Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-01
a STORY OF TOM cox, B. C.
WHITMAN AND TON FITCH.
Characteristic Forensic Effort II 8
Waahoe Lawyer.

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Characteristic Forensic Effort II \
Washoe Lawyer.
Judge 3. G. Whitman, of the Sage
brush Supreme Court. il passing his
Christmas holiday in. this city. His
presence on our streets reminds Us OF a
little story which has been told more
than once ct the Judges expense liz
Sagehrush circles, but which has never
before seasoned the columns Of a news
paper there OF elsewhere.
Judge Whitman was formerly resi-
dent Of California. When practicing
law at Benicia, in connection with W. 5.
Wells, he vas nominated with A B.
Dibsle. another lawyer, of Grass Valley,
by the Know NothiuCs for Congress. but
the result OF the election did not inter
fere with the law practice of either in
the slightest degree. In 1864 he dritted
over to Virginia (so did Dibble. by the
wayl. and soon had most lucrative
practice. In the front rank Of the
Blackstonian army which invaded
Washoe in the pa,ny days WIGS another
politician. the redoutable Tom Cox, of
P,umas, who had also had the empty
honor of a nomination for ConGress-he
AMI Ia z. Rankin being the first Rerub-
licau nominees for Congress in this
State, and being complimented by the
masses with
ROTTEN EGG FOR EVERY VOTE
which they received. Cox in many
points resembles Hallelujah" Cox, of
our city, which resemblance we cannot
linger to trace. In due time the legal
luminaries OF Piumas and Solano met at
the bar OF a Washoe Court. Cox's client
WAS the plaintiff. and Whitman S was the
Ophir Silver Mining Company, erst-
while the overshadowinS corporation of
the Pacific Coast, but whose pride had
had fall. Associated with Whitman
WAS soaring little Tom Fitch, who needs
no Introduction to the public. The
action he'd been brought a couple of
years before, when the Ophlr Company
counsel were Stewart Il Baldwin, to
whom, after their elevation to high
political and Judicial stations. Fitch and
W hitrlan had succeeded. TIE nature
of the suit and the issue of the trial
have faded from memory. but a part of
THE SPEECH OF TOM cox
still fourishes in immortal youth. It is
that portion IN which he paid his re
spects to the opposing counsel. May
it please the Court. Only a few yeas
ago, when the suit was brought, the
the world: the time is fast approaching
when there will be none SO poor to do
it reverence. 1t was an act of unex-
ampled courage in my client when he
determined to measure swords (purses
he could not) with this formidable but
low declining power. The outlook was
indeed unpromisins, but how changed
is the situation. In proportion as our
cause has strengthened that of our adver-
sary has been undermined. We crap
pied with giant, but are now dealing
with child. When we dared to sue the
OpLir Company its power
ovERsHAoowED THE LAND.
Sedate functionaries delighted to obey
its high behest. /. was the only king Of
the Comstock lead; it had an unfathom-
able mine of solid silver, and besides its
buried ore, it had piles of yellow gold
above the surface. 1t had a locust host
of officers, agents and employees. 1t
ran great tunnels into the earth, unlock
ing the secret vaults where treasures lay
Il built magnificent bridges,
spanning wide lakes and noble streams.
1t erected costly mill and surrounded
it with fence SO close and high that the |
outside world was in continuous dark |
ress as to what was ground out within. |
II did more. II owned public officers,
It commanded the legislators and it had |
'or its advisers a man who developed |
INTO a United States Senator, and an
other who had become a United States
District Judge.
BEHOLD IT NOW
A long pause. How mournful the
,hanSe which has come upon the spirit
# its dream! Another pause. What
10 we see? No longer does it awe its
ldversaries into submission. It no
onger shines like fixed star. Its por-
ion of the Comstock lead is miserable
its servants are poorly
ed and poorly reed sensation], and
hey no more hasten hither and thither
Nth alacrity. Its magnificent bridges
ave crumblins arches. A hush has
allen upon all its works. Its great mill
} desolate and its high fence PROSTATE.
Is bank vaults are empty. Its mine is
CODED with hot water aud choked with
esert sands. and as if stern fate decreed
8 cup Of humiliation should overflow,
has been compelled to fall back on
itch and Whitman for its attorneys. l.
TIE KTFHCT OF THIS '.BRAINTEMEr
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