The morning call., 1892-01-03

the bar. In this city he has personally ham
died some of the greatest cases on our court
records, among them the Lele estate, in
volVing over a million dollars; the Dash
away disputes, which attracted so much at
tentiOn; the celebrated Dana estate, re-
Gently tried before the Hon. j. V. Coffey,
and which may be decided ere this article is
published, and the TailrOad-lcenSe cases,
which were taken to the United States SUI
preme Court at Washington. This last case
shows pretty thoroughly of what stuff Mr..
Kelly is made. Although several leading
attorneys of this city had given their opin-
ion that the license ordinance of this city
and county could not be successfully as
sailed, Mr.. Kelly after thoroughly invesli-
eating the subject informed the different
railroad companies of which he was the at
tOrney that the ordinance was uncOnStitu-
tional, aud that the local municipality had
no power to legislate in the premises in any
manner or form. The railroads after DELHI
Grating over the matter some little time con-
cluded to follow Mr.. Kelly'S advice. The
result of the first legal battle was
that he was beaten in all the courts
of the State of California Still sat
isfed that he was in the right and that the
law was as he cOntended he took out q writ
of error from the United States Supreme
Court directed to the courts of this State,
thereby bringing the cases up before that
august tribunal at the October term OF 1882
with the result that Mr.. kelly'S position
was sustained in every particular, and the
decisions OF the local courts reversed. This
decision by itself alone is enough to justify
Mr.. Kelly in taking high rank among the
constitutional LAWYERS of the country.
However, Mr. Kelly does not confine al
OF his time to the law. Nearly all Of his
spare time is devoted to the study of me-
chanics, of which he is an ardent devotee.
There is not in San Francisco man more
haIl lnsu
principles of all branches of mechanics than
the subject of this sketch. He has invented
some very useful contrivances and improve
ments that are now IN course OF introduce
ton to the public, among which is device
for making rails Tor railroads endless, and
dispensing with that clicking noise that is
50 disagreeable to travellers. and at the same
time operating as an absolute and certain
preventive against what is commonly
known as derailment OF trains. rms IN
vention will, in the course OF few years,
entirely reyOlutionize the building and con-
struction Of railroads.
Although his father died leaving a vast
estate and he himself is the pOssessor of
large competency made through his own
individual energies and eXertlOns, yet in his
intercourse with people he is one OF the most
humble and unassumiug men that one would
meet. He is a man with very strong,
firm, decided, fiyed character, with feel
ing and disposition that runs TO the extreme.
If he is friend, then you know that in him
you have one who is true, reliable, one to
be depended upon and loyal; while upon
the other hand, if you do him an injury,
time itself cannot efface 1t from his men,
DRY, as he is so vindictive that the persist
ency of the sleuth-hound is nothing in COM
parison to it. Like his father, he knows no
such thing as fear, and therefore he never
fails to express his opinion OF and concern
ing things or persons whenever the occa-
sion requires il.
Mr. Kelly Is also possessed of a marvel
Gus memory, and some of his memory
feats done under wagerS are simply aston
iShing, as memorzing an article after per-
son has read it but once.
A young man of talent and fortune,
brilliant career is secured to him in what
ever city he may select or adopt as his
home. and we look to him not only as a rep
resen tative of the great legal profession,
but also Of the inventive genius of the
country.