The Portland daily press., 1869-04-22

PORTLAND.
Thursday Morning; April 90, 1869.


Anecdotes of James Il. Brady.
Under the title of "a G-eat Advocate" !"
Colonel l. E. Clarke contributes to the May
number of the Galaxy pleasant sketch of
the late James T. Brady, in which the follow
ing anecdotes appear:
THE BAKER TRIAL.
The trial OF Baker for the murder of Poole
furnished notable instance of Mr.. Brady's
intrepidity in behalf of a client. 1t was at
the height of the "Know-N Nothing' excite
ment, and Poole, after receiving the fatal bull
let, having exclaimed, 81 die an American" !"
succeeded In causing himself to be regarded
as martyr to the cause. Lingering for
days with-as the post mOrtem proved-a
bullet deeply imbedded in his heart, the in
tsrest and excitement became intense; and
on the day of his funeral, twenty thousand
men walked in solemn procession behind the
coffin of the martyfed trough" In such a
state OF public feeling Baker was put on trial
ior his life. At the opening of the charge by
the judge, aroused by its tenor, Mr.. Brady
seized pen and commenced writing rapidly
indignation showing itself in his set lips and
frowning brow. The moment the Judge had
ceased he was on his feet and began:
You have charged the jury thus and thus.
protest againgt your so stating it." The
JuuSc ooiu u0 WOuiu liSJeu 10 lQe ODlecLlOnS
after the jury had retired. NO." exclaimed
the indignant orator, 81 choose that the iury
shall hear those objections" and, defying in
reference, he poured fourth impetuously
fortysive separate and formal objections,
COUGHING them all emphatioally in words OF
personal protest to the Judge. The force of
the judges charge on the jury was pretty ef-
fectually broken. The indignation of the ad-
vocate at this time was real, not simulated
and he, at least, of the New York bar, dared
to defy and to denounce injustice, even when
clad In ermine. OF such were those brave,
elder members of the legal profession, who in
former days and other lands kept alive the
fires of civil liberty.
After two trials he obtained a change of
venue ,and the trial was transferred to New
burgh. This gave rise to another incident,
which Brady was fond of telling, especially
when he wished to disarm prejudice against
the looks OF any witness or client. The trial
was to be held before Judge Charles A. Pea
body, in the Supreme Court. The Judge,
lawyers, high sheriff, deputies and prisoners
all went up in the cars to Fishkil. The
streets were crowded by thousands eager to
see the prisoner. As they passed to the boat
to cross over to Newburgh, the judge happen
edato take the arm Of High Sheriff Willets.
Some one recognising the sheriff, pointed out
"Don't you see his id bloodthirsty lace !"
fancying, as Brady would say, they saw all
the iineaments of brutal murderer in the
calm bland features of his Honor.
4oa as4t3~~ THE PRISONERS SISTER.
The case of a young man who was charged
with murder in what was claimed an acciden-
tai fracas, attracted good deal of interest,"
He was Mason, and that society applied to
Mr.. Brady to defend him, rendering twenty
| five hundred dollars as fee; but for some
cause he declined the case. Not long after,
one afternoon, a neatly dressed, modest young
girl came to the Office and asked for Mr.. Bra
dy. Told to walk into his private Office, she
timidly approached his desk, and saying: Mr..
Brady, they are going to hang my brother,
and yeu can save him! Eve brought you this
money, please don't let my brother dep she
burst into tears. 1t was roll of two hun
dred and fifty dollars, which the poor girl had
begged In sums of five and ten dollars. The
kind hearted man heard her story. "They
shan't hang your brother. my child" said he /;
and putting the roll of bills in an envelope,
told her to take it to her mother, and he
would ask for it when he wanted it. The
boy was cleared. In Mr.. Brady's parlor hangs
an exquisite picture by Durand, with letter
on the back asking him to accept it as mark
of appreciation for his generous kindness in
defending this poor boy. Mr.. Brady priced
fhGt nicturp i