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 The Supreme Court of North Carolina.

535

the greater judge. Ruffin was made by When the new Supreme Court was estab lished under the Constitution of 1868, the his labor, and labored to the last, as the number of judges was increased to five. sunflower Chief-Justice Pearson and Judge Reade of '■ Turns on her god when he sets the old Court were retained, and Judge The same look she turned when he rose." Battle, owing to the change in the political But with Pearson, towards the last, as complexion of the State, was succeeded by Judge W. B. Rodman, the two additional with Chief-Justice Henderson, reading be judgeships going to Judge Dick and Judge came irksome. So long accustomed to pro nounce the law, his Settle.

^^■■^■^^^^^■■B later opinions are of The name of Rich ten rather his conclu mond Mumford Pear sions than a state son, fifth Chief-Justice ment of the reasons of North Carolina, is by which they were written in legible reached. Few will characters, deny Ruffin's rank as "High on the dusty roll our greatest judge. the ages keep." None will deny Pear son's claim to the sec Ascending the bench ond place, except at thirty-one years of those who claim for age, his judicial career covered nearly fortyhim the first. Judge Pearson was two years of unbroken born June 28, 1805, in service,— twelve years Rowan County, N. C. on the Superior Court His grandfather, Rich bench, and nearly thir mond Pearson, was a ty on the Supreme native of Dinwiddie Court, of his native County, Va., who re State, and of these last moved to this State, over nineteen years as and settled in the forks Chief-Justice. He had of the Yadkin. He was ability, industry, and r. p. DICK. an officer of the Revo time. The net result lutionary War, and was was a great judge, of which his State and his profession have captain of a company at Cowan's Ford when cause to be proud. He was the equal of Gen. Wm. Lee Davidson was killed. Among Ruffin, if not his superior, as a common his children by his first wife were Gen. Jesse A. Pearson, who commanded a regi law lawyer. He had probably more origi ment in Gen. Joseph Graham's N. C. Brigade nality, and, as far as he went, was as ac curate. He only fell behind Ruffin in his sent against the Creeks in 18 14; Hon. thorough grasp of the great principles which Joseph Pearson, Member of Congress 1809are applied in the administration of Equity. 15; and a daughter who married Judge John To the casual reader Ruffin seemed a very Stokes, United States District Judge for remarkable thinker. Those who will read North Carolina; and among his children by the cases cited in his opinions will increase his second wife was the subject of this their admiration for his learning at the sketch. His mother, Miss Mumford, v~ expense of his originality. In this he was the daughter of an ex-officer of the Br