BY: BG EDITOR
May 18, 2019 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
Johnstone Prescott Myers Gray was one of early Greenwood's first lawyers, having arrived here in 1899. We begin with his biographical sketch, from "A History of British Columbia" by R. E. Gosnell:[1]
JOHNSTONE PRESCOTT MYERS GRAY
"Johnstone Prescott Myers Gray is identified with the local profession for which by natural attributes and thorough preparation and research he has proved his fitness, realizing that in this calling more than in almost any other success depends upon the force of the individuality and that as an exponent of the law he must display in unusual degree a keenness of power of analyzation and logical summarizing of the chief points in a case. Mr. Gray has proved himself a leader in attaining the creditable position which he now holds as a representative of the bar at Greenwood.
A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, born on the 20th of January, 1872, Mr. Gray is a son of W. Myers and Laliah W. (Richie) Gray, both residents of New Westminster, British Columbia. Their son was educated in St. Stephens College in New York, and following his graduation he came to British Columbia in 1891, being then a young man of nineteen years. He turned his attention to engineering work and spent two years in the construction of the New Westminster water works. He then studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar in November, 1898. He removed to Greenwood in 1899 and entered into partnership with Judge Leamy, the present county judge.
Mr. Gray has served as city solicitor for four years. In addition to his practice he is interested in mining, having recognized the opportunity for judicious investment in mining property in the province. His political views are in accord with the principles of the Conservative party."
"Johnstone Prescott Myers Gray is identified with the local profession for which by natural attributes and thorough preparation and research he has proved his fitness, realizing that in this calling more than in almost any other success depends upon the force of the individuality and that as an exponent of the law he must display in unusual degree a keenness of power of analyzation and logical summarizing of the chief points in a case. Mr. Gray has proved himself a leader in attaining the creditable position which he now holds as a representative of the bar at Greenwood.
A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, born on the 20th of January, 1872, Mr. Gray is a son of W. Myers and Laliah W. (Richie) Gray, both residents of New Westminster, British Columbia. Their son was educated in St. Stephens College in New York, and following his graduation he came to British Columbia in 1891, being then a young man of nineteen years. He turned his attention to engineering work and spent two years in the construction of the New Westminster water works. He then studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar in November, 1898. He removed to Greenwood in 1899 and entered into partnership with Judge Leamy, the present county judge.
Mr. Gray has served as city solicitor for four years. In addition to his practice he is interested in mining, having recognized the opportunity for judicious investment in mining property in the province. His political views are in accord with the principles of the Conservative party."
The first mention of J. P. Myers Gray in the local news was September 1899, when his affiliation with the Conservative Party was noted. He quickly became involved in local mining interests, and in October, flipped a 2/3 holding in the Northern Bell mine.
By May 1900, Myers-Gray was publicly involved in local politics, taking a seat on the speech platform at a large political gathering. Later that fall he again joined local town leaders on the platform at a federal election campaign rally. His support for the party continued through 1904, when he served on the Executive Committee for the Greenwood Conservatives. At that time, Dr. Spankie had just retired as party president.[2] In January 1904, Myers-Gray attended the Conservative Party convention in Kamloops.
Johnstone Myers-Gray first became involved in local sports in the fall of 1900, and remained active on various teams for his entire time in Greenwood. He began by playing on the local Cricket team. In 1901, he was elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Tennis Club, and continued to play through 1904.
A 1905 report described his participation on the local Bowling team, in a match between the boys of Ontario and the Maritime provinces, known respectively as the Musheaters and the Fisheaters. The 'oatmealers' won by 5 points, with J. Myers-Gray among them. 1905 also saw him play on the local Curling team.
Among his many other civic activities in Greenwood, in 1901 Johnstone Myers-Gray attended the Diocesan Synod of the Episcopal Church in Nelson, along with town founder Robert Wood and the Reverend W. A. Robins.
In 1902 he was a founding member on the board of the Forest and Stream club, formed to protect local fish and game. The following year he joined the Greenwood Progressive Association. That year he was also elected as a new member of the Board of Trade. From 1902 through 1904, J. P. Myers-Gray was elected as solicitor for the Greenwood St. Andrew's Society, a fraternal organization for those of Scottish heritage.
Despite a busy professional life as barrister and a full social dance card, J. P. Myers-Gray stayed very active in politics. In January 1901 he served on the campaign committee to elect Dr. Jakes as Mayor of Greenwood.[3] This hotly contested race followed Mayor Thomas Hardy's tumultuous term in office, recently covered in our series, "A Political Dogfight in Greenwood". Dr. Jakes ran against and beat local newsman Duncan Ross in the election.
Under Mayor Jakes, J. P. Myers-Gray became City Solicitor,[4] and remained in that role into 1904, when he served Council's legal needs under Mayor Naden.[5]
Myers-Gray's continued interest in local mining projects often crisscrossed with his duties in the law. In April 1901, Amalgamated Rock Creek Placer Leases, Ltd., was formed to run placer leases on tributary streams of Rock Creek. Myers-Gray was one of five principals promoting the company's capitalization.[6] That year he also represented shareholders in a dispute with the Morrison Mines company. The issue was eventually won by the company, Myers-Gray losing out to his Greenwood associate, A. M. Whiteside, who appeared for the company.[7]
In 1904, J.P. Myers-Gray was appointed book-keeper for the Providence Mining Company. (This no doubt refers to the keeping of corporate books, not daily accounting.)
