New-York tribune., 1888-08-26
HARRISON As A la WYER.
HIS PARTNERS AND HIS OPPONENTS IN SOME
NOTABLE CASES.

Indianapolis Aug 25 (speciaD. ."-Mr. W. H. H. NIL
Ier who was General Harisons representative at the
recent Blaine reception. IS perhaps his closest anu NUS
intimate friend Besides constant association during
the day in common professional work. General harrSoh
and Mr. Miller with their families spend many evenings
together Their houses face each other on opnoSi'e
sides of Delawarest and the broad veranda OF ono
r tbe one steps of the other the gentlemen arc In tho
habit of spending the early hours OF the evening III
mutual condolences wrought out of the fragrance oi
after-dinncr cigars. Other intimate friends OF Cen
era Harrison are the leading members OF his chuch'
the First Presbyterian. and particularly the PASTOR Mr.
Haines between whom and the General exist the most
cordial and sympathetic relations. Mr.. Elan, the
Junior member OF the firm, is also one OF his conhdenta
friends.
The first law partner General Harrison had was the
now venerable william Wallace. still practising IN this
city. Mr. Wallace is ono of the Indianapolis rlends Oh
General Harrison who knew him from his arrival here
IN 1854 and IS one Of the oldest and most respected f
them OF that interesting period when the present
candidate was beginning the struggle for reputation
Mr. Wallace recalls General Harrison rs white-hared
youngster Of twenty-onc 81 met him. says Mr.
Wallace Cup on the street day, after he had been
here about year. at a time when in the heat OF
a race for county clerk, and proposed to him that he
20 into my office and tahc charge OF my clients whe
attended to the campaign. That was all ever sald
about partnership but he went, and we WORKED To-
gether for five years. or until Harrison went to the
war We had to work hard In those days, and al
though the business was mostly probate, within year
Harrison had developed all those characteristics which
have since mado him famous. As a lawyer no IS
strong all directions, grasping the merits OF case
with celebrity and exactncss His faculty for COM
pretending detail In advance is enormous In arguing
before Judge jury General Harrison has always been
noted for clearness of views and logic and his defcrcnce
to proprlety and courtesy. lie examines witnesses
without browbeating bombast, but he is relentless
in his purpose. Such was the case with which we
maintained pleasant relations during those years
that could never unders tand this talk Of codness.
unless II from the fact that General Harrison
has a great deal Of native dignity perhaps too much
His active work may give him at times an distracted
look which is wrongfully interpreted To me he has
always seemed man of sunny and cordial disposition"
At the close Of the General Harrison formed a
partnership with Ex-Governor Albert G. Porter and
W. p. Fishback, which lasted under the firm name OF
Porter Harrison g. Fishback until 1870. when Fish
back retired to 60 into the newspaper business, first
with The indianapolis Journal and then with " The
St. Louis Globe Democrat" Judge Cyrus G. Hines
was then on the circuit bench, but he resigned and
took Mr. Fishbacks place, creating tho new establish
ment Of Porter. Harrison & Hines. In 1873 Gov
ernor Porter withdrew and opcned an Office with his
son, leaving for six months Harrison and Hines with
out third partner, but at the expiration of this
time, Mr.. Miller, then of TT Wayne, was asked and
came into the nrm which was known in 1884 as IIar-
rson. Hines g. Miller. In this year Judge Hines re-
tired and Mr. John B. Elan became the junior men,
Der of what is yet Harrison, Miller & Elan.
During these years besides his active political work
General Harrsons legal practice has been large incud
ing many of the famous litgaons of Indiana in which,
with his associates, he has had marked success. Ono
of these in which he with the best legal
talent in the State successfully closed Just before
the Chicago Convention. 10 was a will case several
times tried, to which he gave such untring attention
that bis temporary breakdown after tho nomination
attributed 10 It, famous case in IT'S day was the
Mlligan and Horsey claim against the Government for
false imprsonment in which General Harrison obtained
disa creement after bitter struggle In this he met
of the ablcs lawyers In the Slate. as he did again
In the OF Risley vs. the Indiana. Bloomington
and Western Railroad, an issue involving a large
amount Of money and enlistng against him such
lawyers as Senator Voorhees, Harry Crawford. Of Chi
cago. and the late Colonel A. W. Hendricks. Here
again he successful.
Throughout the state he has had wide practice and
in the trial of Campbell of Charlottesville, for
murder he successfully prosecuted and convicted the
prisoner. with Senator voorhees, on the defence. Per
haps his ablest legal argument was made In the Leu
tcnant-Govenorship case year ago last January. AS
lawyer General Harrison has reputation well earned
by assiduous work. and he IS looked upon the best In
q city OF good lawyers.