The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-12-01
Thirty DAYS in Jail.

A large crowd was gathered in the
supreme court rooms YESTERDAY
for the purpose Of hearing the evil
dence in the contempt of court case
against Abraham Marks, the LAWYER
who assaulted John Bassett, Jr., a
few days ago. On last Monday the
case OF Marks 0S. Seaman, was be-
fore Judge Larremore, and Mr.. BaS-
sett was the counsel opposed to Mr..
Marks. During the trial angry
words passed between the two law
yers, which ended in Mr.. Marks
striking his opponent in the tace.
AT tine trial Yesterday Marks was
represented by Nelson J. Waterbury,
and Bassett appeard through
Ira u. Warren. Mr.. Waterbury
said that his client had lost control
OF his temper from the repeated in
suits OF Bassett. MARKS" he adj
ded, chad at the time the trouble
happened finished his demurrer. and
was about to submit the papers in
the case, when Bassett insultingly
called out: 4 want to see those pa
pers.' Marks answered that in his
estimation Bassett was suspicious.
and was then told that he was "a
rogue. This statement MARKS con-
Sldered very insulting, and 40 forgot
himself, and struck Basseit in the
face. In conclusion Mr.. Waterbury
said that his client was sorry for
the insult to the presiding judge,
and would accept any punishment
deemed necessary"
Counsel for Mr.. Bassett said that
from his point of view Marks coun.
sci had not represented matters cor
rectly. The fact was that the pa
pers that he as counsel was handing
up, in Bassett's estimation were
improper, and ought not to be SUBJ
mitted. For this reason Bassett
asked permission to examine them,
but was told by Marks that "ali
rogues are suspicious" A retort
followed, and the blow was given in
open court.
Mr.. Waterbury said that his client
repented of his action. Judge Lar
rimore, after giving his opinion
against Marks, sentenced him to
thirty days imprisonment.
Marks, who was present in court
during the trial, said few words, in
which he charged the Judge with
being Influenced by outside issues.
Judge Larrimore answered that
this idea was mistake. Marks re-
torted that he had been accused of
being a Hebrew, of which fact he
was proud; but that if his people
had received as fair play as other ra-
ces they would prove themselves
the master minds of the world.
Marks was taken Immediately to
Ludlow street Jail, where he was
visited by reporter of the World.
81 have not made up my mind"
was the reply. "The truth is that 1
consider myself to blame in strik
ing Bassett. He, however, has in
suited me publicly in court four or
five times. If l demanded satisfac-
ton out of the court room he would
take refuge behind a plea of weak
ness and illness. Forbearance, at
last, ceased to be a virtue,
and /. in moment of
anger, forgot myself. There will be
further outcome of this trouble
when [ leave this jail''
"Mr. Marks, are you the person
from whom Mrs. Harriet Beecher
Stowe got her character of Marks,
the lawyer, in Uncle Toms Cabin ?''
"Yes; l have been told by Henry
Ward Beecher that 1 am the man, so
far as the name is concerned. Mrs.
Stowe, when writing the book,
wished the name of some
lawyer living in Louisiana,
where the scene of the story is
laid. My name was given, and she
adopted it, using the majority of in
cidents of purely fictitious nature
to fill out the character of the
novel. 1 am not exactly the kind
of man depicted in the novel. /
have never seen Mrs. Stowe, but /
am we'll acquainted with Mr..
Beecher. The scenes in which Mrss
Stowe introduces the man who
says constantly on the stage: "My
name is Marks; Pm a lawyer" CO.
incide with those of my Louisiana
home. I was in Texas in 1885 with
Col. S. F. Austin, and in 1886 was
Probate Judge under Gen. Sam
Houston"
"You have had an eveDtful life ?"
Eyes; 1 may say so. / have been
shot at and have had several daels.
l have been chased by Indians and
have chased them -bnt / will not
consent to an interview on my past
exciting career