Gregory Anthony, Death January 1893,

Daily Advertiser, 6 January 1893, Page 3

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Death of Mr. Gregory Anthony.

We deeply regret to have to announce the death of Mr. Gregory Anthony, which took place suddenly on New Year's Day at a quarter to six o'clock in the evening. Mr. Anthony had been ill for some weeks, and though serious complications set in, it was not till Saturday morning that any immediate danger was anticipated. On Saturday evening he rallied, and no one who saw him on Sunday morning had any idea that his end was so near. He was conscious to the end and passed away most peacefully.

Mr. Anthony was admitted to the Bar of the Straits in December, 1876, having served his articles in the offices of Mr. Bernard Rodyk and the late Mr. I.S. Bond. Soon after his admission he joined Mr. Van Someren, but of late he practiced alone. Mr. Anthony devoted himself to the criminal branch of the law and soon obtained for himself the leading practice in the Police Courts. The natives speedily recognised his intimate knowledge of their habits and customs and wonderful acquaintance with their languages, especially Tamil, Malay and Hindustani, his quick grasp of the facts of a case and the great skill he displayed in cross-examining an untruthful witness, and readily availed themselves of his professional services. Mr. Anthony was equally successful with juries; he, soon after the opening of a case, established confidential relations with them, did not tire them out with long and useless cross-examination or by raising hopeless points of law, and when his turn came to address them, did so in terms which they easily understood, taking a practical and common sense view of the case and never asking them to believe in a defence which his experience told him was improbable. He was generally rewarded by a verdict in his favour. Emphatically an advocate for the defence, Mr. Anthony, on the few occasions that he appeared for the prosecution, conducted his case in a fair manner, laying before the magistrate or jury the facts in a dispassionate manner, in no instance unduly pressing points against a prisoner but giving due prominence to all that could be brought forward in his favour. While ever ready to avail himself of all points in favour of his client, Mr. Anthony never forgot the courtesy that was due to his opponent and scorned to profit by an unfair advantage or mean action.

Mr. Anthony was highly respected and esteemed by the other members of his profession, and his comrades will long hold his memory in affectionate regard. He will also be remembered by the other members of the European community, to many of whom his genial disposition, unfailing readiness to do a kind action and kindly demeanour greatly endeared him. The natives also held him in high respect, and were any proof required of the great esteem he was held in by the varied classes of our community, it was afforded by the numbers who attended his funeral yesterday. We must not omit to mention that a contingent of the European police volunteered to carry his coffin as a mark of respect to one who had always shewn himself their good friend, and their kind offer was gratefully accepted.The leading members of the Bar and a couple of friends acted as pall bearers.

In conclusion we beg to tender our sincere sympathy to his sorrowing brothers and sisters, and to assure them that the public of Penang mourn with them in their great loss. -Pinang Gazette.