Wednesday, 24th March 1915: Judge L. S. Roan Dies In New York Hospital, The Atlanta Constitution

Funeral Will Take Place in Fairburn, His Former Home, Thursday.

Sadness reigns in Atlanta Court Realms over the death of Judge L. S. Roan, in the Polyclinic Hospital, New York, Tuesday morning from a cancerous growth beneath the left eye. The body is en route to Georgia, and will be carried to Fairburn, his former home, where the funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the First Method church. The interment will also be in Fairburn. The Funeral Ceremonies will be delivered by his former Pastor, Rev. H. C. Emory, of Warrenton, assisted by Rev. Charles L. Bass, Pastor of the Fairburn Church.

His connection with the Leo M. Frank trial and retrial hearings brought him into the National notice, but for years Judge Roan had been one of the most widely known Jurists in the State of Georgia. He was born in Henry Country, six miles from Griffin, in 1849. He attended school in Fayetteville Seminary, Fayetteville, Ga. At the end of his schooling, Judge Roan removed to Griffin, where he undertook law in the Office of the late Cincinnatus Peeples and John D. Stewart. In 1869 he was admitted to the Bar at the age of 20 years, and in 1870 he opened his own law Office in Fairburn, which place he made his home at various times until his death this week.

He was appointed Judge of the Stone Mountain Circuit by Governor Joseph M. Terrell in 1902, which Judgeship embraced the Fulton Superior Court, and which Office he held until his Appointment by Governor Slaton, in 1913, to the Court of Appeals. He presided over three of Georgia's most notable criminal trials: The Daisy E. Grace, Callie Scott Applebaum and Frank Cases.

Since July, 1914, his entire time and efforts have been devoted to his failing health. Most of this time has been spent in the North, where he sought the aid of skilled Surgeons and Medical Authorities.

He is survived by his wife, who was Miss Willie Strickland, of Fairburn, and whom he married in 1875; and five children, Benjamin S. Roan, of Palmetto, Ga.; W. E. Roan, Atlanta; Leonard S. Roan, Jr., Atlanta; Mrs. A. W. Stubbs, Nanning, Ga.; Mrs. Henry Mc Curry, Fairburn. In addition, he is survived by his two brothers, Dr. J. T. Roan, of Jesup, Ga.; B. H. H. Roan, Atlanta, and by his sister, Miss Ella Roan, Atlanta.