Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 04.pdf/456

Rh though not a brilliant man, but was Judge Lacy. Judge Oldham was born in on the bench too short a time to accomplish Franklin County, Tennessee, in 1810, and lasting results. settled at Fayettville, Ark., in 1835. He Judge Lacy was succeeded by Judge was elected to the legislature in 1838 and Edward Cross, who had been upon the ter 1842, and upon Judge Lacy's resignation ritorial bench. He was a sound lawyer, a was elected judge in his stead. In 1848 he man of the highest character, who filled resigned to run for Congress, and being de many positions with honor, and who died feated, left the State and located at Austin, at a patriarchal age, universally lamented; Texas. There he acquired a high rank at

but his influence upon the bar, and was our jurisprudence was elected to the Con not sufficient to jus federate Senate. He tify a sketch of his died at Austin a few long and useful life. years ago. Upon the expiration Judge Oldham was of Judge Ringo's term a man of good ability, in 1840, the legislature an accurate lawyer, elected Thomas John and sat upon our son to be Chief-Justice. bench at a time when He was a native of his services were much needed. In person Maryland, and came he was rather small, to Batesville, Ark., in dark -haired, well1832. He was a tall, built, and of affable dark-haired, thin, dry demeanor. man, of great honesty, Up6n the resigna but of slight distinc tion of Judge Oldham tion as a lawyer. He in 1848, Christopher was Chief-Justice un C. Scott was appointed til 1852, and died at in his place, and was Little Rock in 1877, twice elected, serving at an advanced age. until his death in Judge Cross was 1859. He was born succeeded by William DAVID WALKER at Scottsburg, Va., on Conway B., a good April 27, 1807. At man, but of small learn ing and capacity, who held the place until eleven years of age he was left an orphan, 1849. What the B. was affixed to his name and was brought up by a brother. He for I do not know. He used to say that the graduated at Washington College at the head of his class. Removing to Gaines beginning of his opinions — " William Con way B., J." — looked as if it meant "William ville, Ala., in 1828, he began the study of Conway, Bad Judge;" and there were those the law, but abandoned it for mercantile who were sufficiently uncharitable to take pursuits. In this venture he soon lost his the jest in earnest. Some say that it meant modest patrimony, and returning to Vir Bardstown, in memory of the place he came ginia, studied law in the school at Staunton. Then he went again to Gainesville, and soon from; others, that he adopted it to distin In 1842 guish him from another of the same name. became an active practitioner. he killed one Smith, a man of some local Perhaps the inquiry is not important. In 1845 William S. Oldham succeeded importance, shooting him with a shotgun 54