St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-31
ON BENCH AND ATBAR.
An Interesting Group Of the
Elder Of the Legal Fra
ternity.
Rich Scenes in Court in DAYS
When st. Paul Was
Young.
Personal Characteristics OF
Attorneys Factors in
VerdictS,
Peculiapities, Attractions and
Foibles ofProminent Bar
riSteps.

istics has already been presented in the
GLOBE, and so we come naturally to
the second division, composed of men
slightly younger than those of the first
class, men who have climbed to the
summit of life's hill, and whose faces
are now turned in the direction of the
setting sun. Though not as old as their
confreres in the first division, they are
not whit behind them in knowledge of
the law. In the second division may
be mentioned the following we'll
known attorneys: A. +. Capehart. S. l..
Pierce, w. p. Warner. Stanford Newell,
c. X. Davis, Homer G. Eller. r. r. Ga
lusha, |. V. ID. Heard. John B. Sanborn,
Henry l.. Williams, Uri Lamprey and
w. S. Moore.
Everybody knows a. p. Capehart, or
more familiarly "Col." Capehart, as he
is generally known. There was time,
but many years ago, when the colonel
had quite an extensive practice, but
aside from the prosecution and defend
ing of suits in which he himself is con-
cerned, he scarcely ever appears in
court now. But he has not been idle
since his practice began to fall off.
When the zeal estate boom struck the
town, he mounted the tidal wave and
made some very profitable deals. so
that to-day heis the owner of some very
choice chunks of realty. The most val
liable of these is the Clifton hotel, op-
posite the county jail. 1t is question
able though whether this mammoth
block has br0uget him in value for the
money expended. Personally, the col
onel is hard man to approach, he
seeming to prefer his own company to
all others. AS he goes his way he ap-
pears to be moody and preoccupied,
and very often mutters to himself in a
strange monotone.
S. L. Pierce is the most picturesque
attorney at the Ramsey county bar,
both in his practice and in his person
ality. He has an abundant practice of
all kinds and classes OF cases, and he
has been fairly successful in an eXpe-
rlence extending over a quarter of
century. He was formerly partner of
Bill Erwin, the gl eat criminal lawyer,
and these two unique figures made
great team while they pulled together.
But they did not remain long under the
same roof, for Bill and the squire were
the direct antipodes of each other IN
tastes, habits and opinions. Pierce is
an odd-loOking man, and reminds one
of some of Dickens characters. lie is
fully six feet tall, slightly stopped, with
long legs and very long arms. His head
is well shaped and covered with thick
growth of dark-broWn hair, which is
usually disheveled. A pair of sideburns
sets off his features, which are indica-
tive of great pugnacity of character.
When he enters into the trial of case
he throws all the ginger he possesses
into it, and makes it very interesting
for his adversary. His long and varied
practice has given hun a good insight
into the intracacieS of the law, and he
plays his points for all there is in them.
Pierce missed his calling. He should
have been an actor, for he has great
power of mimicry and facial expression,
as any one can testify to who has ever
seen him addressing a jury. He can
laugh OF cry if the occasion warrants it,
and he has been known to get down on
all fours to bring out a point with more
emphasis. He has defective memory
for names, and this failing has been the
result Of destroying the torce and effect
of many beautiful period of his.
tits related of him, in this connection.
that at one time, while trying a case
with Tom Ryan on the other side, very
funny incident occurred. Pierce was
summing up and had waXed highly
grandiloquent, when he struck a snag.
He was referring toa certain great Ger
man philosopher, but, unfortunately, he
could not remember his name. "What
was the name of that great man ?'' lie
cried, appealing to the jurors. There
was no response. "What was his
name? he repeated, turning to the
auditors in the court room, now chuck
ling with evident glee.
The squire was III dilemma, for
none seemed disposed to help him out.
Finally, Tom Ryan (who was Erwin's
partner later on was seen to hobble over
in the direction of the counsel
"WhO was that great philosopher.
Mr.. Ryan," pleaded the Squire.
why, Jimmy Egan, of COURSE" re-
piled Ryan, with not the faintest suspi-
ci0n of smile on his face
The court fairly rang with the laugh
ter OF the audience, and in the midst of
the excitement Pierce sat down. 1t is
unnecessary to state that Ryan won his
case.
Tom Ryan is the same attorney who
afterwards made himself famous bv
bringing about the acquittal of Martin.
who was accused of brutally numbering
a stOckman out at the Transfer. A pair
of overallS, which were spotted with
blood, had been found in a closet. and
were presumed to have been put there
by Martin, who had entered the hotel
with a.bundle of clothes the night of the
murder. The states attorney had made
great point on this piece of criminat-
ing evidence. and was almost ready to
rest his case on the overalls alone. II
was at this point that Ryan made b1s
great coup. Martin was on the stand
and had been examined direct and cross
1t was now the direct, and Martins case
had begun to look dark.
Martin, step down here" said RYAN
The witness did so.
"Put on the overalls," directed RYAN
In firm voice. A great hush swent
over the court as the prisoner proceeded
TO don the oyeralls. and all ewes were
riveted on the prisoner. 'Would the
oyeralls ftp" each one asked himseIf
If they did, it was all up with Martin.
After moment of extreme anxiety Of
least for the prisoner, the overalIs were
pulled on, and, to the surprise of ali
and to the great discontinue of the
states attorney, they proved to be toe
long by fully six inches. In other
words, the murderer was not Martin
but man about half foot taller.
clap of thunder out of a clear skv conId
not have produced a greater sensation
than this nervy exhibition of Attorney
Ryan. The result was that Martin want
scot free, although it has always been
doubted that he was an innocent man
w. z. Warner is as good an all round
attorney as there is in st. Paul and his
practice is quite yoluminous and re-
muneratiye. His partners are Charley
Lawrence and Harris Richardson. two
men younger than himself. but thor.
Dugh in every branch of their chosen
profession. Mr.. Warner is a hard
worker, and puts in more hours of good
honest toll than many laboring men.
HIs practice is not confined to any par
hcular branch of his profession, but