George W. Morris

George W. Morris
Judge Morris, ca. 1905
Judge of the Corporate Court of Charlottesville Corporate Court of Buena Vista
Electoral District	General Assembly
Preceded by	R. T. W. Duke, Jr.
Succeeded by	G. Burnley Sinclair
Biographical Information
Date of birth	December 13, 1857
Date of death	January 30, 1908 (aged 50)
Place of birth	New York City
Place of death	Charlottesville
Spouse	Never married
Children	none
Residence	Charlottesville
Alma mater	University of Virginia
Profession	Corporate Court Judge
Religion	Episcopal doctrine

George W. Morris (December 13, 1857 – January 30, 1908) was Judge of the Corporate Court of Charlottesville and Corporate Court of Buena Vista, succeeding Judge R. T. W. Duke, Jr., the first incumbent of that office, in 1901. Governor Claude A. Swanson, upon learning of the death of Judge Morris, appointed Judge John M. White to continue the term of court begun by the departed.

Early life and education

George Watts Morris was born in New York city on December 13, 1857. His parents were George Washington Morris and Alice Matilda Watts, of Roanoke county, Virginia. His father was a doctor and rice planter of South Carolina, who died at the early age of twenty seven years, just before George’s birth. About six years after the death of his father, his mother married Judge W. J. Robertson, the eminent lawyer of Albemarle County. His early education was obtained at the well known school of this city conducted by the late Major Horace W. Jones, who was assisted at that time by William R. Abbott.

Morris entered the University of Virginia in the fall of 1874 and for three years was an academic student, concluding each course with honor. The succeeding two years he was a student in the law school under the famous John B. Minor, and in 1879 he took the degree of Bachelor of Law from the University. In the same year Morris began the practice of law in Charlottesville, Va., and immediately met with success. He was for a number of years interested in politics, being chairman of both the city and county democratic committees.

Political career

A member of the Democratic Party. In the fall of 1893, Morris was elected to the State Senate and re-elected in 1897. In both cases he was elected unanimously and by all political parties.

Judicial career

Morris was elected by the General Assembly of Virginia Judge of the Corporation Court of Charlottesville and qualified for the office in March, 1901. Judge Morris dies in office.

Murder trial of J. Samuel McCue

The 1905 McCue murder trial was presided over by Judge George W. Morris, judge of the Corporation Court of the city of Charlottesville.

McCue v. Commonwealth, 103 Va. 870 (1905)

Jan. 26, 1905 · Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia

Death

The end came suddenly on Thursday, January 30, 1908. Judge Morris was on his way to his office about 10 o’clock when he fell on sidewalk in front of the Massie residence on Park Street and expired a few minutes afterwards. A physician was called and the body was taken to Judge Duke’s house across the street. The interment was in Riverview cemetery.