St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-20
MILWAUKEE'S LADY LAWYER

Miss Kate III. Pier, Who Argued
Before the State Supreme Court.
Milwaukee Letter to Chicago Tribune.
An entire family of lawyers. That is
what the Pier family-father, mother
and three daughters are to be. Col. Ci
K. Pier. formerly of Fond du Lac, now
of Milwaukee, is an old practitioner.
His wife and oldest daughter are also
practicing, and his two younger daugh-
tiers are taking the law course at the
Wisconsin state university. Mrs. Pier
and her daughter, Kate Ii. Pier, were
graduated from the law department of
the state university in 1877, and were
two OF the only four women lawyers
who have thus far taken the law course
of the state university, the other two
being Mrs. La Toilette, the wife of Con-
gresham La Toilette, of Madison, who
was graduated in 1885. and Miss Jessie
Hutchinson, of Richland Center, Wis.,,
who was gradu ted last year. Mrs.
Pier and her daughter are associated to-
gether. with an Office in the Miller
block, and are enjoying large prac-
tice.
1t was Miss Pier who attracted such
interest in the supreme court last week
from the fact that she was the first
woman lawyer who ever appeared be-
fore the supreme tribunal of the state.
The attention shown her was unusual.
too, as she appeared but as young girl
among the cOterie of old lawyers pres
ent. Among them were eX-Secretary of
the Interior William f. Villas, Gen. E.
E. Bryant and Gen, Lucius FaiTchild.
Miss Pier appeared for The defense in
the case of Sutton VS.. Wegner, arguing
q N nj
superior court making a reference to
take testimony. The case was opened
by the appellant himSelf-J. j. Sutton,
of COiumbuS-and as soon as he had fin
ished Miss Pier addressed the court.
For half an hour her argument was fol-
lowed with the closest attention by all
present. Even the dignified judges
seemed to appreciate it as an unusual
event and mingled an increased degree
of austerity with a certain amount of
extra interest in the fair attorney.
Miss Pier stated her case unhesitat-
ingly and frequently turned to and cited
authorities, showing an acquaintance
with law and a degree of Self-posseS-
sion. At the conclusion of her address
she was cordially congratulated for the
successful impression she had made.
and among themselves the lawyers were
unanimously of the opinion that she
made an exceedingly strong and con-
Vincing argument.
1t was trying ordeal for lady so
young, as Miss Pier is but twenty years
of age. She has a Strikingly handsome
and intelligent face, and is possessed OF
a wealth of black hair which in a single
coil almost trails the floor. Like the
exceptional yonng woman of to-day she
wears no bangs, but combs her hair
back. Miss Pier is a native of Fond du
Lac, Wis, and graduate of the Fond
du Lac high school. In 1888. at the
same time as her mother, she entered
the law department of the state uniYer-
sity, and by taking a double course in
1857, obtained her degree emitting her
to practice in all the state conrts. For
ten months she held position in the
legal department of the Wisconsin Gem
tral railway, retiring Aug. l to associate
herself with her mother.
Miss Piers two sisters, who have just
entered the state university for a course
in the law department. are Carrie H..
aged eighteen, and Harriet H., aged
seventeen