SKETCH OF HARRY SKINNER,

President.

The President-elect of this Association is a native of Perquimans county, North Carolina, was born the 25th day of May, 1855, the son of James C. and Elmira Ward Skinner. He is a direct descendant of that large and influential family of Skinners from the Albemarle section of the State, whose character, means and influence has, in a large measure, shaped the history and the development of that favored section.

His father, James C. Skinner, was a man of great force and character and brilliant mind, and in ante-bellum days a large slave and land holder; also prominent in public affairs. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention of 1860, at the time of the division of the Democratic party, and served in the Senate of North Carolina in 1870–72 from the First Senatorial District, and took part in the impeachment trial of Gov. W. W. Holden. His father, the Hon. Harry Skinner, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, for many years represented his county and district in the Legislature and in the State Senate. He was a son of the Hon. John Skinner, who served as a distinguished member of the Legislature and in the State Senate covering a long period of time, and was a descendant of Gen. William Skinner, of Revolutionary fame.

The boyhood of the subject of our sketch was spent in his native county, and his scholastic training was obtained at the Hertford Academy. In 1873, at a time when the University of North Carolina was in eclipse, he entered the University of Kentucky at Lexington (Transylvania), and was graduated from that excellent law school in June, 1875, with the degree of B. L. In August of the same year he moved to Greenville, and there continued his studies under the tutelage and direction of Maj. L. C. Latham. At the January Term, 1876, of Supreme Court, he was licensed to practice law, and im

mediately thereafter formed a partnership with his preceptor under the style of Latham & Skinner, which continued until the death of Maj. Latham, in 1894. This firm enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, the senior member being recognized as one of the best equipped all-round trial lawyers in Eastern North Carolina.

After the death of Maj. Latham, Mr. Skinner formed a law partnership with his nephew, H. W. Whedbee, now Judge Whedbee, which continued until Judge Whedbee's elevation to the Bench in 1911. This firm also enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. Since then, Mr. Skinner has practiced without a partner, and has retained a large practice in Eastern North Carolina.

He was appointed United States District Attorney in 1901, and served with credit for eight years. On the expiration of his first term he was reappointed without having to file any petition and some time in advance of the expiration of the first term. Mr. Skinner had filled the United States District Attorney's office with such efficiency and with so much satisfaction to the Department of Justice that it was generally taken for granted on the death of Hon. T. R. Purnell, United States District Judge, that he would easily be his successor; but factional differences in his party prevented his appoint

ment.

Mr. Skinner has held the position of Town Councilman, Trustee of the University, Aide de Camp to Gov. Jarvis from 1879 to 1886. He was of the Legislature of 1891, elected by the unprecedented majority in those days of 1,076. While a member of the Legislature he served as chairman of the Committee on Internal Improvements, was a member of the Judiciary, Educational and Insane Asylum Committees, and chairman of the House Branch of the Committee on Redistricting the State.

In this Legislature he was regarded as progressive; he introduced measures requiring a docket of criminal and civil procedure, the establishment of an orphan's court, to prevent sale of land under mortgage or execution which did not bring