Bio: James Campbell Moise, Natchitoches, then Orleans Parish, Louisiana Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 305-307. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** JUDGE JAMES CAMPBELL MOISE Judge James Campbell Moise, eminently successful attorney and jurist, now deceased; late residence: 1825 Berlin street, New Orleans, La.--was born in Natchitoches, La., Jan. 20, 1849; and was a son of Theodore S. Moise, a talented portrait painter whose work made him known throughout the south. The son inherited the father's artistic temperament, and was himself an amateur portrait painter of no mean ability. James Campbell Moise, the son, was educated at the Christian Brothers' colleges in New Orleans and at Pass Christian, Miss. The outbreak of the Civil war seriously interfered with the progress of his studies, and during four years his pupilage was of the most desultory nature. During the progress of the civil strife, however, he made use of his time by taking up the study of law, in the office of Judge Campbell. At the age of 15 years he entered the service of the Confederacy as a draughtsman in the engineering department under the supervision of Capt. John L. Randolph. After the surrender he resumed his studies at the Christian Brothers' college, from which in due time thereafter he graduated. In 1866 he began commercial life in the auctioneer and real estate agency of Nelligan & Nash, at New Orleans. During the interim between the latter date and 1875 he successively served in various capacities connected with mercantile business, but in the latter year ill health compelled his retirement to the country. He then took up his residence in the parish of his nativity, devoting his time to the study of law and to painting. While in Natchitoches he became identified with local political activities, and from 1876 to 1880 occupied several minor public positions. In 1880 he was appointed by Gov. Wiltz as assistant adjutant general of the fifth district of the state of Louisiana, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1884 he was made a clerk in the office of the attorney general of Louisiana, his superior being Hon. M. J. Cunningham. In this connection he conducted several important suits in behalf of the state, and was brought prominently to the notice of leading attorneys. When his term in this office had expired he engaged in the private practice of law at New Orleans, and during this period was associated in partnership practice with some of the most brilliant attorneys of the time. He served as one of the referees appointed during the historic contest between Governors McEnery and Foster in 1891-92, representing the Foster faction on the committee of seven which canvassed the returns of that noted primary election and declared the result. Soon after the inauguration of Gov. Foster he appointed James Campbell Moise to the bench of the criminal district court of Orleans parish, vice Judge Joshua G. Baker, whose term had expired. The term for which Judge Moise was appointed expired in 1900, and in the meantime a new constitution had been adopted, by which the office was made an elective one. Judge Moise was unanimously nominated, on the democratic ticket, to succeed himself, in the state election of April, 1900; he was elected as a judge of the criminal district court for a term of twelve years, this term beginning in Nov., 1900. While incumbent of this office, Judge Moise died very suddenly, at his home 1825 Berlin street, Feb. 11, 1901. He was taken suddenly ill while at breakfast, about 7 o'clock in the morning and died a few minutes later. During his service on the bench, Judge Moise presided at the trial of a number of cases of absorbing interest, and rendered many decisions of far-reaching effect. He was one of the judges commissioned to collaborate a criminal code for Louisiana. In addition to his distinguished attainments as a lawyer and jurist, Judge Moise was a man of literary talents, a student and scholar, and his decisions were exceptionally strong and clear. His reasoning was sound, and he was gifted with the facility, somewhat rare among members of his profession, of clothing his logic in strong, clear, and terse language. He was a finished Shakespearean critic, and especially admired the play of ''Hamlet," which he had committed to memory so perfectly that he could quote it from beginning to end. With all the plays of the great dramatist he was thoroughly familiar, his cultivated mind turning to the fountain head of English literature for stimulation and recreation. In the year 1873 Judge Moise was married to Miss Aline Sompayrac, of Natchitoches, La., and 6 children born to their union survive the father; these being, in order of their birth, as follow: Marie, James, Allyn, Harold, (elsewhere referred to in this work), Garner, and Mathilde. Judge Moise was a devout Catholic, and a regular communicant at the Jesuit's church in New Orleans. His sudden and untimely death was a distinct shock to the people of the city, of all classes, but especially to the most intellectual element of the population, among which he was held in peculiarly high esteem as a man possessed of the rarest gifts of mind and heart.