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 The Supreme Cauri of ¡Vest Virginia.

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MARMADUKE DENT. wisdom from all sources where it and who afterwards became one of the most toH. gather distinguished judges of the Supreme Court may be found, and is not averse to discussing of Appeals of West Virginia, and for a num knotty legal problems with the young mem ber of years Judges Holt and Brannon — bers of the bar. In politics he has been a Democrat, but is teacher and pupil — sat together as associate quite liberal in his opinions and in the regard judges. Judge Brannon began the practice of law in which he holds the opinions of others, and when twenty-one years of age, and when at since the campaign of 1896 is understood to the bar about one year he was elected Prose have allied himself with the Republican party. The youngest judge of the Supreme Court cuting Attorney of Lewis County. He was of West Virginia is also later elected to Judge Dent. He the same office. was born in MononIn 1880 he was galia County, April elected judge of the eleventh Judicial 1 8, 1849. He is the son of Marshall Circuit for the term of eight years, and M. Dent and Mary in 1889 was elected Caroline Dent, the a member of the Su latter a daughter of preme Court of Ap Dr. D. W. Strong peals for the term of of Quincy, Mass. twelve years, closing From both sides of with the present his family he inherits strong qualities of year. He married mind. His grand Miss Hetta J. father, Dr. D. W. Arnold. Roberts, was an Judge Brannon original Republican, while at the bar was a man of prominence one of the ablest law in his clay, and a de yers of the State, was careful, method legate to the con ical and painstaking; vention at Chicago as an advocate logi that nominated cal and eloquent, Abraham Lincoln and won, by his for President, superior skill, many a hard fought cause. Judge Dent, however, has always been a Since he has been upon the bench, for Democrat. almost twenty continuous years, his reputa His early life was spent in his native tion as a lawyer and judge is not, perhaps, county. He graduated from the West Vir surpassed by any lawyer in the State. ginia University in 1870, and was the first He is yet a vigorous man. In physique graduate of that institution. After gradu he is large and well proportioned. He is ating he was a teacher for some years, and capable of great labor and gives to his posi in 1875 was admitted to the bar and prac tion a well-trained mind. In manners he is tised law at Grafton, Taylor County, for al suave and courteous, is a most congenial com most twenty years. In 1892 he was elected panion of young and old. He is a true type a member of the Supreme Court of this State. of a Virginia gentleman. He is wise enough He is now the president of the court.