The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-21
coNKLING AND INaERsoLL.
Some Interesting Gossip About the Giants
of the New YORK Bar.

New York Tribune.l
Perhaps the most unique, IL not the
most impressive figure at the bar OF New
York is Roscoe Conkling, he of the curly
forelock and the majestic froWn. Mr..
Conkling Is not in ordinary practice.
There are hints abroad OF great fees that
have been paid him in exceptional litiga.
lions. he will appear for Judge Hilton IN
the Stewart will case, and l am told that
this retaining fee in that impending
conflict was a check for SOS, 900. The same
sum IL said 70 have been paid him by the
Bell telephone company, and the impres.
sion generally exists that the ex-senator
considers fees Of $40, 600 verv small pota-
tees, indeed, and scarcely worth his while.
Not that l actually know of any $40, 900
fee which he has spurned, nor of any
loWly litgant, unable to offer more, at
whom his sensitive nose has bsen disdain.
fully elevated. 1t would be safe to say that
he is employed rather for the strength Of
his name and political associations and
reputation than for any extraordinary le-
gal attachments. After he resumed prac-
iice, upon the legislatures refusal to re.
turn him the trust BIS had abandoned, his
first case brought him into controversy
with Mr.. Choate. 1t was on motion for
a non suit, and he addressed the court for
six hours. The court listened indulgently,
tor OF distinction, and it was bis first case,
although motions for q non-suit rarely
occupy half that time in their disposition.
In beginning his reply, Mr.. Choate referred
in that quietly sarcastic way Of his
to the temperance of Mr.. Conkling, and
welcomed him back to the bar with much
apparent cordiality. 81 had much pleas
ure," said the amiable Choate, Tin listening
to the address with which he charmed your
Ennnr I hal n 70 M or prit
cism upon it than that it was not long
enough. 1t occurs to me to advert, how
ever, not in the way OF criticism, but only
OF friendly suggestion, TO one of my learned
friends remarks. He alluded to some
thing / had said as false, utterly devoid
of truth OF course, my friend forgot for
the moment where he was, OF whom he
was speaking, and to whom his remarks
were being addressed. But IL he wishes to
succeed as an advocate, he must abandon
the methods of politician. He must
keep in mind the fact that he is in court
and not in congress"
1t is often said of Mr.. Conkling that he
is too much given to bantering for success
in serious work, and that he impresses
himself rather than his client upon the
attention of the court. He is grandiose in
manner, he employs picturesque phrases
and INDUCES in much cynical repartee, but
his grasp of facts and law is none too
strong. The tendency of the courts now,
adays is toward business pI eiples. Bril-
liant oratOry is effective o. in the eyes
of admiring clients, who are uszzled by Its
style and fancy 1t must also carry away
the courts.
Col. Ipgersoll is another member of the
picturesque school of lawy ers, aud much
resembles Mr.. Conkling in oratorical pro
pensity. There is this difference, however,
that no element OF self appears in the
breezy speeches Of the colonel. They are
heart and soul for his client. He is
at his best when engaged in present
ing his facts. His statements are
lucid and full, his illustrations dramatic
and ingenious, his manner frank and per.
suasive. Therefore, despite his somewhat
slight acquaintance with the forms of prac-
tice and the law as the books give it, he
makes an excellent jury lawyer. In ap-
pearance our American free-thinker bears
a close resemblance to his English friend,
Mr.. Bradlaugh. The likeness is so striking
that Englishmen who have met the colonel
on the streets of New York have spoken to
him, actually believing that they were sd-
dressing Bradlaugh. 1t is an odd fact about
the colonel that he always seems to get or
the wrong side Of public questions Of the
day. Most persons who are regarded as
erratic upon theological questions like Mr..
Collyer, Mr.. rockingham and Mr.. Adler,
for instance are distinguished for their zeal
Gus advocacy of everything that ennoblss
human life, that tends to make man better
and happier. Their hatred Of creed makes
them all the more earnest in efforts 10
promote movements of progress and re-
form. But it seems to be the other way
with the colonel. He sneered at the Doodle
prosecutions, and spoke ssvagely Of the
atmosphere of conviction" in the courts
where the boodlers were tried. Some Of
his conspicuous clients are men of doubtful
aDtecedepts. Bot his speeches in court,
like his wicked lectures, are full OF humOr,
invective and tenderness. | heard him
in q recent case speak of his adverssries
as "vultures sitting on The fence of
expectancy" He alluded to them also
as "lolling around the hole in the ground
In which my client was digging, and
when his spade unearthed the precious
ore, they all with one accord jumped in
upon him and attempted to rob him Of
the fruits of his toll" at this point his
client, Edward Stokes, plucked the
colonel's sleeve and whispered in his ear.
With a genial grin, Mr.. Ingersoll turned to
the court, saying: ''Plesse, your honor, my
client says that my metaphor is beautiful
and true except that in so far as it repre-
sents him as finding anything valuable in
the hole!" Mortgage these wires!" he
exclaimed, at another point. why, you
might as well talk of mortgaging the track
left by the fight of flock OF geese through
the airlp