St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-14
THEIR LEGAL PRIME.
Such May Be Termed the Mid
dleweights Of the RAM
sey Bar.
Attorneys Who Do the Great
Work in the Courts
To-Day.
The Pick of the Profession
May Be Found in These
Ranks.
Pen Sketches Of Points and
PeculiaritieS Of Law
yers.


yers.
Those members of the Ramsey county
bar who began practicing along about
1870 may be properly termed the mid
dleweights of the profession. The
heavyweights have already been touched
upon by the GLOBE, and their merit S
and dement's sized up IN a fair and i'm
partial manner. The middleweights,
so called, constitute by far the brainiest
of the attorneys. They are men be-
tween the ages OF thirtytwo and forty,
in the prime of life; men who have had
from fourteen to fifteen years active
experience in their noble profession,
and who have fought and won many
legal battle. In this category may be
properly placed Messrs. O'Brlens, San
borns, C. n. Bell, Harry Officer, w. II.
Mead A. G. Otis, E. S. Thompson. G.
j. Thompson, II. c. James. III. f.
Stevens, w. w. Erwin, Cy Wellington,
G. j. Berryhill and Lusk & Bum.
The name O'Brlen, in Minnesota at
least, is Synonymous with great attain
ments in the law. There are three
brothers of them, Chris, John and
Thomas. and splendid trio they make.
Their father, Dillon O'Brien, from
whom all the boys take their middle
name, though not lawyer. was man
of splendid intellect, and no doubt the
boys achieve most of their talents from
him. Dillon O'Brien was of literary
Of nd h
ant pen in his day, especially when di-
lating on anything having to do with
his native land. He gave to his SONS
every advantage in an educational way,
and as the first three seemed to have a
natural leaning toward the law, the
parent allowed them every opportunity
TO pursue the chosen path in life.
Christopher, the Oldest, took to the law
like duck does to water, and it seemed
second nature to him. He had large
and profitable ellen tage almostfr from the
outset, and it was no trick for him to
win cases. His reputation growing, he
was duly nominated and elected for the
Office OF county attorney. In this posi-
ton he displayed remarkable ability,
and the culprits were few and far be-
tween that slipped through his clutches.
During one term alone he sent five muir
derers to Saltwater for life. He has a
wonderful memory. and never takes
note in court. however complicated or
important the questions at issue. He is
slightly irascible in TENDER, and is wont
to boil over if stirred up the least bit.
He is so accustomed to success that he
smarts under defeat. and is apt to say
things he should not.
John D. O'Brien, the second of the
O'Brien trio, is considered the ableSt
lawyer of the family, and perhaps the
best all-rOund advocate among the mid
dleweights. He applies himself more
than his older brother, who is too apt
to draw on his natural resources alone.
John is a great reader and man Of
good common sense and judgment. lie
has better control of himself than Chris
and keeps perfect equipoise all the
while, never allowing his temper to run
away with his good judgment. Before
courts and jurieS he stands very high,
and among his fellows ne is greatly be-
loved for his many excellent traits OF
character. He tends strictly to bust
ness, and so far has avoided the rocks
and shoals incident to cruising IN pollt-
zeal matters. ifhe were offered the office
of mayor he would not accept it, he pre-
ferring the domeSticity of quiet home
life to the allurements and pitfalls OF
public station.
The Sanborns-Walter and John B.
rank next to the O'Briens in point of
ability, and there are many who con-
sider that the former has no equal in the
Ramsey county bar. Walter SanbOrn is
a clear-cut, painstaking attorney, and
laborS aSSiduOuSly and cOnSclenttouSly
for his clients interests. He is thorough
in every detail of his profession, and one
has to get up early in the morning, as
the saying goes, to catch him mapping.
The strong point about Walter Sanborn
is this: He always is thoroughly pre-
pared to present his case in the best
possible manner before he enters the
court at all. and stands ready to meet
any surprise that may be sprung on him
during the progress of a trial. In the
conduct of a case he asks no favorS and
he comedies none. He fights stubbornly
every point from the beginning, and
Strews the records so full of objections
that he usually manages to get new
trial if he is defeated in the first bout.
Personally he is inclined to frigidity OF
temperament, and he does not attract
like a magnet. His law practice is one
of the largest in the city, and as he
charges good. round fees, he manages
tie keep the wolf from the door and pay
his Sprinkling assessments.
Gen. Sanborn has already been re-
ferred to. and as E. p. Sanborn falls
within the lightweights. his turn will
come later.
c. N. Bell is the gentleman who got
up the Bell charter, and as this is his
first offense he claims he can prove an
alibi. Charley Is bachelor, good
fellow. and eats his meals at the Wind
sor hotel, where he can be found most
any day discussing law with Ed Nc
Kenney. He is an A No. good, all
round lawyer, and most genial, COM
panionable gentleman. He has holy
horror for the fair sex, and never had
anything to do with one of them, except
ing Mrs. Barteau No. 1, whose attorney
he was in the celebrated case of Barteau
in good shape, Judge Kelly deciding in
his favor. But the case was appealed,
and Judge Mitchell. of the supreme
court, ripped the dScision of the lower
court up the back aud down the sides.
This made Charley Bell sick, and he
vowed then and there that ali women
were hoodoos and he was done with
them.
Harvey Officer is clean-cut gentle
man aud splendid attorney. During
his twenty odd years of practice, which
has included every variety of legal pro-
ceedings. he has labored with great zeal
for his clients, and with marked ability
and success. Harvey is as honest as
the day is long, and never stoops to
trickery or deception to gain point
He is no orator, but presents his side of
case in plain, simple and logical