Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-14
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
Few Hours Stroll Through the Courts
md Lawyers, OGces.


and Lawyers Offices.
THERE is an extremely interesting assem-
blage of lawyers in the Criminal Court just
now As rule, the lawyers and proceedings
of the Criminal Court are far from interesting.
But the case of the Commonwealth against
Superintendent Starr, of the Fort Wayne Rail-
road, arising from the Federal street accident,
has gathered there some of the biggest LAWYERS
in this State. It is very unusual thing to see
Mr.. D. T. Watson, of this city, in a criminal
case, although it is not, as has been said, his
first appearance in that court. It is hardly
less remarkable to find associated with Mr..
Watson in the prosecution, Mr.. Franklin B.
Gowan, of Philadelphia, whose fame as a rail-
road man is hardly greater than his renown
as lawyer. Yesterday morning the GRIM
inal Court was pretty well filled by the general
public and by an unusual number of lawyers,
who came there in the anticipation of hearing
Franklin B. Gowan present the case for the
prosecution. They were doomed to disappoint-
ment, however, for the morning was consumed
in the examination Of witnesses for the defense.
In the afternoon when there were not so many
lawyers as spectators, Mr.. Gowan spoke Mr..
Gowan is not very imposing looking man. but
at the same time he has fine face, with pc
culiarly intellectual brow an eye of very great
brilliancy; his mouth is large, and has pecu-
liar tendency to rise on the left side, and still
greater tendency to lapse into smile. 1t is an
agreeable and pleasant face, and wreathed in
smile, as it frequently was, I do not remember
seeing face that has charmed me more.
Mr.. Gilkerson, the detective of this city, sat
behind Mr.. Starr and his counsel all yesterday
morning and while 1 don't suppose he knows
1t, he was similarly regarded by the people
beyond the bar as one of the great lawyers in
the case.
Mr.. GowAN disappointed everyone who
looked to him for oratory. He expressly dis.
claimed the title of orator which Mr.. John
Robb. in a preceding speech, had bestowed
upon him. He merely talked. His style was
simpler and less dignitied even than Mr. D. 7.
Watson's, which is saying good deal. All the
same, if we're on a jury Mr.. Gowans plain,
unencumbered talk would avail most with me-
So
A RATHER well known free-thinker of this
city happened to pass by church Sunday or
two ago in company with lawyer, and point
ing to the crowd of men and women who poured |
into the sacred building, he said, "All those |
people you see going in there are about to have |
their consciences cleaned of last weeks stains. |
The majority of people repent only once week |
and then start with clean bill to sin again. 1t |
would be rather an unfortunate thing for some |
of them if they happened to die on Friday OF
Saturday, without having been cleaned up"
szz
IF YOU have ever been in glorious old Tom |
Marshalrs law Office you must have noticed |
a cumbrous but comfortable armchair with /
writing slabs and footstool attached. I believe
Mr.. Marshall has had it there nearly a score |
of years. A few months ago. however, he pre-
sented it to City Solicitor EIphinstone, of Alle-
gheny. Naturally Mr.. Elphinstone regards it
as great relic, and at the same time it is an
comfortable chair. 1t was made, I
believe, by some country client of Mr.. Mar
shalis, and since he gave it to Mr.. EIphinstone
he has had to have duplicate of it made for
his own Office.