The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-16
HOW LAWYERS ARE MADE.
Enrolment of an Enfant Terrible of tn
Courts and JOY of Newspaper
RepOrters

Courts and JOY of Newspaper
Reporters.
Mr.. E. A Hitchcock, in lecture to the
Missouri Bar Association related the follow
ing story
Two years ago good-hearted OLD negro
whose polite manners indicated that he had
been raised in the capacity of gentleman's
servant, came to St. Louis. Had he stuck to
the calling in which he had evidently been
raised, he might have gone through life hap
PLY and well. But his head had been turned
A political revolution had thrown men of his
class to the surface, and put them in power.
He had been elected to the senate of the state
of Georgia. He had been admitted to the
bar of that state, necessarily, without any
proper examination, as what shall state will
show. In 1866, probably before these politi-
cal honors had been showered upon him, he
had applied for admission TO the most aristo-
cratic and cultivated bar of the union. The
supreme judicial court of Massachusetts
caused him to be examined; and let me ask
your attention to some of the questions which
were put to him, and his answers thereto
O. ''Does writ of entry ever lie in this
commonwealth? A. clnnot fix my mind
upon any writ by that expressive name"
The learned brother thought that deed
would convey land without a scale under
statute which provides that formalites shall
not vitiate anything.
"a dowager," said he, Sis only a lifetime
thing, and is supposed TO return to the legiti.
mate heir" ga dowager is one-third of the
rents and profits Of an estate.'
"a common carrier is not liable for goods
burned up in his house without his fault. 1t
is enough that he takes the same care Of
them that he does Of his own"
As have stated, he turned up in St. Louis
two years ago. He was twice examined be-
fore the circuit court for admission, and
papers, claiming that his rejection had been
simply because of his color. But as
this did not reverse the decision
of the judges of the circuit court, he
applied for examination before the court of
appeals. twas my fortune to be present at
that examination. His answers to the ques-
lions put were almost idiotc They would
move the most profound pity, or the most ir-
resistible laughter, according to the temper of
the listener.
may here be pardoned for relating little
episode. When the examination was over
the man and brother presented himself in the
room Of my brother Bakewell, and solicited
an audience. Brother Blackwell then and
there molliter mauna imposuit He laid his
hands gently on. But not as you would sup
pose not at all. The man and brother told
the doleful story that while the minds of the
Judges, the committee and he audience were
concentrated upon his profound answers,
thief had slipped in and stole his overcoat
from the court room. Brother Blackwell inn
mediately took down his overcoat from its
peg, and put it on the back of the man and
brother; and that is the way he laid his hands
gently on.
The court, however, could not admit him
to practice at its bar. But, warmed by the
judicial overcoat, he betook himself to a
country circuit. A benevolent Judge gave
him license. Armed with this he returned
TO the city. venerable member Of the bar
moved his enrolment in the Court of Appeals.
The law left the Court no alternative but to
enroll him. need not recount his subse-
quent career at the bar of st. Louis. God
rest his soul, he is now dead, and / would
not do his memory any injustice 1t is suffi-
cient TO say that he became the enfant terrible
of the courts, and the Joy of the newspaper re-
porters. The state of Missouri, through one
of its magistrates, had held this poor ignorant
negro out to the public as worthy to practice
in its courts to defend its citizens where
their lives, their property, or their honor was
at stake; and, though he believed himself to
be profoundly versed in the law, every dollar
paid to him by client was paid under false
pretence, of which not he, but the state Of
Missouri, was guilty.
This, of course, is an extreme case. / en-
ploy it because it best serves TO give point to
what suggest. A great array of cases of
the same nature, less extreme, but all of them
fragrant, could be cited. In view of these
cases, may not enter plea foi an amend
ment to the present law relating to admis-
sions to the bar. such as should lodge the
power Of admitting applicants in one tribunal
alone-in the supreme court2 Considering
the importance Of the step, both to the candi-
date himself and the public, it would surely
/ be no great hardship to require him to go to
the state capital for examination. BY lodging
the power Of examining and admitting in one
tribunal, at least uniformity in theNstandard