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The Supreme Court of Arkansas.

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He was born in Madison County, Alabama, of the reconstruction period in 1874, he was on the 6th of March, 1816. He went through elected Chief-Justice by the people. Upon an academy at Athens in that State, and the expiration of his official term in 1882, after some hesitation about a calling in life, he was again elected, but died at Asheville, opened a shop as a silversmith, — an epi N. C, on the 1st of September, 1884. sode in his life of which he was always Up to the time of his death, age had not strangely ashamed, and to which he never in any degree impaired the vigor of his referred. Then he studied medicine, but mind or his capacity for labor. He stood finally settled upon the law, and was ad

remarkably well the confining and mono tonous work of an ap mitted to the bar at pellate judge. He al Athens in 1839, and ways read the briefs served two terms in of lawyers with great the Alabama legisla care, and examined all ture. In 1844 he came the authorities which to Little Rock and they cited. He was opened an office, and not only careful to get in a few months was the law right, but to made reporter of the comprehend accurate Supreme Court. ly the facts of the Mr. Pike, in report case; not concurring ing the first volumes, in the sentiment too had adopted the plan, often felt by judges, then barely coming that the hardships of into use, of calling the individual litigant them by the name of are ofsmall importance the State, — a great so that the integrity of and necessary reform. the law is preserved. Judge English re In his manners he turned to the old sys was extremely cour tern, and called his teous and affable, and eight volumes "Eng enjoyed a deserved lish's Reports," — a change which was not popularity throughout THOMAS B. HANLEV approved by the pro the State. He was fession, and which was somewhat vain, but it not destined to endure for the volumes are was an amiable vanity that never gave now always cited by their serial numbers in offence. He spoke fluently, and in his the Arkansas Reports. speeches at the bar was inclined to be flow In 1846 he revised the statutes of the ery and sentimental, — qualities rigidly ex State by appointment from the legislature, cluded from his opinions. In speaking, he and in 1848 was a candidate for the position would plant his feet together, and rock back upon the supreme bench to which Judge and forth on his heels and toes in a very Walker was elected. In 1854, upon the characteristic manner. resignation of Judge Watkins, he was They used to tell an anecdote about him elected Chief-Justice, was re-elected in when at the bar, that annoyed him very 1860, and held the place during the war. much. In the old days the lawyers used to After the war he returned to the practice have to ride long distances on horseback, of his profession until, upon the termination and practise in court-rooms that offered few