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believe that this was no exaggeration, for his firmness
and integrity were allied to an astute but genial
approach to the problems o f life. His adventures
at that time would, indeed, have been worth record
ing, but unfortunately he had neither the time nor
the desire to record them. The spoken word was
for him always more important than the written.
On one occasion he was captured and under sentence
o f death but his clever appeal to the religious
susceptibilities o f his captors deferred the time of
execution until the Truce ensured his release.
After the establishment o f the new Irish state he
became interested in politics and in 1927, as a
supporter o f Mr. Cosgrave, he was elected as one
of the deputies for West Cork, a position which
he held until his retirement from the political
arena in 1933. As a member o f the Dail he was
in his element, and his ready wit, wide legal know
ledge, and understanding o f Irish rural conditions
made him an invaluable contributor to its debates.
He was naturally interested in legal questions and it
was largely as a result of his continued agitation
and efforts that the old system under which the
High Court went on circuit to hear appeals from
the Circuit Court was restored in 1938. He main
tained with much wisdom that it was necessary
for a judge to see and hear a witness and that,
therefore, the system o f appeal on shorthand
notes of the original hearing was neither just nor
satisfactory. No litigant, he pointed out, felt that
he got justice unless he participated in the pro
ceedings. He was also interested in education
and was for many years a member o f the first
Governing Body o f University College, Cork.
In January, 1941, came the crowning honour of
his career when he was elected President o f the
Incorporated Law Society, being the first Corkman
to hold that position. He had been one of the
leaders o f the long overdue revolt of the provincial
solicitors against the Dublin monopoly o f office,
and they had no better representative. Few appoint
ments have been more popular and he discharged
his duties during his year o f office with ability and
dignity. In recent years ill health and the infirmities
o f age caused him to retire from public and pro
fessional activity but he retained the regard and
affection o f a wide circle of friends. Jasper Wolfe
was a distinguished and learned lawyer, but it is as a
brilliant advocate that he will be best remembered,
for advocacy was not only his
metier
but his delight.
Few members o f the legal profession were more
experienced in court work. He combined an
expert knowledge o f procedure with an uncanny
and penetrating insight into human nature, and
particularly Irish rural human nature, in all its
ramifications. These gifts made him a deadly
cross-examiner and an incomparable strategist.
Often his more slow-witted opponents found he
had out-flanked and turned their position before
the contest had properly begun. But this mental
toughness and agility o f mind were combined with
a rare magnanimity and commonsense which made
him both generous and reasonable in the moment
of victory. In all these attributes he was, indeed,
a true son o f West Cork. There is no epitaph he
would have more desired.
J. J . H.
M
r
.
J.
T
ravers
W
olfe
,
Solicitor, died at his
residence, “ Norton,” Skibbereen, Co. Cork, on the
28th August, 1952.
Mr. Wolfe was admitted in Michaelmas Sittings,
1893, and practised at Skibbereen, Co. Cork, as
senior partner in the firm o f Messrs. Jasper T.
Wolfe & Co. He was a member o f the Council of
this Society from the year 1929 to 1950, Vice-
President for the year 1932-1933, and President
o f the Society for the year 1940-1941.
M
r
. H
enry
G.
C
onnolly
,
Solicitor, died at
Maretimo, Salthill, Co. Galway, on the 16th October,
1952.
Mr. Connolly served his apprenticeship with the
late Mr. Redmond J. Connolly, Solicitor, Clifden,
was admitted in Hilary Sittings, 1903, and practised
at Clifden under the style o f Messrs. R. J. Connolly
& Son.
M
r
. J
ohn
G
odfrey
B
oyle
,
Solicitor, died on the
31st July, 1952.
Mr. Boyle served his apprenticeship with the
late Mr. John Boyle, Solicitor, was admitted in
Easter Sittings, 1930, and practised at Ballymoney.
M
r
. T
homas
J
ames
M
c
K
eown
,
Solicitor, died on
the 8th September, 1952.
Mr. McKeown served his apprenticeship with the
late Mr. John McCormick, Solicitor, and was
admitted in Michaelmas Sittings, 1925.
Printed bj Cahill & Co.,
L.td., Parkgate Printing Works
,
Dublin