Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-14
"REMINISCENCES OF LAWYERS.
Recalling Instances ofTheir Early Pro-
fessional Careers.

Prom the Rev York Tribune.
Several well-known lawyers Of this city we're
discussing case in which they were engaged
recently, some features Of which were
extremely interesting to the legal profession.
After awhile the argument became wearisome
and the party was about to break up, when one
Of them said: 'This case reminds me Of one in
which was engaged years ago. II was in this
state, somewhere up near the Canada line, that
. young man had been arrested for counter
feiting. The case looked pretty black for him
when was sent for to defend him. No one
doubted his guilt, for the case had been
thoroughly worked up and enough evidence
against my client secured to insure his convic-
ton BY the most favorably disposed, jury;
when I took hold Of the case. was
young and had . reputation to make, SO set
to work with Q will to find Q flaw in the indict-
ment, or Q loop-hole in tho evidence that
might be sdduced ct the trial. The bank-note
which was alleged to have been counterfeited
was OF an almost extinct issue. But after
search, which was several times inclined to
give up in despair, found one sufficiently
well preserved to answer my purpose.
1.-The counterfeit was admitted to be perfect
in all respects except the signatures, which
the genuine note withit, made discovery
which caused me to feel that had already
won the case. Between the signatures ON the
genuine note only was vignette so small as to
escape notice except upon the most
careful and searching examination. Well, to
make long story short, the day set for the
trial came. The first witness for the prosecu-
ton was the detective who had made the ar
rest, and who was admitted to be an expert in
the matter OF bank notes. He told his story,
and offered in evidence the note that had been
found on the person of my client when he was
arrested. Heswore to its being counterfeit. He
knew this was 80 by the signatures. had my
genuine note lying on the table under a piece
OF paper beside me, and when I began the
cross-examination l asked for the counterfeit
tions to the witness laid it down on my table,
and by neat sleight-of-hand trick, picked up
the genuine note without being detected and
handed it to the Witness at the same
time asking Is this bill counterfeit
He looked at it carelessly and said it
That will do said I. Now, your Honor,
turning to the magistrate. L want you to take
this bill and mark it so that you will know it
again. He did so. After calling number Of
people, who testified to the good character Of
the prisoner Icalled the cashier of the bank that
issued the bill and asked him if the marked
note was genuine. His examination of it was
very careful, but he finally swore that it was
genuine. The detective was recalled, and this
time was not SO positive that it was . counter
felt
Il submitted the case to the jury without
argument. and the judge unhesitatingly direct
ed verdict Of not guilty. What became of
the counterfeit? Oh, had that slowed away
in safe place, and it is in my possession now"
That was something like one Of my first cases, ~
remarked another of the lawyers. II was prac-
Using in New England and was one day called
upon to defend an old woman who was ac-
cused Of the larceny of breastpin by her step
son. He was the most ungrateful man 1 ever
met The woman had supported him since he
was little boy, when his father had died,
leaving her o widow. The old man left no
property and she had worked to support her
self and his son for twenty years. Now he had
lost breastpin. One which he said he ldenti-
fled as his was found in pawnshop. The
pawnbroker said an old woman had pledged it,
So he accused his step-mother Of the theft and
she was arrested.
Il ascertained that the pin was secret So
ciety badge and that the young man had iden-
titled it by some symbolic characters on its
face. Ispent whole day in hiring at various
jewelry stores exactly similar pins. When the
young man was put on the witness stand he
swore that he knew the pin found in the
pawnshop was his, because of the
symbolic character engraved on it, and
because no member of the society would
dare pawn one, and only members could have
them. You can imagine his surprise when
produced dozen such badges and proved by
the jewellers where had obtained them. The
judge decided that there was not sufficient
evidence to convict and discharged my client.
But to cap the climax the young man found
that very afternoon the badge pinned to waist
coat which he had discarded few days before
he missed it,