The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-28

QOt ktOp 10 give VOL AuoWu
he reelected Tor three terms subsequently, when
ne declined reelection and ior three years. from
1885 to 1851, gave MS time TO private practice ana
legal and literary studies In The latter year he sub
mitted again 10 nomination aud was once more
elected 10 his former position as puoic prosecutor OF
tile city, position ne continued to hold through
seven ears, when no resi- gned-althou0h having Two
more years TO serve TO enter upon his duties as
Mayor. 1t Will thus be seen That Tor len years no
filled the ONCE OF District Attorney, besides three
wears and SIX months as Assistant District Attorney
Very many trials OF great Importance were had IN
bis time, IN which Mr.. Hall conducted the proceed
ings Oh the part OF the people, and IN which he
was opposed by the best intellect OF the bar. The
calendarof the court " General Sessions shows no
fewer tnan twenty-five murder tria while he was
prosecuting counsel. OF these, with one exception,
that Of Lewis BAKER. tried for the murder or WI
liam Poole there were convictions Ia every case:
Out Of the tweaty-one thus tried and convicted
eleven have been executed. three imprisoned for
me- the sentences OF four condemned to execution
commuted to Imprisonment for life. and three found
guilty OF manslauQhier. or course these ere put
Q fractional part OF the cases tried Many very im-
portant cases. not capital came before this court FOR
trial, among which we may mention the celebrated
Huntington forgery case In selecting Is his assist
ants slch able aud ediclent men IS Cunning =.
Hutchings, the newly elected Surrogate, ne showed
thorough knowledge OF men. TINS Court OF General
Every passion ana phase OF life In hero laid bare.
Every grade Of criminal ID here arraigned for trial.
hurry On 70 r. ma We w only stop
humane to those having hswiy entered the crooked
n ~ Ss.'s'' penalty Of TOE IA" On ''a''sa '''
BUCcHss AZ A LAWYER.
Mr.. Hal was not yet twenty-fO ana barely en-
titled 10 act III the court when he argued before the
United States Supreme Court case against tine At
counsel. Tne full report IL given in Ii Howard,
U. s, 80. The tact, ability and Judgment he showed
IN this case at once gave him proud status q the
bar. HIS private practice tor good many years
has been extensively engaged before legislative
having had very important interests entrusted to
MIS- charge. To SPECIFY the causes cete6res Ia which
ne has Ueen maze an @
more than 200 cases In the supreme Court and
Court OF Appeals involving important crimi-
ting the criminal polity or this state. He
also contributed large number OF re0rmatory
statutes appncaoIs 20 iam CITY. sor an{ years nS
c0r0ners boards OF police commissions rs, the Com
mlssi0uers OF Charities aud correction and railroad
companies We cannot refrain, however, from lndl-
eating briefly the basis Of his success at the bar In
the 1rst place he Ii unquestlonaDy, Tor his years,
one Of the best read lawyers at the New YORK bar.
On occasions hls argument Is close aud rigid CON-
pact network OF steel Impressions to assault Gene
rally, however, his legal arguments abound In Cor
ruscatlons OF vivacious fancy. lie has faculty OF
breathing life into the dnlest material and lmpar-
lug animation the dryest topics. C0ncelvlng hls
arguments strongly and clothing mis- thought with
the choicest pnrasaOOgy ne be2uiles his audience Of
Wearines5 by his combined logic aud W.T.
The humorous vein, strong sense, and simple style.
To teach tho gayost, mako Inc sravess smie.
His style OF speaking Ia mainly coioqula. Like
Minerva gttering from the brow OF J0ve, his
thoughts come ior,h mature and splendid. There Ii
nothing 81 PATCHWORK IN MS ideas and nothing OF
labor In bis manner ana gestures.
Ts the glance, the expressions, the weichosen word,
BY whose magic tho depths OF the spirit stirred
The snils, the mute gesture, the soussrring pause,
Tue eyes aweet expressou that melts while Il
Ho rarely lost an important case when ne was
public prosecutor and never In his private prac-
tlce SUIT ne advised bringing.
