The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-10-14
JUDICIARY SQUARE.
THE LAWYERS MECCA AT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The Old White Court House and Its
Historical Neutrality-suspicious. of
the Legal Fraternity who Frequent
the Square.
Special Correspondence of the Sentinel.

the Legal FRATERNITY WHO rTeQucAt
the Square.
Special Correspondence of the Sentinel.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-Judi iciary
Square is one of the most interesting
spots at the Capital. 1t is the nest Of
the legal fraternity. Every nook is
occupied; lawyers pitch their tents
elsewhere because Judiciary Square is
full. Ard yet only portion of the
property holders have submitted to
the inroads of time some still occupy
their dwelling houses, or refuse to give
the legal fraternity an inch. Thus,
the nest of the legal fraternity is con-
fined to one square of Fifth street and
a square or more of Louisiana avenue
forming a right angle. At night, all
other portions of Judiciary Square be
try signs of habitation, but here, at
the nest, all is generally shrouded in
darkness.
THE OLD, WHITE COURT HOUSE,
plante d on the historic soil of the
Square and fronting on Louisiana
avenue, shines in the night. 1t faces
the mouth of Four-and-a-half street, at
which the monument to Lincoln
stands. Its big Ionic pillars fairly ex
cite pity for the narrow, plain, white
pillar standing in the street. Thou
sands of historic associations cluster
around this old, white court house. 1t
at one time sheltered the Legislature,
when the form of government was diff
ferent, commonly known as the "feath-
er duster legislature. 1t has given
room for many great trials and been
the scene of many great meetings and
events. 1t feeds the majority of the
little birds in the nest.
HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES
would give little space for the legal
fraternity. But thought of the Pen
sion Office, to the north of the court
house, is a reminder that another
building once stood in its place
old, white Jail. But glance at the
building Of the Columbia Law College
recalls that it was once Trinity
Church and used by the soldiers dur
ing the war. Memory follows upon
memory. All was different twenty
five years ago. The Square had no
pretty trees, no green sward, no grace
full walks, no convenient seats; it was
a great, rough commons it was full
of hospitals; it told the tale of war; it
was surrounded by soldiery. But
glance down Louisiana avenue shows
the ill-fated lot where once stood the
Canterbury Theatre, There is the
Webster Law Building the old resi-
dence of Daniel Webster. Turn
where you may, you see an historical
spot. We pen these lines under an
old mansion built in 1915; the year
Of erection is marked on an old
fashioned duct of the transporting.
1t is recognized as the most sub
stantial building on the Square; it
was ''put up to stay" There is a tale
to this old mansion-it Is the head
quarters of The SENTINEL's Wash
ington corps-and tales to all .,of the
houses whose. owners submitted to the
inroads of time, but the legal fraternity
must nots be forgotten.
VIM. B. WEBB
is at present the most prominent law
yer on the Square 1t is he whom
President Cleveland appointed as one
of the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, when he had never express
ed desire for the Office, implicitly or
otherwise. Commissioner Webb has
been one of the birds many years and
now sports an entire building on
Fifth street. He is tall, we'll built,
and active, an able and indefatigable
lawyer and true gentlemen. Moth
ing could better illustrate his nature
than the fact that, on the day after
his unexpected appointment, he ling
cred on the Square long enough to
shake hands with everybody he knew
and to bow to everybody he never
knew He has the reputation of
standing by client until the last and
has frequently clung tenaciously to
cases others would have never touch
ed. Best of all, he generally sue
ceeds.
COL. ENOCH ToTTEN
is quite a prominent figure of the
Square. He is Webb's bosom friend,
has been for years. Their friendship
ripened years ago before Webb left
the Columbia Law Building, where
Totten still has his office. Col. Totten
is short, thickest and active, cour
ageous and busy lawyer and gener-
ous-hearted gentlemen. Of course he
has a military record, but no one
would suspect this quiet, thoughtful
and mild man commanded Fort Tot
ten during the war. The practice
Col. Totten enjoys enables him to lend
helping hand to youdger heads; he
rarely touches any but big cases and
very rarely loses. He takes life east
". Every evening he meets Webb