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 The Supreme Court of North Carolina.

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Grand Master of Masons, and though taking Hall's dissent sustained the validity of the no part in politics, he was in 1829, while Moses Griffin will, under which Nevvbern still retaining his position on the bench, has ever since possessed the " Griffin" elected as one of the Presidential Electors school. Judge Daniel (afterward for many on the Jackson ticket. His judicial opinions years a judge of the Supreme Court) was also commissioned and sat at May term were brief, plain, and to the point. In per son he was considerably above middle size, 1819, in several causes (7 N. C. 54, 503). with handsome features and a florid com The act was repealed in 182 1, being con plexion. He left eight children, one of sidered of doubtful constitutionality.

whom — Hon. Edward The fame of Judge Hall — was appointed Murphey is very dear Judge of the Superior to the State, and he was worthy of any Court in 1840, and served a short term on honors she could be the bench with much stow upon him. reputation. Judge His father, Col Archibald Murphey, John Hall was suc ceeded on the Supreme was a prominent citi bench byjudge Daniel. zen of Caswell County, Archibald DeBow and bore a part in the Murphey, though nev military service of the er elected a member Revolution, for which of the Supreme Court, the citizens of that is entitled to a place in patriotic county were this list of the occu specially distin pants of the bench, as guished. At his fa by special commission ther's residence near he discharged its du Red House, and seven ties for part of three miles from Milton, terms. Underaclause Judge Murphey was born in 1777, a mem in the act creating ber of a family of seven the court, the Gov children. He entered ernor was authorized JOHX HALL, the State University to detail a Judge of in 1796, and graduated the Superior Court by special commission to sit instead of a judge with the highest distinction in 1799. Such of the Supreme Court in causes where one was the reputation he had acquired that he of its members had been counsel or had an was immediately appointed Professor of An interest in the result. Judge Henderson cient Languages in the University, which had been elected from the bar, where he had position he held for three years, maturing been in full practice, and there were many that taste for liberal studies which always of these causes. Judge Murphey was spe distinguished him. He was admitted to the bar in 1802 after cially commissioned by Governor Branch, and sat in several cases at May term 18 19, 7 a meagre course of legal study, but advanced N. C. 428; at November term 1819, 7 N. C. rapidly to the front rank in the profession. 566; at June term 1820, 8 N. C. 77, 82, 86, The bar is not a place where a false repu 92, 126. Indeed his concurrence with Chief- tation for talents can be maintained. His Justice Taylor (8 N. C. 96) against Judge practice for years was not exceeded by any 59