Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-08-15

JUICE JERRY BLAcE.-Whatever
may be said Of Jeremiah Black polIti-
calIy, IL is certain be is great lawyer
and a remarkable oFaGot. A man Of
original thought, great natural abilities
and wonderful memory, gifted with
most vivid imagination. head stored
with profound and extensive learning,
he is one Of the most attractive and in
teresting speakers or companions to be
found in any country. Rich IN anec-
dote and illustration, he is never at a
loss in his speeches "to point moral or
adorn q tale," and the Judges of the
Supreme Court always listen 10 him
with especial attention and satisfaction.
Some years ago he Was retained to ar
CITE the appeal case upon the Goodyear
patent claim, and the argtimeht he made
in that case attracted unusual attention.
The cause was one which had been de-
cided by three of the Judges upon their
Circuits against bis client. and TO gain
his suit he had to secure the favorable
decision of the other FIVE Judges in or
der 10 obtain a reversal. only eight
Judges being upon the Bench. The
testimony in the case, The briefs Of
counsel, aud decisions of the Courts
filed several volumes. Judge Black
spoke for three hours without note, ma
king one Of the most masterly argu-
ments heard for years. His ridicule OF
Goodyear and his claims Is scientific
inventor, kept the Court in constant
laughter, while his splendid bursts Of
eloquence in reciting the benefactions
to mankind OF GalileO, Newton, and
others-men, he said, "whn walked the
mountain ranges Of science"--were ac-
knowledged by the almost breaihiess sis
lence Of court and spectators. He handled
the testimony with equal skin, never a.
a loss for the name Of witness, and
quoting his language SO accurately that
the opposing counsel N no instance cor
rected him. He read no law book, but
from his vast stores Of knowledge cited
decision after decision. giving book, Ii
tie and page, showing the powers OF his
marvellous memory TO The finest adTan-
tage. Il appeared IS thoigh he vas
making the great effort of his life, as he
enriched his argument with illustrations
drawn from nature, science, history, the
Bible, literature, art and poetry. All
seemed ready 10 his hand, and appro-
pirate 10 the occasion. At the close of
an effort marked even in that high
Court as an unusual display Of intellec-
tual power, Judge Davis, wb0 sat on
the extreme right Of the Chief Justice,
called the Marshal 10 his side, saying,
at is useless TO deny 1t; Judge Black
is the most magnificent orator ct the
American bar"
A few days after at dinner party.
this compliment was repeated to Judge
Black in the presence of several gtttle-
men. Judge Black at once ceased eat.
ing, and very gravely replied: All of
you will remember the difficulty Lord
Jeffreys originally had with Byron and
the mischief It occasiohed.. Efter his
publication Of Childe Harold, Murray;
his publisher, wrote a letter TO Byron
upon business, and in the course OF il
remarked: "Jeffreys says your poem Of
Childe Harold is the finest thing in the
English language, and yOa are the
greatest Of living or dead poets. Byron
answered the letter IN q purely business
fashion, making no aIlusiOn 70 the CONS
pliment be so highly priced, but after
signing his name added a postscript IN
these words, and here the judges eyes
twinkled merrily: p. S.-;Jefreys is
d-d good fellow, and understands
my case exactly"