The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-28
AN EXAMPLE TO YOUNG LAWYERS.
~ the Nj Osi Distinguished Members Of the
Bar Association.

On Dec. lG, 1851, the famous Forrest di-
vorce case, in which Mrs. Catharino Norton For
rest, wife Of Edwin Forrest, the great actor,
sought an absolute divorce, on the ground Of
the adultery Of her husband, came on for trial
in the Superior Court in this city, before Chief
Justice Thomas ]. Oakley. The beauty, culture,
and high social position OF the plaintiff and the
celebrity of the defendant made the case tho
talk Of the country, and caused tho court room
to be crowded during the progress Of the tri |,
which was closed on Jau. 20, 1882, by a verdict
for the plaintiff aud an allowance OF alimony OF
$4,000 a year. Mr.. Charles O'Conor was counsel
for the plaintiff and John Van Duren for the
defendant. During tho whole Of the trial Mrs.
Forrest sat by her counsel, and at its close she
was escorted by him, amt the plaudiis Of her
way aud Chambers street, which she made her
home for ehort period. The result Of this
trial added greatly to the reputation Of Nr.
OConor. particularly for the reason That It was
announced that he gave his services eratuitous-
Nv 4 n woman without means. who hal been
badly trcnted On February -, 1sj9 actunted
BY sentiments which belief In this supposed un-
aelfah and chivaric action Insured, thirty "
tho most ostimahle ladies' Of this city, who kept
their names n secret, presented TO Mr.. O'ConOr,
through Chief Justice Charles +. DAILY. beau
tifui vase Of silver. ~ testimonial OF the aid
freely given to woman IN distrees In respond
Ing to the donors, Mr.. OConor. eluding to the
sult was an ample reward for whatever OF labor
developed upon me-" Shortly nfterwarI sixty 81
the most prominent WtWptfH VI tue DhT Ol tnlA
CITY, headed nv Mr.. Daniel Lord, impelled by
the same motive and acting upon the same sup
at the residence OF Gen. Charles W. Sanford,
at which a massive silver pitcher was presented
70 the honeIed guod. THIS work Il art bore
Mr.. O'CDnorJ with It's motto, From God
comoth the succorng champion." and the ap-
propriateness II this inscription was comment
ed upon as very happy. MI. Lord, In making
the pr sentatiOn address. siid: You fulnlled
with success that Office 81 the profession which
alitps gliVHrV.' In hig rognOuge. Mr.
O'Cunor said: 1T Is n principle, and not this
simple instances q conformity 70 II; that elicits
NAV, 1852, said that Ia MIR. O'Conor Mrs. Forrest
had found on able and eloquent advocate.
who, without compensation. devoted his time
aud money 10 the prenaration OF her cause"
The Non York Bar for 1885 said that even Mr..
however reluctantly. Of all soliish motive in the
case" These are San ples ~ many similar tri-
butcs paid to Mr.. O'Cunor In the belief that he
had gfatTitousy given his professional aid to
woman sorely IN need OF such succor.
The allmonv which had been allowed TO Mrs.
Forrest now Mrs Sinclair" the name she has
borne siuce the triad WIS increased on NAV 4.
1850. under rcfercuce ordered by the General
Term, TO S4uCO year, TO date from Nov. ~ 1850
Mr.. Forrest appealed. and the. matter wac ar
| O'Conar for Mrs Sinclair and by Mrs. John Van
H,,ren and James r. Brady Tor Mr. Forrest. re"
sulting Ia unanim Gus affirmation OF tue in
crease 81 the award Of alnony, and in 1858 Mrs.
| Sinclair obtained final judgment for $4,000
rears Of alinony due nor. shortly after tue IN
Mr. Forrest having refused to pay her any ALL
proceedings. Mrs. sinclair appeared on the stage
In this city "A Lady Te1<s IN The School for
| scandal" and Pauline IN Tho Lady Of Lyons"
In orderto obtain means OF support. and drew
| crowded houses nightly; and she subsequently
appeared In California. receiving high testimo-
Mai Of respect from the citizens of san Francis
| co at her Il departure.
