Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-01-30
THE LUCKY SEVEN.
A GROUP OF GRAPHIC PEN PICTURES.
Judge Ferguson, William A. Quarter, Sam.
ue' Miller, Judge Brown and Ed.
ward B. Knight-A Law
yer's Witty Bull.
Special Correspondence OF ne Register.

Special Correspondence OF ne Register.
CHARLESTON, January y29.-Charleston has
many reasons for self glori6cation, but
there 10 nothing of which she has better
right to take pride unto herself than in the
large number of eminent and able lawyers
who grace and adorn her bar. Their names
are c. Z. Doddridss, w. S. Laidley, W. H.
Hogeman, T. b. Swami, ]. s. Swami, A.
Benlew, G. w. Patton, L. A. Martin, II. O.
| Middleton, II. c. McWhorten, L. E Nc
| Whorten, w. Mollohsn, P. Fontaine, ]. NJ.
Payne, S. S. Green, Jas. Ruffner, G. 8.
Laidley, J. NJ. Laidley, T. L. Brown, J. H.
Brown, J. F. Brown, J. W. Wingfeld, w.
! L. Hindmsn, s. G. Burdett, w. A. McCorkle,
A. D. McCorkle, c. G. Watts, J. w. Ken
nedy, c. Hall, J. W. Cracrsft, E. b. knight.
W. s. Edwards, S. A. Miller, d. c. Gsllaher,
J. f. Kenns, w. Z Chiffon, E. W. Wilson,
| c. Hedrick, \. Fitzhugh, John Cotton, T.
B. Dyer, c. P. Snyder, +. l.. Buttrick, J. II.
Ferguson, G. s. Couch, w. A. Quarter, II.
d. Shrewsbury, J. II. Connell, ]. A. Warth,
| 8. l.. Webb, ID. Dubois, J. Z. Middleton, A.
G. Tebbetts, J. w. Malcolm, o. A. Patton,
]. B. Floyd, Malcolm Jackson, Murray
Briggs, w. w. Adams and Charles Arm.
istead (colored.) They number sixty.one.
! obtained this list, which is a full and
complete one from lately fedged mem.
Der OF the profession, and don't know
whether he had it arranged in the order OF
Seniority. Priority or Superiority.
but it embraces several names of gentle
men Of rare ability and great learning. l
,nlf fril ltual IL ~ all nj
them, and so | will tell the REGISTER some.
thing about seven OF them. tx this num-
Der arbitrarily, because seven is lucky
number snd ! am believer in luck, and
not because ! have selected seven names to
mention.
begin with James H Ferguson, not be-
cause he is the largest nor because he is
the oldest-though know him TO be the
former, and he may be the latter-but be.
cause lie is better known throughout the
State as a clear thinker and q forcible
speaker, than any other OF those whom ]
shall mention. Judge Ferguson is about
sixty-six years OF age, but still retains the
force, fire and vigor OF man Of forty-fye,
He is a native OF Montgomery comfy, Va,
| think, and was q shoem aker before he be-
came lawyer. have heard it said, with
how much truth | do not know, that the
way he happened to read law was this: He
worked at the bench at the county seat OF
Logan county, and
Being Frequently Called Upon
to serve ss a Juror soon become familiar
with a great deal of the practical workings
OF the law, and indu 'ged in many legal dis,
cussiops with the members OF the local
bar. Finding himself about equal TO the
task Of coping with them in argument,
without any book knowledge OF the law
4 r-;Eh hnt N
kind-having attended school but six
mon ths-be readily conceived the idea that
by applying himself to the study OF the
law, he would soon become more than
match for any of them. And so, with that
determined energy which is one OF his
chief characteristics, he plunged in with
what success the judges, juries,, clients,
associate counsel and opponents that have
seen him come ont victorious after many
a hard struggle over knotty and tangled
questions Of Law and evidence, can tell
better than |.
