New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-12


fetal to lawyer IN the position then enjoyed 1t
actually repes the most profitable aad adyantag 0us
pracce. As above stated bad resolved years before
took Ms forIesrs retainer never to accept any more
OF such business, ana in her case alone has tEs reson
ton ever been departed from As TO mere ec.ait no
DOUBT h,r case drew 70 my name NUTS oi Una, s
uulIOhtabe and troublesome ecomFanimebt 81
Mr. FoIres,'s Profession. and Gis great popularity
with certain classes Besides, am unconscious Of ha'
inc done act uttered WORD IL my whole pro-
fessonal life which was designed orjntended to procure
or syen 70 attract Gmpoyne1in,t except op NM an once
silver presented 10 me were accepted win feelings on
gratitude for the kind sentiments eynccd by tie don0s
but do not remember 10 have heard. and do not
know who originated The design OF presenting the com
piment in either case never sought, and al ny life
This is wen Lnown 10 all my acquainiances, and TO an
who. with the slightest modiGm of common sensc, have
taken the trouble TO note or consider my course and
habits DO not esteem this merit: but quite me con-
ry lregad az fault for know it aiises from men
al defects II Is however, fact OF some relevancy TO
the matter now in hand. and, therefore, state It,
NO AGREEMENT TO ACT GRATJITousLY.
The assertion, intmation, that l volunteered or
agreed to Mrs. Forrest gratuitousy, or without
compensation is utterly false The lady herself never
for moment. at any time, imagined such thing This
she will certainly admit; besides which, the evidence
that she always expected intended and repeatedly dur
ing the progress of the business promised to pay for
services is conclusive in quality and absolutely over
whelmlng in quantity.
This charge has, however been put in another form.
Relying the railty of human memory, and the
fusion TO ancient facts which lapse Of twenty-five
years is apt to create In minds tho writer OF the
article in question has coined the transparent fasehood
that up to the time of the trial. and when the compii-
mentary presents made 10 me. rave out, or in
way permitted the public 10 believe that had vol
nnereed 10 carry on the ladys case without copensa-
ton. OF all the attempts ever made upon human
creduty, this would seem the most desperate NO one
ever fanced such fact, unless it he some nnthinkns
readers who recently IL alleged In newspapers
At the time of the transactions referred TO- nohody
human arrs and OF the ideas concerning personal and
professional morality prevalent in our community. nor
abroad unless had taken leave of my common sense.
The presents Of silver and accompanying ceremonies are
and lawyers" Opp. 225 20 229 can see nothing
in tbcm TO excite such IN ldea as ihal was acns or
Mrs Forrest acted FOR anyD0dy as giatutOos
William Curtis Moves an eminent counselor and most
honorable and conscientious gentleman. was among the
donors His name Is enStayen, rs such, upon ihe Jaw
ned as a witness for Mrs. Forrest against her husband
before NJ Bradley, the referee For the purpose OF m
creasng the ao TO her, his testimony was offered
show That She bound TO pay her counsel Tor pro
cssOnal services IN the case down To tue lnc OF tat
$1,000 giving tine items in detail. He well knew that II
was his duty TO tell the whole tu, iiad he knowi az
ladys counsel were gwen eratnt0usy, ms omission 10
active. and very hostile eounse Tor MI FORREST stiey
examined Mr. Moves They meyer susSesle1 or aG
timated such idea lsee Forrest divorce case PIP $50
to SoS and PIP. LOO TO l,Ol2l ~,
The referee gave effect 10 this evidence. He actually
gave Mrs. Forrest pecunary benefit III settling Ier an
in0ny, because OF those heavy EXPENSES ieiuet,u ~
pensable for her to incur by his fnrTest ~ ftsshec 10
In fact Mr. Forrest ana every else knew quite
well that served her as counsel on The common terms
depended results. She might never be able 10 pay
anything OF the matter also conceived that she never
could or would pay me anything approMmais 10 l"ir
reward for my services, and she never dd ,-.,
But all this Is nothing 10 the question III hand NelllcI
when she first called on me. nor nj any otuer le uu
Mrs Forrest say anything about her inability to pay
for services. OF course IT assumed on
her first call that Mr. Forrest would pay all the charges
of counsel on both sides foe the services then contem
plated when. If III sudden paroSysIn OF anger MI
Forests design OF applying To ING f,nns{ ivaia LIS
TO him. and drew the adys protest When the Pcnnsyi-
vania Senators addressed me 1 answered them and
being tp the affair, took some otheI steps Designer 10
defeat that application. IL seemed TO me Ia DC most
improper and most ulVusiiia!ie. In an thlS
acted mechanically anu as II were, rom lcIe
never dunntd Mrs Forrest nor has IL ever Dcch my
be they rch or poor until the completion Of their bui
ness. Rarely indeed, have ever received dollar IN
ter though consuming years This not wise or cor
rect practice; but 1t has been mine AZ never solicited
Mrs Forrest payment for my services her promises
TO that effect, which were frequent were believe all
spoke OH the subject to me- on III my hearing
REASONS AGAINST GRATCIfoUs SERVICES.
Will close with brief reference to the question
whether could have willingly permitted the public to
suppose that l had volunteered TO serve this lady
gatuitousy counsel in her dispute with her husband
There was legitimate ground ON which could Justify
or even excuse such act had never had any prior
acquaintance with herself any of her kindred or
friends. Sic not connected with me by any Tie
arising from a nativity, race, creed, taste or
pursuits or from any cause whatever. stood no need
of tcdt or business and to business Of that
kind then thought have always understood and now
believe that for lawyer offer wife who had dis
agreed with her husband his voluntary aid III her
liticatons with him, and undertake TO get her
divorce FatuOusly, won ld be infamous conduct SuCh
course the part Of the profession would
be regarded dangerous To tho peace of families and III
any member OF il example OF most destructive hnl-
ence Had il been supposed that such was my relation
Mrs. Fonesls case, my conduct would nave pe'h con
dcnncd by those eminent viruOus heads of families
and patrons of sound morality. Daniel IOId, Robert I'm
met lanes W. Gerard William Kent, VIM. Curts NOyes,
Marshall S. Bdwell. and many others now departed,
whose appear donors on the SILVER presenter 10
d. not refer To many Others became h'y are Sc
living. MI EvaIts, your honOIcd President II ono OF
Another consideration may taken into view this
point Mrs. Forrest not aged ntdc~, a some
have suggested. She in an object o mere
from rich husband; she was young, haflnS Itachcu
only her 3lst year she IN excellent health ana
radiant with beauty. Beeides her husband ioun,hy
charged her wi the rossest iasciviousness, and OPINION
was quite divided as To the tTuth or lhlschUDd OF
his charges. What would have been said II IL was
supposed that /, bachelor OF a. lad lhliuu'l ny,
self into this lady's quarrel with nor husband, ald
volunteered TO become her champion Without reg
or rewardi Surely the public and the profession would
have deeply censured me Would nave diIen 70 az
pear before respectable jury and advocated hef ease
Surely during the long six weeks trial. Mr. Forrest aud
ms astute eminent and sul counselors the late John
Van Buren, and Ogden Holman, WOuid nave seen ,ne
by Invoking against chcht ana myself The most
damnatory Inference But 10 such idea existed ana
nothing OF the Kind was ever thought or
| have said nothing concerning the motive OF thChe
who framed aud published the article referred TO- De
cause that question belongs To another forum. fcr
like have abstIincd from expressing any lndS-
for the display of that sentiment. CH OCoNoh.
Nec York. April IL, 1876