bagby. Mr. and Mrs. Battle reside at No. 152 East Thirty-fifth street, New York City, and have a summer home at "The Campbell Field," near Rapi- dan. Orange county, Virginia.

Rev. Russell Cecil, D. D. The year 1900 witnessed the beginning of the present con-

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