Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-03-31
RUFUS CHOATE.
A Great Advocate to VIII m the Juries Gave
Their Vsrdicts Week After Week.
A SAILORS UNEXPECTED STATE
MENT IN A MASSACHUsETTS
COURT ROOM.


success in criminal cases. 1t is said
that, when he practiced in Essex
county, Mass, during the early part
of his professional life, no client of
his was ever convicted of criminal
charge.
His reputation as criminal lawyer
was exhibited once SO grotesqueiy as
to put him in an embarrassing posi-
ton. He was cross examining sail
or, who, having turned States evil
dence," was testifying against his
comrades They were charged
with stealing money, and the sailor
had said, in his direct testimony, that
Mr.. Choate's client had instigated the
theft.
"What did he say2" asked Mr..
Choate. ''Tell me how and what he
spoke to YOU"
"Oh," answered the sailor, with the
GOODNESS of Jack Tar, "he told us
that there was man in Boston
named Choate, who could get us off,
even if we were caught with the
money in our boots"
The Court and spectators shook
with laughter at the ''fix" into which
the great lawyer had precipitated
himself But not a muscle of Choate's
face showed whether he was
amused or annoyed.
Mr.. Choate's style of speaking was
his own-no one ever spoke as he did.
His sentences were long and involved,
though the orators emphasis and
gestures made them clear and i'm
pressive. He rushed upon the jury
classical illusions, grotesque images,
wild fancies, solid arguments and
pathetic appeals, as il he would
sweep them headlong into a verdict
for his client.
Through the excited manner and
impetuous speech it could be seen
that the advocate was intent upon
producing an immediate effect on the
twelve men before him. He struck
the iron while it was hot. Spectators
might criticise the style of his blows,
or admire the way in which the sparks
flew. He cared little for either; he
was bent on pounding the iron into
shape.
A famous specimen Of Mr.. Choate's
style is given in the report OF crimi-
nal trial in which he was engaged.
The Government after the defense
had all been put in, was allowed to
call a witness whom it had just found
in Roxbury, then a suburb of Boston.
Commenting upon this, Mr.. Choate
said:
Where was this tardy and be-
lated witness, that he comes here to
tell us all he knows and all he
doesn't know, fortyseight hours after
the evidence for the defense is closed?
"Is the case so obscure that he has
never heard Of its Was he i'll, or in
custody?
"Was he in Europe, Asia or Africai
Was he on the Red Sea, or the Vel
low Sea, or the Black Sea, or the
Mediterranean Seat Was he at
Lands End or at John O'Groat's
house?
"Was he with Commissioners on
our northwestern boundary, drawing
and defining that much vexed
boundary line! Or was he with Gen
eral Taylor and his army at Chihua-
hua, or wherever the feeting south
western boundary line OF our country
may at this moment be!
mo, gentlemen! he was at none
Of those places, comparatively easy
of access; but-and / will call your
attention, Mr.. Foreman. to the fact,
and urge it upon your consideration
-he was at that more remote, more
inaccessible region, whence SO few
travellers return-Roxbury"
To the reader this seems extrava-
giant, If not absurd. But in every
question Turks the subtle suggestion,
apparent to the lawyers eye, that the
Government, instead Of producing
the witness when they should, had
purposely withheld him until they
had learned the defense's case. IF
the jury accepted the suggestion they
would discredit the witness. which
was just what Mr.. Choate was trying
to make them do, without asking them
in plain English to do so.
As an orator Mr.. Choate has had
no imitator. None but himself could
have paralleled, or even parodied, his
style. Critics condemned it as ex-
travagant. When read his "words
that breathed fire are ashes on the
page" But the very faults which a
severe taste finds were merits to the
juries who, week after, gave him their
verdicts.
The New York Nail has the follow
ing: "A lady who, not many years
ago, was housekeeper for q widower
on Murray Hill, recently became her
employers wife, and issued no less
than a thousand cards OF invitation
for the wedding reception. Exten-
sive preparations were made for the
affair, and an elaborate supper or
dered for the number invited. On
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