Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-05-08
TWO WILMINGTON BOYS
Win Prominence at The p hi adeIphia
Bar and In POllllcA.

The trial OF Rmma Biokel tor the
murder of her lover, In the Philadelphia
courts last week aud her acquittsl upon
the plea of emotional insanity, has
brought into conspicuous prominence =
former Whining tonian, A. s. L. Shields,
Esq., who acted as the prisoners counsel,
and to whose brilliant efforts she owes
her escape from the gsllows. The legal
fraternity regarded the woman's chances
OF scquittal about one in hundred /;
In fact, everything seemed against
her. Mr.. Shields iBterested himself In be-
half Of the murderess aud most carefully
gathered every iota Of evidence that
could be used to serve his clients osuse.
The admirable way in which he con-
Quoted the trial, and the skillful manner
In drawing out the evidence In defense is
the topic Of much ooDgratulatory con-
yersation among his brethren. In
presenting his case TO the jury,
his argument was mastery and
perhaps one OF the most apt aud oon-
vinoing addresses ever made to Phils-
dslphix jury in murder case. After
SHORT deliberation the jury returned
verdict sustaining Mr.. Shields defense
that the woman WAS victim Of
emotional insanity and was not reponsible
for her villainous crime. She will be
osenmitted tc the state insane asylum.
Since the trial Mr.. Shields has
received innumerable congratula-
tions, personal and epistolary from
all quarters, especially from those who
had regarded that his fight for his client
was hopeless. While no one withholds
from Mr.. Shields the merited praise for
his brilliant and successful efforts for the
female hend, the public regard the ver-
dict as most outrageous miscarriage Of
justice, although the state WAS ably
represented by counsel.
A. s. L. Shields, Rsq., is we'll known
here, where he hiss large number OF
friends residing. He came here from
Coatesville, Pa, when q small boy, and
attended No. public school, finishing
his course in that institution with the
olaas OF '63. He afterwards attended
Clsrkson Tsylor's school for some time,
aud then read Law In Philsdslrhis, being
admitted to practice about ID years ago.
He Is one Of the younger members Of the
bar but has won himself a place among
the foremost criminal lawyers Of Phila-
delphis, having been engaged as leading
cUuubtl III nuuutT Vi uuuniclu6 Chbeb
and gaining majority OF the verdicts In
his favor. The verdict Of the jury in
the Bioksl Case, however, Is by odds the
greatest triumph he has yet achieved.
In politics Mr.. Shields is also prominent,
and is regarded as power in the Repub
licsu party. He was chairman OF th-
city ex .uutive committee last year, ano
is the youngest man who ever discharged
the duties OF that office.
OF the '63 class OF No. school sevsIs
other members have aleo esiued pron
nence in the professions, among them
William +. Harrity, Esq., also a member
of the Phileieiphis bar. Mr.. Harrity is
prominent rs a lawyer, and conspicioua
as politician in the Democratic party.
simultaneously with Mr.. Shields he held
the craftsmanship of the city executive
committee OF his party, and was likewise
the youngest man that bad filled the
placs. He was also elected at the recent
Democratic state convention, a delegate
at.iarge to the national convention. At
the bar, Mr.. Harrity is prominent in
chsncery cases, and has large olientage.