Were each book Oh tne Pentateuch enlarged to the
size the largest volume OF the Ameri Jan Institute
voiuminousncss lnan record OF the wit aud hunlor
OF A. Oakey HAL. We viii cite only three or -FOUR
cases showing his sparkle OF repartee. In the cee.
DRAFTED trial OF 4Jrs. Cunningham for the nprder OF
Dr. Burdcil it was proven Tor the defence 10 show
her innocent frame Of mind, thas on sunday morn
mg-Ihe one succeeding the murder-sue and her
daughter were singing hymns. ner counsei quoted
one OF the hymns.
"Tne counsel for the defeucc,n said Mr.. Hall, in
summing up .,nas gwen hymn Mrs. Cunning
ham and her daughter SANG on the morning after the
murder Here Ii an appropriate Que Tor the other
side aud their Witnesses
Hark from tho Tombs . dolsfu sound,
h ySs s1 mea a.. :@. ne v. cry Inc ground
Where 70 must shortly ns
In the case OF Lewis Baker, charged with the HON
icioc OF William Poole, It appeared that George Law
nad TENT steamer 70 60 alter the vessel In wnicf
IAN outrageous kidnappine,n said Horace r
mot 90 brother Glars retorted AIR. HAL; ''ths
capture was made according t0 George Law"
when captured ne was winn The jurlsdicton Of the
Canarles, no having 0een captured OF the Canary
Isles.
proper Jurisdiction Is that OF Sing sing"
AT Mr.. Halls election In 1860 he received an
surprise s s
was answered with grim snrug Few persons
have 80 many tried friends - nave, and tried
friends are always ma2nanimOus.o
We Will not multiply these Instances. He has, in
fact rarely tried case without uncturlng II with
puns sarcastic criticisms aud brilliant repartees.
to his EXTRAORDINARY lmperturDability OF lace and
HIS LITERARY LABoRs AND SPEECHES..
We have made repeated illusions to Mr.. Halls
literary hbors. He Is still hard and indeiatigAbe
Q regular contributor TO the New York Leaaer.
which the lamented John Clancy, as editor, by the
force OF his original mind and the abilities OF tho
gentlemen no gathered arc and him, made the FORE
most paper Of It's class IN this city. Although Mr.
Hall has never been the avowed editor OF the paper
and really has but political interest its success
he together with Messrs. Sweeny and brad ey, OF
Tamnany Hail. has an extended connection with that
organ His sentences, cear-cut crisp as lettuce, with
Q navor OF both sugar aud vinegar In them, may he
frequently detected IN the pungent editorials, stray
Joe Miers, dramatic gossip ana Greeley corkscrow-
llgB OF its pages. But We will go Dack further
At the request Of William Il. Button, whle inc
latter was manager OF the Lafarge theatre, after
wards Winter Garden, Mr.. Han wioe for the peaeat
night OF Mrs. Hughes farce, since published, en-
titled "Coroners lnquistion," intenoed TO bnrlesque
the one held over Dr. Burdell by tue then Coroler.
In connection with the late Charles W. Walcott he
assisted i0preparing several pieces for Mitchei's
olympic theatre lie also, in connection with Parxe
BENJAMIN, wrote for the Park theatre comedy en-.
titled "Fiscal Agency" At various times indeed,
but not III o very pretentous manner, he mas con-
trlbuted dramas AMI portions OF buresques to vari
Gus metropolitan theatres. HIS maaazine articles
arc models OF composition. We viii only refer to
one and which Is among the best ne has written
"a Dinner &C the Mayors" published In
Harper's Magazine. When 1t was written Fernando
Wood was Mayor. Irving, Bancroft General scout,
notabies were present. His pen and INK sketches Of
these gentlemen evince perfection In the lmners
art. The aroma OF Wit and refined Reniality per-
vading tue paper mark hun as one Of the brightest
most pquant and genial writers OF the day. His
miscellaneous library Is copi0asiy ricn ia books re-
lating TO the drama, both American and foreign. IL
s In fact tho 0est dramatic library IN this city. His
favorite book oulslue the law and drama 10 Hami
toms Logic" Literature II his ruling pass lon
strong IL Is the sweet soace Of his fe his refuge