Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-09
SIR CHARLES GIBSON.
Missouri Cutting a Figure Re.
fore the Courts of Europe.

The order Of Knighthood has been
conferred upon the distinguished law
yer and the esteemed citizen, Mr..
Charles Gibson. The fact recalls sew
eral very interesting episodes in his
legal career. In 1849 he served as
junior counsel in the celebrated case
against Counts Gonzale and Ray
mond de Montesquieu. indicted for
the murder of Kirby BarDum, and a
man named Jones, in the City Hotel,
this city. After two mistrials Mr..
Gibson alone procdred the pardon OF
GOnzale, who was insane, and the ex
oneratien of Raymond by the Gov
ernor. The incidents Of the trial
were romantic in the extreme. The
defendants belonged TO the highest
and Oldest Of the nobility of France
and were cousins of Napoleon III. No
case in Missouri ever attracted SO
much attention The Counts and
their kinsman, Viscount de Hessae,
testified their gratitude by presenting
him with a curious and valuable
watch chain and diamond ring,
which he still owns.
In 1858 Mr.. Gibson was sole counsel
in a case brought by the King of
Prussia, involving the nature and
power Of the Kings of that country,
He obtained from the Supreme Court
Of Missouri decision establishing the
autOeracy OF the government. The
Prince Regent (now Emperor Will
LAM recognized his services by a gift
OF two elegant porcelain vases, made at
the Royal Porcelain factory in Berlin.
They were ornamented with enameled
pictures Of the Sans Souci Palace, at
Potsdam, and the Royal Palace and
monument TO Frederick the Great in
Berlin. Each vase bears the inscrip-
ton, The Prince Regent Of Prussia to
the Counsellor Chaf. Gibson the I'M
selfish advocate Of justice" The in
scriptiou was written by Baron Won
Humboldt.
The vases are nearly four feet nigh
far surpass anything of the kind in
this country, and are the admiration
Of all who visit Mr.. Gibson's unpre-
tentiOus residence on Lafayette ave.
nue..
1882, twenty>three years later, the
same sovereign rendered to MIR. Glib
son, through the Consul at st. Louis.
the appointment OF his son, Preston,
as cadet officer in the Imperial army,
and offered to waive any disabilities
which might arise affecting bis entry
into the service. Preston Gibson
chose Ia remain in his own country,
but the Incident shows in what est :
nation his father is held in Berlin.
In 1881 Mr., Gibson was engaged as
counsel Tor the Austrian government
in the prosecution of Baron Won Bech-
tolshein, formerly Austro Hungarian
Consul at st. Louis, charged with en-
bezslement. The Baron had abandoned
his title and office, and fled the
States and changed his name. He
was arrested, brought back to. St.
Louis, and kept in Jail for many
months. He escaped, howevCl, by
pleading the consular immunity as a
technical defence. Although Mr..
Gibson lost his case. his action was
commended by the Austrian Empe-
ror, who sent him his thanks, and
has recently adorned him with dec.
Grafton as Knight Commander OF the
order Of Franz Joseph-the highest
order 10 the Empire.
1t is said that Mr.. Gibson is the
only member Of the American bar
who has been honored with the official
thanks OF two of the heads of the
great powers of Europe. 1t is GER
taiuly a remarkable coincidence that
a plain and transformations Missouri
lawyer, should have been brought into
such curious relation with three Of
the leading foreign countries.