(note: I have posted every day since August 13. That’s 7 weeks of posting! I am going to take a brief week long break, with the exception of Sunday’s ad of the week and Wednesday’s Wordless Wednesday photo. I will continue to check my email and comments daily, so feel free to send stories you’d like to see on the website, along with comments and questions! And don’t forget to come back Saturday, October 8-next Saturday-for more digging!)
Onward, to Jerome Edward Richards, Jr as told by my mom!
Judge Jerome Edward Richards, Jr. (Ed) was born January 18, 1879, probably in Arkansas (as is stated on the 1900 census). His death certificate, however, states he was born in Mississippi. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in June of 1882 where he attended public school and later Memphis Military Institute.
He served in the Spanish-American War as a Sergeant in Company J of the 2nd Tennessee Regiment. He became Deputy Clerk of the Criminal Court of Shelby County Tennessee upon return to Memphis after the wars, serving under his father Jerome E. Richards, Sr. who was at that time Clerk of the Court. He studied law at night and was admitted to the bar in 1910. He was elected First Division Criminal Court Judge on September 1, 1918, (an eight-year term) after having served as Shelby County Assistant Attorney General for a year.
He was well-respected for his knowledge of the law and his fairness as a judge.
On February 6, 1902, Ed Richards married Laura W. Borner of Memphis, and they had two daughters: Laura and Dorothy Louise.
He was a 32nd Degree Mason in the Scottish Rite and was a member of the Mystic Shrine. He was an avid duck hunter and golfer.
He also had a sense of humor. His nephew, James Paul Stalls, Jr, told of being taken to the court when he was very young while it was in session under his Uncle Ed. His Uncle (Inspector) Clegg Richards wanted him to see the work his Uncle Ed did and encouraged him to stand up on the bench and thumb his nose for his Uncle Ed. He reported that Uncle Ed tried his best not to react, but the act created giggles in the courtroom that day.
Jerome E. Richards, Jr. died May 18, 1929, and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis.
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