ASSOCIATE JUSTICE CHARLES ALBERT WOODS.

Associate Justice Charles Albert Woods was born at Springville, in Darlington county, on the 31st day of July, 1852. His father was Samuel Alexander Woods; his mother, Martha Jane Woods, née DuBose. The former was of English extraction, the latter French Huguenot. His childhood was spent in Darlington. In the fall of 1868 he entered Wofford College, from which institution he was graduated in 1872. While in college he was a diligent student, and at graduation stood about midway the class. Having decided upon the law as his profession, he began to prepare himself for it in January, 1873, while teaching school at Wesley Chapel school-house, sixteen miles from Darlington. At the close of his school in June, 1873, he went into the law office of Warley & Dargan, at Darlington, and in the following September was admitted to the bar at Chesterfield Court-house, Honorable C. P. Townsend presiding. In December, 1873, he went to Marion to practice law, but failed to accomplish that purpose for a year or two, owing to a lack of clients. These years of waiting, however, were not years of idleness, for every day found him in his office, and in the absence of business he devoted himself by faithful study to the mastery of his profession. About March, 1875, he formed a partnership with Captain McIver, afterwards Chief Justice McIver, who resided at Cheraw, to practice at Marion. This partnership proved very advantageous, and he says himself that in its conduct he was placed under great obligation in many ways to that great and noble man. From the time of Captain McIver's election to the bench, in 1877, to February, 1903, Justice Woods practiced law at Marion, experiencing many of the usual ups and downs of a country lawyer, but at the same time attaining to a marked degree of success. His practice was very large and extensive, and for many years before his election to the bench he was universally regarded as one of the ablest lawyers of the State. Though pressed by the exacting duties of an active career at the bar, he managed to find time for cultivating the humanities, thus broadening his intellectual horizon and widening his field of usefulness. He has always taken great interest in educational affairs, and for a

number of years served as a trustee of Winthrop College, and is now a trustee of Wofford College. So well known was his culture that in 1902 he was unanimously chosen president of the South Carolina College, an honor which he with his characteristic modesty declined, pleading as an excuse that his training had not been such as to qualify him for such a responsible position.

On the 16th day of December, 1884, he was happily married to Miss Salley J. Wannamaker, of Orangeburg county.

On the 28th of January, 1903, Justice Woods was elected to fill out the unexpired term of Associate Justice Pope, who was elected Chief Justice. He was reëlected on the 21st day of January, 1904, for the full term of eight years, dating from August 1, 1904.

Justice Woods combines many attributes of the great judge. His knowledge of legal principles is both accurate and profound, his sense of justice acute and refined, and his administration of the law fearless and impartial. Every case that comes before him is examined with most painstaking care, so conscientious is he, and such his conception of the responsibility of his high office; but when his mind is once made up he marches straight to the goal, seeking to establish his conclusions both by reason and authority. In preparing his opinions he takes nothing for granted, but leaves no stone unturned in his endeavor to support reason by authority and precedent. Three cardinal principles of composition-clearness, force, and brevity-he ever keeps in mind. A clear, concise statement of the facts and issues, a powerful, convincing argument full enough to make each point perfectly plain yet without unnecessary prolixity, characterize a strong judicial opinion, and to such a high standard those of Justice Woods will be found admirably to conform. He has the happy faculty of expressing himself well in pure, idiomatic English, his style being lucid and perspicuous, though plain and without ornament of any kind.

Personally, Justice Woods is one of the most lovable of men. It has been said that "honors change manners," but not so in his He is the same today that he was when admitted to the bar thirty-odd years ago-kind and courteous to every one, yet dignified and unassuming.

case.

Chief Justice McIver, who was a keen observer of men, said that he regarded Justice Woods as a man of great ability, and one who would fill a high place in his profession. This prophecy made years ago has already come true; but his greatest work is yet to be done. Measuring his future career on the bench by the eminent success already attained, we confidently predict that he will leave a name highly honored among the great judges of South Carolina, and bequeath as a legacy to his countrymen the memory of a patriotic citizen and upright man.