Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-09-07
LUTHER LArLIs MILLS.


LUTHER LAFIIN MILLS.
In 1872 ! sat in pew of the First Con-
eregational church at Chicago and saw
family file into the stall ahead Of mine.
Father, mother and children took their
places with that air of familiarity which
comes to the regular attendant, striking
the young stranger with force. At the
aisle end Of the pew was youth who at
once challenged my interest. At 22 /
remember talked much Of "affinities.
Here was my affinity. liked him. He
was bored. was sorry for him. But
- was the picture Of good nature. Tie
eolemnest organ hater and palm singer
of them all would not have lost tolerance
Tor the puzzling look that at once settled
On the boy. There was clever express
aion In the faces of his sisters. 1t said
in effect that the brother was now TO
have bad quarter Of an hour, and the
brother's look responded with the
thought that he would it were only
quarter. Yet with the preparation for
t. ordeal he fell asleep. Tho forelock
3umbled on his face, there was sister
b rumpus and the chastened sinner
aruee to sing.
Through the sermon my hero fingered
upon the verge Of dreamland. Already
enlisted in his service, could have
pushed him well over the happy border
Evidently liking him as well, the sisters
wsfe busy with the salvation Of his good
nepe In the rich flock left the church,
b6lieving that habit had made the Sab
baths experience pleasant to all parties.
The youth was not annoyed. The sisters
were Jealous that he should keep all the
proprieties. inquired about him in the
congregation. Oh, yes. That was Lu-
theY Latin Mills-already with the long
name. you see-the brightest member Of
the Society Of the Golden Fleece, an as
e0ciation Of the young church people,
which disbanded when some deacon de-
clared It to DO matrimonial agency
Would that all wickedness might perish
with q resistance SO feeble!
Only four years later my young man
was elected states attorney for Cook
county. That is, it fell to lad to prose
cute all the, criminals of this region, TO
move against all the enemies of the peo-
ples 70 address courts and confront the
devil In all the aspects which my lord
the devil puts on at Chicago. OF the
same age myself, remember was glad
II was not ! who was 10 be tried. The
eight following years were remarkable
Tor the oratory that decorated the prose-
cution Of justice in Chicago. Talk goes
for everything in court. The state had
the orator. Young or old, celebrated or
merely ambitious, none of the Chicago
iawyers. save Emory Storrs alone, had a
golden tongue to match the voice of the
state which spoke in the mouth of
Luther Latin Mills. Every cause in
court was great event. The trial of
the county commissioners Ga periodical
thing In Chicago), the trial of straw
hailers, the trial Of Alvina Mckee, tho
trial and death Of Sherry and Connolly
--these matters sufiiced .to set the town
talking Of our orator.
II remained for Judge McAllister, in
granting new trial for one Burns, to
out-Herod all the panegyrists. This
prisoner" said the most eminent Of our
5urists dead now, "was undoubtedly
convicted by means Of that peculiar in.
definable power which the states attor-
ney possesses over juries. This
influence, which not ono out of many
hundreds Of our bar possesses, is fact
not to be ignored on motions for new
trials; for have been taught by expe-
yience and observation that with law
yer OF only ordinary ability opposed, the
states attorney, in nine cases out of ten,
viii secure verdict Of guilty, not only
when there is want of evidence to sup
port it, but clear preponderance against
him."
II b needless to say that all subsequent
turies were refreshed by citations of
Judge lcAllister, as proof that the
thief In hand ought to go free. The
murder Of Officer Race; the trial of
Lamb and Friedbsrg; the trial of Angel,
Peter Stevens and his murdered child
wife. - the city editors loved to head the
case; DR.. Earil; the trial of the gaL
blers; the trial and hanging of Tracy;
NJ trial OF Theresa Sturlata and her i'm.
pf1sonment-these outlines recall a long
march Of ezcitement-a putting and sin.
eere praising Of the young states attor-
ney such as has no parallel in western
eHperience. Envy. malice, temptation
asoss on every hand. The man who
once carried 1900 extra votes to his
ocket at last lost many to his rival Grin
nelI; one great prosecutor gave way 10
another. and eloquence grew still in our
court rooms.
The unrivaled advocate went to his
private Office and passed from the visions
g terrified knaves TO appear as the pillar
- their support. dislike such a trans
ecsson. but 1t has been accompanied by
neny bright apparitions of noble oratory
= osfense Of the right. II has relieved
~ scene Of many artificial lights. II
- teft Luther Latin Mills his natural
pandsur. When he speaks, wise men
ehsr. excluding the fools The tribute
espsn friend and foe, from client and ON.
onent, from debtor and creditor. has
olvays been like the renowned McAIlis-
esa God made Luther Lailin Mills an
ogaior.
" iats years the most notable amman.