Fergusons chief power lies in his great
ability TO comprehend clearly and Illus
trate fCrCibly the subject under discussion.
and where there Is great volume OF con
ficting testimony TO be Strengthened out,
or q doubtful point OF law in dispute,
he is Q
Almost UnequalIed In His Power
OF setting the one clearly before the minds
of the Jury, or e1poundipg the other TO the
court in the manner that best suits his side
OF the case. Besides being great lawyer
Ferguson is also the best law writer that we
have in the State, and it has always been a
matter OF surprise TO me to observe the
correctness with which he speaks and
writes, both as regards grammar aud or.
biography, knowing the difficulties under
which he accomplished his education.
William A. Quarter is man o. more
physical stature, but considerably less vol
ume than Ferguson, and is twelve or nj.
teen years his junior. Mr.. Quarter had
peculiar advantages for becoming great
lawyer, and as he improved them al ne Is
Justly looked upon as one OF the foremost
men of our State His father, Alexander
W. Quarter, was for many years clerk oi
the courts OF this county, and his son being
his deputy for a long time bad q rare op
portunity OF becoming familiar with ali
The minutiae connected with the preparing
ard fling OF papers, and thus acquired
complete mastery OF the office WORK OF that
minute end arduous profession. He was
also deputy Y clerk Of the United States Dis.
tr'ct Court for several years.
Beside the practical knowledge 50 thor
oughly acquired in this way, Mr.. quar-:
rier received q thorough classical and
legal education at the University OF Vir'
ginia.
He Began the Practice In 1853
and has been hard at it ever since, devoting
his whole time to work and study. He isa
great reader Of classic and we'll as legal
literature, and is always able to draw on
bis knowledge Of the poets and philoso'
pliers to ILLUSTRATE bis speeches and enforce
his arguments.
Before Jury he is calm, dIipassionate
and logical and bis speeches lose much OF
the force that they would otherwise have
by the fact that his manner impresses the
listener with the idea that he is trying 10
play upon his understanding, Just 70 see
what he can make him believe, as though
he should say TO himssli, Now ] know
this block OF marble is white, but I'll
make these jurors belisye II . black But
before the court when speaking 10 men as
learned az bimself, and who listen or argu.
ment and not for osatory, his oear and
concise statements, his ready knowledge OF
the law and 6ne power Of concentration
make him dangerous opponent and one
that, like Banguo's ghost, Is hai,a TO down.
William H. Hogsmap, the ubiquitous
attorney of the Chesapeake * Shio Rail
way Company, 10 O man of Or aall stature
and peculiarly boyish count nance. MI
Hoge man is q native N New York, be-
lieye, and Is about torsy years oil age. ne
came out here rs ook-keeper or clerk for
some coal company. He strcied Law With
the firm of Summers & Lsidlsy, George w.
Summers, the renowned Wig orator, be.
ing
Tire sanieF = en- kev oe4he FIN.
When Judge Summers died Mr.. Hogem m
went inta partaership viBh Nr. Laidlsy.
and they still do ousint s.. together.
Hogt nan is1 very rea64 lawyer and one
of thoea fellows who vhea be onse gets q
hold raEer lsts 20. 1t L. said thai he can
get case osotinu ued oftsaer, and for less
res, On, than any other nan in this region.
He Z sssoag advocate and dseidedly he
| most graceful rhetorician at this bar. His
| lnprUnpt1 speeches are classic. BE las .
| good practice outside Of his railroad busi'
| u - and In making and saving money.
Ssmuel A. Miller. ST., 10 ore Of ths most
pIesssnt gentlemen, ~ well - one 81 th<
sblsst and most omIlished lsvyess
k who dwell in our city. He VA born in
Virgins, and I think in the county oil
Rockingham His age u shout siIty-6ve
Major Miller il q profound and isarnst
LAWYER, good sdvocs,e, and man Who i
ruch beloved by those Of his sc9uIint
arcs, for his kindness OF beart and coul
\ ,eouspfss Of rnauusY He makSS q roo,