1t has been reported recently that Mr. oConor.
instead Of h wing gwen his services gratuitouslv
| to Mrs. Sinclair. retained nearly the whole OF
the alnouy AS fees, and that Mrs. Sinclair had
| taken steps to sue MIN for the recovery Of the
/ mOna0. but dlsCDntiuroi PROCEEDINGS shortly
after the death OF Mr.. Forrest in December,
| ls72, when Mrs Sinclair received a large sum OF
m onoy from Mr. Forr~si's est tie, IN lieu ~ dow
or. reporter OF he Times called on Mrs. SIN
| clair at her residence near New Brighton,
| the matter. Mrs. Sinciair. who IL handsome.
stateiy-lookin9 woman. about atty wears Of ace,
| received the reportsri1 the most courteous man
follows:
told MIR. OConor when he took the case that
| mad no Lioney, aud Il was my understanding
| that he took 70 free. I never made any agree
meat tn pay him anything either for the trial or
| the alimony proceedings. ABOUT tho time OF
the trial. the New York Herald said that the
estate would be all eaten up by the lawyers, and
Mr. Chase 9 me to me and told me about II.
saying: you know that that Is not true, as
We nave taken tsc case free of cost 70 YOU"
and he asked me siSn card TO the effect that
! my lawyers were acting for mo without charge,
which, OF course, gladly did, knowing that to
| be true and this .card was sent to the Herald
| ard punnsped. II was also sent to tho Courier
| and knnHrcr. The arrears ot alimonv amount
| ed to sGi.UOO ana OF TINS $4,000 was retained by
| ~. O'Conor, for which bill was presented :,
which IA IN the possession Of Mr.. Henry sedley,
| my brother-in-iaw. OF the s5a,W0. 5000 was
| charged by Alr. O'Conor, and $1,000 by Mr. Mel
son Chase, who acted "a Mr.. O'Cunor's attorney.
Among the items OF the oil were $7,0OO for the
trial, $2dNO for arguing the appeal at Albany,
and $1,000 interest. | did not initiate a suit
against Mr. OConor, but Odd think Of suing
Dir. Chase to recover the money he kept, but |
concluded not TO, when found 1 could not we'll
sue him alone; received S95'0OJ ~ satisfaction
OF my right Of dover when Mr. Forrest died.
Mr. FORESTS estate was very large, and | was
probably entitled to more, but was heartily
sick Of litigation. never touched the arrears
OF alinony beyond tho surplus that was given
me above what was charged IN the bill, being
5000 out OF the $4,000. Mr. Chase paid himself
wSc9 lis iii Tor so St came in a"1 fet sorc
shout II, notwithstanding my gratitude to Mr..
OConor. thought the charges were high under
In reference to the Items for Mr.. Chases SER
vices and 50 for interest. | also thought the
l was certainly astunished NJ the charge for in
terest. Included in the $4,000 for Mr.. OConor
him, and hese l expected 10 pay, Of course,
and was very grateful for having received. l
am not complaining about the matter, ana
should not have said anything about 1t for pub
lication on my own yolitlon; nut you have ask
| ed me for the facts, and nave given them TO
you. During the time between the trial and
the recovery aud payment Of the alimony | had
at hrst supported myself 10y acting, but subse-
quently ran In deo;, and owed MIR. james Is.
| 1a5 lor a. 600, which he had kindly loaned me IN
instalments from time TO time. l expected "a
get all my alimony. except what was Que 70 Mr.
O'ConOr for advances and necessary expenses
and pay these debts. and felt yerg sorry when
found that " to nave only $1,000. showed
the bill Of Mr.. OConor to Mr.. Taylor IA evidence
that could not paw him then, aud he showed II
TO Mr.. Charles A. Dana. VINO commented severe
| ly uuon II. Mr.. O'ConoT made great reputa.
tlon out oi the case, whicn must have more than
pad him IN "A pecuuiary sense, especially az the
credit ne got for conducting the proceedings
gratuitously gave him celebrity all over the
| country. | feel very, very gr iteful TO him fol
his wonderful endedvors In nry behalf, but
was certainly unprepared for such denoue
ment.
Resignation and Il ca pp ointment.
| PatTolman John w. Elder " no was transferred