Jeff Truly
American judge (1861–1946)
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Jeff Truly (July 21, 1861 – August 25, 1946) was an American jurist and Democratic politician. He was a justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1903 to 1906, and a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1886.
L. L. Applewhite
J. J. Whitney
Jeff Truly | |
|---|---|
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi | |
| In office August 15, 1903 – August 10, 1906 | |
| Preceded by | J. H. Price |
| Succeeded by | Robert Burns Mayes |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the Jefferson County district | |
| In office January 1886 – January 1888 Serving with J. P. Wise | |
| Preceded by | W. L. Harper L. L. Applewhite |
| Succeeded by | J. S. Hicks J. J. Whitney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 21, 1861 |
| Died | August 25, 1946 (aged 85) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mattie Whitney (m. 1889-1946, his death) |
| Children | 5 |
Early life
Jeff Truly was born on July 21, 1861, in Fayette, Mississippi, the son of Confederate Army veteran Richard Harrison Truly and his wife, Mary (Key) Truly.[1][2] His siblings included a brother named Numa V. (died 1950)[3] and a sister named Eva (1868 or 1869–1947)[4] who later married Joseph Withers Power, the Secretary of State of Mississippi from 1901 to 1926.[5][6] Truly attended Lusher's Private Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana, before attending A. D. Campbell's school in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1875.[2] He then read law, first in the office of J. J. Whitney in 1877 and 1878, and then in the office of Steele & Garrett (in St. Joseph, Louisiana) in 1879.[2] Continuing his legal education, he took a law course at Tulane University in 1880.[2]
Career
Truly began practicing law in Jefferson County, Mississippi, in November 1883.[2] As a member of the Democratic Party, he represented Jefferson County as in the Mississippi House of Representatives in the 1886 session.[2][7][8] In December 1898, Governor Anselm J, McLaurin appointed Truly to the office of Circuit Judge of Mississippi's Sixth Judicial District.[2] Governor McLaurin re-appointed him to this office in February 1902.[2]
Supreme Court of Mississippi
Mississippi Supreme Court Associate Justice J. H. Price resigned in August 1903.[9] On August 15, 1903, Mississippi Governor Andrew H. Longino appointed Truly to finish the term.[2][9] Truly holds the distinction of having delivered the first judicial opinion in the new Mississippi State Capitol.[2] While on the Court, Truly handed down decisions on cases including Postal Telegraph Cable Co. v. Wells; J. J. Harper v. State; Revenue Agent v. Kuykendall; and New Orleans and Northeastern R. R. v. A. H. George & Co.[2]
Truly's term would expire on August 10, 1906.[2] At the end of Truly's term, Robert Burns Mayes was appointed to replace him.[9]
Later career
Between c.1896 and until about 1908, Truly was a trustee of Alcorn A & M College.[10][11] In 1932, Truly was elected to the office of President of the Mississippi State Bar Association.[1]
Personal life and death
Truly was a Presbyterian.[2] He married Mattie Whitney on October 23, 1889, in Fayette, Mississippi.[2] They had five children; Everette Geoffrey; Richard Marion; Marjorie; Thelma; and Errick H., who became a lieutenant colonel.[6][2] Truly died after a long illness at 4 AM on August 25, 1946, in Fayette, Mississippi, and was survived by his widow, his brother Numa, his sister Eva, his three sons, and his two daughters.[6] His funeral service was held at 5 PM the same day.[6]