234|The Green Bag.|}}

THE SUPREME COURT OF WEST VIRGINIA. I II. BY J. W. VANDERVORT OF THE WEST VIRGINIA BAR. HON. James Paull, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, an eminent member of the Ohio County bar, and a highly esteemed citi zen of Wheeling, was born near St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, on the 6th day

of July, 1818, and died at his residence in Wellsburg, May ii, 1875, at the age of fifty-seven years. He was the son of George and Eliza beth Paull, whose ancestors were among the early set tlers of Western Pennsylvania. James Paull was thorough ly educated in boy hood, and after com pleting preparatory studies at Cross Creek, Pennsylva nia, 'he entered Washington Col lege, and graduated from that institution in June, 1835. He JAMES came to Wheeling, and choosing the law as his profession, he learned the routine of practice with Zachariah Jacob, Esq., an able lawyer, and finished his studies in the law department of the University of Virginia. Mr. Paull continued his residence in Wheel ing, where he lived up to within eighteen months of his death, during which time he resided at Wellsburg» For a short time after graduation he was engaged in teaching

the higher branches in the Linsley Institute. In the years 1855 and 1856 he represented Ohio County in the Legislature of Virginia at Richmond, as a member of the Whig party. In 1872 he was nominated by the Democratic party and elected judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals. He was the only resident lawyer of Ohio County ever elected to that position. Mr. Paull devoted himself wholly to the law, in which he be came eminent even before he reached the zenith of man hood. Never robust, but always industri ous, the labors of the Supreme Court judgeship proved in jurious to his health. His associates on the bench begged him not to overtax his strength, but he could not obtain his PAULL. of duty, and therefore kept own shortonconsent ofathishard fulltoshare work fall

until his health gave way, and he fell just after his sun had reached its noon. His de cisions were clear, able, exhaustive, honest. He left a high record as a judge, and as a citizen all who knew him esteemed him as an honest man. His decisions in the West Vir ginia reports are among the most valuable contributions to the law of the State. The