The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-10-11
LAWYERS CHARGES.
The Big Fees Some Of Them Have Received.


Yesterday the Press informed its read
ers through a special telegram from New
York Of certain high fees charged BY law
yers in the Vanderbilt will case. As was
stated, Mr. Henry L. Clinton charged
S250,000. Mr.. Clinton was attorney ia
the case, which was well worked up, and
probably his bill contains items % money
expended by him for detective service and
other matters Judge George +. Com
stock, Of Syracuse, charged and received
$4,000
We learn that Mr.. Vanderbilt declines
to pay Mr.. CIinton's tremendous bill, and
we don't blame him, for il Is utterly absurd
that any lawyer should receive in one case,
and that only of short duration, larger
sum than one lawyer in million makes
by lifetime Of hard work and we think
that Judge Coinstoek (whose bill for sit
ting in this case and looking wise and oc-
casionally arguing point Of law was very
modest in comparison with Clinton's) has
great reason for commending Mr.. Wander.
bilts generosity.
We learn that Mr. Scott Lord, the
counsel for the contestant Of the will, re-
ceiyed 100000 These immense fees are
beyond anything ever known or heard Of,
not only in this country but ia foreign
lands. The famous lawyers Of England or
France have never received such large
sums even in cases Of much longer con
tinuance. To be sure there have been
very few if any cases involving such an
immense amount Of money, for there have
been very few men in the world worth so
much property as Mr.. Cornelius Wander
bilt left. During the entire eight years
which the famous Warren Hastings trial
went on none Of the lawyers received such
heavy fees. In the even more famous
case of "Jarndyce and Jarndyee,p the re :
porter Of that case is silent in regard TO
the fees Of the counsel, but VIC presume
they consumed the estate.
Erskine, the leader Of the English bar
10 his time and one Of the most brilliant
lawyers Great Britain ever produced, never
received greater yearly income than
10000, and not more than $4,000 in
any one case. Sir James Scarlet, after
wards Lord Abinger, a very successful
lawyer, had an income certainly not to ex-
coed Erskine's The same is true Of Gar.
rows, another great English lawyer. Bal.
lantyne received from the British Govern
ment very large fee for going to Calcutta
to try a murder case, but large part ol
it was consumed 10 expenses.
America takes the lead in big lawyers
fees, and it is only within dozen years Of
so that our lawyers have been so lucky
Pinckney, Webster, Choate, or any othe
great lawyers in times past never dreames
Of such extrayagant bills. The first grea
: fee ever known in this country was re
= ceived by Clarkson N. Potter Ia the fore
= closure Of the Canandaigua Railroad, no
: many years ago. 1t is stated that he re
: ceiyed 100000 in that case. It is re
|, ported that Charles 0'Connor receive
S75, 600 in the Jumel will case and 500
! 900 in the Parish viii case. In the latte
!. case Judge John X. Porter aud Dani'
= Lord received large fees
To come to our own city, which Is Sc
= dom far behind in anything, the late Hem
= Burden paid his lawyers upwards Of s75
! 900 in the famous Spike case, and e.
= Chancellor Walworth, the referee in thl
: case, received $50, 900 referees fees. |
: the Marshall will case Townsend & Brown
: received S26, 6,000.- Troy Press.