The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-03-14
IDAHO WORLD.
LAWYERS OF EARLY TIMES.
ELISHA WILLIAMS REFoRE A JURY.

Historical Sketch of the Bench and Bar
of NeaO York, in a chapter on the jury
lawyers of early times, thus speaks of
Elisha Williams, formerly of Hudson,
and illustrates his forensic power and
dramatic skill by an anecdote.
Mr.. Williams, he says, was distin-
guished as an early advocate, as
early as the year 1900. For quarter
of century thereafter hehad few peers
in this State in the trial of causes at
aisi praus. Though this was the period
when Hamilton, Emmett, Burr, Oakley,
Wells, Van Vechten, Griffin, Storrs and
Ogden won their lauels at the bar, it
may be asserted that the ability of Will
liams to sway juries by style of elo-
quence singularly captivating and dra-
matte, has been rarely equalled in New
York.
The oratory of Mr.. Williams was not
classical, nor modified after the rules
of Blair, but was extravagant and OF
the thunder-clap order, literally shaking
the courtroom with its reverbeTations,
while his reasoning though lucid and
vigorous, was levelled to the mental
training of the twelve men before him,
rather than constructed on the higher
and drier plane of schoolmenlike Whate-
ly. Williams did not, as it was said OF
Rufus Chote, drive substantive and
SIX" but he used many words and was
less fastidious in their selection than
the eminent Boston advocate, to whom
he was certainly inferior as a rhetori-
clan, though excelling him in dramatic
power. When in full feather, and on
the SUBMITS of great case, Williams
would venture upon the boldest flights
of imagination, seemingly confident that
he would be sustained by OH unfalter-
ing wing, however high he scared.
1t is only possible to give an idea of
such an orator by citing examples.
The following incidents will show, faint
ly it may be, the power of Williams in
working into drama the common in
cidents of a jury trial.
He was engaged for the plaintiff in
trial at Hudson, involving the title 10 n
large tract of land. Daniel Cady was
his junior, and we think Abraham Van
Vechten and Martin Van Buren, led on
the other side. The plaintiffs case
turned upon the validity of certain
line, run by two surveyors previous to
the Revolutionary War, and marked by
"blazed trees through then uninhab-
tied wilderness. One Of these survey
ors was subsequently an officer in the
Revolutionary army, and the other had
held responsible trusts in the county of
Columbia. At the time Of the trial
both had been dead more than twenty
years.
The Court House at Hudson was
crowded, day after day, with anxious
spectators, assembled to witness a con-
test that might unsettle the title to half
the farms in the county Williams was
making the closing address to the jury.
The counsel for the defence, III their
elaborate arguments, had borne down
upon the two surveyors with great Sc
verify, attacking their personal skill
and integrity, arraigning them as ig-
noramuses and falsifers of ancient land |
marks. The jury were seated in a cor
ner of the Court room, quite remote
from the door; and during the speech |
of Williams the press around the door
and in that part of the hall was suffo-
eating, the throng extended down the
stairway, and even into the street.
In indicating the character of the
two surveyors Williams gave graphic
sketch of their long and perilous jour
neys through the trackless forests, car
rying their unerring compass and chain
in one hand, and their faithful market
in the other to protect themselves against
providing savages and beasts Of prey.
He dwelt in glowing language upon
their services to the patriot cause in
the struggle for national independence,
the high trusts they had discharged
while living, and the honored graves
they had so long reposed. He
in picturesque dashes the
dress and venerable aspect of these
men of past age as they had appear
ed to some of the old witnesses in the
case, who saw them just before they
died; and, in voice which was pecu-
liarly thrilling when warmed with emo
f.,,p ba ay1.accaJ 4ha xuicb fhat fhocn