St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-28
LEGAL LICHTWEICHTS,
But Light Only in the Sense
Of Being Still Young
Men.
The Cream Of the Bar Re-
served by Fate for Bright
Futures.
AN Even Dozen Of Rising
Young Men Of Legal
Acumen.
Some Of Their Points Of
Ability With Personal
Summaries.

county bar are q set OF nnStlerS from
the word 'go." The word ''light-
weights" is used in this connection in nc
inSidious sense, but merely as dis
tinguishing term to designate the
younger members of the profession
those who are lowering around between
the ages of thirty and thirtY-tiye.
Though young in years, many of them
are old in experience, and they can try
a case with much more vim than the
heayywei5hts, who are little too pom
derous and slow to make rapid headway.
The following is roster of the best
known of the lightweights: L. ID.
O'Brien, NJ. ID. Mum, j. w. Markham,
L. Il. Palmer, w. G. White, ID. w.
Lawler. j. w. Willis, E. S. Durment,
q. Z. Holman, Z. z. Sanborn, w. Ii.
Lightner, Henry ID. Johns.
Tom O'Brien is so well known in st.
Paul that he needs no Introduction to
GLOBE readers. He is young man of
excellent parts, upright, straightfor-
ward, honest, capable and efficient. He
was raised since boyhood days in the
Sanity City, and it was here he laid the
foundation of the splendid character
and ability that has been such con-
spicuOuS part of his makeup in after
life. He read law with his brother
John for many years, and it was not
long before the master bade the pupil
go forth, as he was fully prepared to
hold his own with the best of the at
tOrneys at that time. Since then Tom S
career has been onward and upward.
Some years ago he joined hands with
his older brother, and the firm of &.
ID. Il L. ID. OBrien has become
famous as being composed of attorneys
than whom they have 10 peers in their
profession. For number of years the
younger OBrien was the assistant of
City Attorney Murray, and during this
time he performed the arduous and not
at-all pleasant duties of this office in a
manner to gain great credit for him.
self. And so it came when at the last
election clean-cut lawyer was desired
for the county attOrneyship L. ID.
O'Brien received the nomination, and
the wisdom Of the choice was shown bv
the vote he got at the election. To de-
feat man so popular as NJ. ID. Mum
was no easy task, but Mr.. O'Brien did
it, and had plenty to spare.
AS county attorney, the worst ene-
mics OF Mr. O'Brien will admit that he
is doing remarkably well, and is build
ing up record for himself that will
compare more than fayorably with his
able predecessor. Tom is an easy-going
young man, and never allows himself TO
become flnrried or discounted by rea-
son of reverseS. He is ever fair, cour-
teOus and gentlemanly. and. while leav-
ing nothing undone where his duty is
concerned, he never oversteps the
boundaries of right and justice for the
purpose of building up record for him.
self. lie is good for another term if he
lives.
Marcus d. Mum is one of the shining
lights OF the Ramsey county light
four years ago almost unknown and
friendless. j. j. Egan was then county
attorney, and the young mans ability
coming under his notice, he took him
into his office and made him his assist
ant. He did well, and has every reason
to feel proud of his young prOtege.
Mark went to the front at once. He
had not been in the Office but a short
time when the county attorney, so con-
fident was he that Mum would do him
self proud, allowed him to take charge
OF and try cases on his own account.
The first big case that he tried was that
of the State against Olson, who was ac-
cused of poisoning an old German lady.
He had opposed to him the two great
criminal lawyers, Erwin and Yelling
ton, and it was thought that the young
ster would have no show with the crafty
and experienced duo, especially as the
case was one entirely of circumstantlal
evidence. After trial covering over
week in its consideration the case was
submitted to the jury, who afterwards
returned verdict against the defend
ant. Mum had routed both Erwin and
Wellington and the assistant county at
tOrney at once took high rank as ali able
and efficient advocate. The strong
point in Mr.. Mum, as an attorney, is his
remarkable ability as a cross-examiner.
tie can ply witness with questions at
such rapid rate that even an honest
man will often falter and become con-
fused. A witness who is prevaricating
or cOncealing will soon be routed out
from under cover when Mark takes hold
of him and will be shown up in most
unenviable light. Mr.. Mum has estab-
lished a splendid reputation for himself
since he came to st. Paul, both as
lawyer and gentleman, and though
defeated for the county attorneyship at
the last election, he made a gallant
struggle, and would probably have won
had it not been that Republicanism at
the time was not very popular. He is
now the head of the firm of Mum
Boylsen & Thygeson which does very
large business.
j. NJ. Markham, or Jimmy" Mark
ham" as he is popular called, is one of
the most genial and companionable of
men and ranks second to none among
the younger members of the bar. He
stands very high before the courts and
juries because of his innate integrity
and honesty, and his success as a lawyer
is as much due to his manliness and
aightforwardness as to his aptness in
the law. He is hard student and
keeps up with the rapid progress of his
profession. He is painstaking in every
detail of his work, and brings to the
consideration of every question that
arises the fullest and completest in
quiry. AT one time he was associated
with G. d. Kerr, the present Judge of the
district court and no doubt imbibed
much useful legal knowledge from that
able attorney.
I. R. Palmer, familiarly Tim, occu-
pies the front rank among his Youthful
fellow-attorneyS. He has a logical. COM