One of the more colourful of Johnstone Myers-Gray's legal appearances was before the Supreme and Assize Court, which met in Greenwood's Masonic building in October 1901. Among the criminal and civil cases heard that session was this one:[8]
"The dignity of the bench could not withstand the furious onslaught made upon it by the bucolic eccentricities of the Anarchist mountain farmers. They were there in full force either as champions or defamers of Joseph Murphy who was charged with wounding Gillespie's cow in the year 1900. The jury selected James J. Addison as their foreman. H. C. Shaw and J. P. Myers-Gray defended Murphy, Deputy Attorney General McLean prosecuted and the fun began.
The first witness was Gillespie who notwithstanding his 82 years gave his evidence with wonderful vigor. He told of the famous cow coming home wounded behind the shoulder and Mr. Maloney, a neighbor corroborated his statement. Goodyear told his story in his own way. He graphically described a precipice ten foot deep, principally perpendicular over which he alleged Murphy was going to drive his and Gillespie's cattle. Fortunately for the cows Goodyear came along and he said "not much Jose'y" and Goodyear took charge of the "bunch" of cattle.
Farmer Jolly told of Murphy having stated to him that he (Murphy) had wounded Gillespie's cow and Mr. Shaw tried to make Jolly father confessor to all the alleged criminals on Anarchist mountain. …
They found a verdict of not guilty in a few minutes and Murphy was discharged with an admonition by the judge to Anarchist mountain residents in general to do less talking about neighbors and live together in peace and unity."
The first witness was Gillespie who notwithstanding his 82 years gave his evidence with wonderful vigor. He told of the famous cow coming home wounded behind the shoulder and Mr. Maloney, a neighbor corroborated his statement. Goodyear told his story in his own way. He graphically described a precipice ten foot deep, principally perpendicular over which he alleged Murphy was going to drive his and Gillespie's cattle. Fortunately for the cows Goodyear came along and he said "not much Jose'y" and Goodyear took charge of the "bunch" of cattle.
Farmer Jolly told of Murphy having stated to him that he (Murphy) had wounded Gillespie's cow and Mr. Shaw tried to make Jolly father confessor to all the alleged criminals on Anarchist mountain. …
They found a verdict of not guilty in a few minutes and Murphy was discharged with an admonition by the judge to Anarchist mountain residents in general to do less talking about neighbors and live together in peace and unity."
Myers-Gray represented many Greenwood clients over the years. He acted as solicitor for the Wallace Miller Co. when they sold their business to P. W. George. At the time, Myers-Gray's offices were also in the Wallace-Miller block.[9]
Having been in law partnership since 1899 with Judge Leamy, the local county judge, the two were closely associated over the years. In October 1903, Myers-Gray accompanied Judge Leamy to Fairview, where the judge sat filled-in a court vacancy. The partnership ended in August 1905, upon the death of Judge Leamy after a lingering illness.[10]
Having been a member of the Greenwood Board of Trade since 1902, J. P. Myers-Gray served on a BOT committee to meet visiting members of the Empire Chamber of Commerce, touring them around to see local commercial interests. The following year, Myers-Gray was named a delegate to the Associated Boards of Trade annual meeting in Rossland, where he represented Greenwood. In 1904, Myers-Gray attended a banquet held in honour of a group of New York capitalists representing "much wealth", who had come to the Boundary seeking opportunity.
In August 1905, J. P. Myers-Gray went on holiday to Portland, Oregon with his friend, K. C. B. Frith. The two enjoyed the Portland Fair's agricultural and livestock exhibits. That winter he spent holidays at his old family home in New Westminster.
In March 1906, the Boundary Creek Times reported that City Solicitor Myers-Gray had traveled to Fernie on business, via Spokane. This was to be an important exploratory visit, which concluded with the attorney's departure from Greenwood:[11]
"City Solicitor J. P. Myers-Gray has removed to Fernie, B.C., where he has entered into partnership with L. P. Eckstein, one of the leading barristers of that town. Mr. Gray will be much missed, especially in municipal circles, having been legal advisor to the city council for the past six years."
A May Council report noted:[12]
"The resignation of Solicitor J. P. Myers Gray as city solicitor, was read and accepted. A successor will be elected by the council at a future meeting."
The final mention of note on the life and times of Johnstone Prescott Myers-Gray was an obituary for his father, published in September 1909:[13]
"W. Myers Gray, a prominent barrister of New Westminster, and the founder of the New Westminster Bar association, died September 9. His son, J. P. Myers-Gray, practiced in Greenwood for some years."
FOOTNOTES:
[1] A History of British Columbia by R. E. Gosnell, R. E., 1906, p. 440
[2] Boundary Creek Times — Mar 04, 1904, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170854
[3] Greenwood Weekly Times — Jan 10, 1901, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172821
[4] Greenwood Weekly Times — Jan 31, 1901, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172882
[5] Boundary Creek Times — Jun 06, 1902, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170879
[6] Greenwood Weekly Times — Apr 25, 1901, p. 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172895
[7] Greenwood Weekly Times — Jun 20, 1901, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172919
[8] Greenwood Weekly Times — Oct 25, 1901, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172953
[9] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 24, 1902, p. 2
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170911
[10] Boundary Creek Times — Aug 11, 1905, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171795
[11] Boundary Creek Times — Apr 27, 1906, p. 5
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171972
[12] Boundary Creek Times — May 04, 1906, P. 7
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172018
[13] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 17, 1909, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171621
