Background
William Truslow Newman was born on June 23, 1843 in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. He was the son of Henry Baker and Martha (Truslow) Newman.
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William Truslow Newman
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At the outbreak of the Civil War Newman volunteered as a private soldier in the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry. After some months of service he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In 1863 he was wounded and captured by Federal skirmishers in Kentucky. Exchanged, he was again wounded the next year near Jonesboro, Georgia and lost his right arm.
At the close of the war he went to live in Atlanta, Georgia, read law with Judge John L. Hopkins, was admitted to the bar in 1866, and began practice.
From 1871 to 1883 he was city attorney. During these years he built up a substantial private practice and became prominent in the life of the community.
In August 1888 he was appointed by President Cleveland to be federal judge of the northern district of Georgia, in which position he continued to serve until his death. He discouraged litigation and brought to bear all the weight of his influence to obtain settlements out of court.
Yet it was for more unusual qualities that his judicial career made a profound impression on the people among whom he administered federal justice for nearly two generations.
He made it his custom to parole rural prisoners until they had gathered their crops and, in spite of rumors of some official disapproval, continued to exercise his prerogative of paroling prisoners whenever he thought the situation warranted and to enjoy the kind of respect that brought the paroled men back to prison without violation of trust.
Achievements
Personality
Without any claim to erudition Newman's decisions never lacked the essential quality that was recognized as justice by both parties, and his rendering of justice was always tempered with mercy.
Connections
On September 20, 1871 he married Frances Percy Alexander of Knoxville, Tennessee. Of his six children one daughter, Frances Newman attained distinction as a magazine writer and novelist of the radical sentiment of a changing South.
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Born
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Died
February 14, 1920 (aged 76) -
Nationality
American