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The Supreme Court of Missouri.

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particularly devoted to the teachings of the public treasury paid him the munificent sal civilians, and devoted several years of his ary of $1,100 per annum during a portion of life to a careful study of the civil law. After his term, and $2,500 during the remainder of it. From 1822 to 1855 the salary of the a number of requests to that end, he con sented to accept a place on the bench of the office stood at the former sum. In 1855 it Supreme Court. The prominence of his became $2,500; in 1865, $3,000; subse views in the jurisprudence of the State is quently, and is now, $4,500. Judge Leonard resumed the practice in 1857, maintaining an such that expressions of surprise are often times evoked on learning that he really office also at St. Louis. He achieved addi

served only about two tional renown by his services as counsel in years and a half. He the well-known Mulwrote opinions in one lanphy Will Case hundredand fifty-three (Chambers v. St. cases during that brief Louis, 29 Mo. 543). period, and not one The whole question of can be recalled which his successors have charitable uses was criticised or overruled. presented and dis His opinions bear the cussed in a brief which ear-marks of careful in its wealth of learn and painstaking prep ing and research is ex aration. It is said that haustive of the subject, he often wrote and re and entitled to be con wrote them a number sidered unsurpassed of times before they even by Mr. Binney's met the standard he great effort on the had set for them in his Girard Will. In 1861 own mind. It has been Judge Leonard's recently said by an health completely eminent lawyer that if failed, and he was com Judge Leonard " had pelled to retire from written only Whiteside active life. He was v. Cannon (23 Mo. an intense Union man, ROBERT D. RAY, 457) and none other, and fretted greatly at he would have been his inability to partici entitled to a place in the very front rank of pate actively in the ensuing struggle. How American jurists." 1 That case presents a ever, he gradually sank, and in 1863 closed full discussion of the legal status of married his eyes on the stormy scenes which sur women and their property, and is a masterly rounded his home. Judge Leonard possessed production. In all the decisions and legisla in a remarkable degree the power of present tion since its delivery his opinion has stood ing his arguments in a logical and convincing as an authoritative guide and landmark. manner. He was equally great at the bar That the man who had so carefully educated and on the bench, and died all too soon for himself, and who was blessed with such ability, the good of the State and his profession. was a patriot in consenting to serve the State, John C. Richardson. is made evident by considering that the The Bar of Missouri holds the memory of 1 J- V. C. Karnes's Address to the Kansas City Bw Association, Jan. 29, 1891. this jurist in affectionate reverence. Praised