The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-11

Jack Lee. who defended Admiral Kerpel in
1779. and afterward became Acknowledgement.
was. it seems. conspicuous for the ingenuity
OF his forensic advocacy. On one occasion he
strove to exercise it on behalf Of II client
whose brief he held in Il breach OF promise
case. and having ascertaincd that she was
beautiful. desired her solicitor to place her so
that she might be seen to advantage by the
jury on whose feelings he proceeded to oper-
ate by e~nlisting their sympathies in favor OF
such guileless loneliness. Lee was so elo-
quent that. with tho help Of his clients
charms. he won their sufrrnses. and the ver-
die. seemed a matter of certainty. Dun
ring. however. who was on the other side.
unexpectedly overthrow tho we'll planned
scheme. Rising in defence OF his client. he
declared that lie endorsed all that his learned
brother had advanced in praise OF the charm
ing creature before them. but he had to OBJ
serve that the learned counsel had tno doubt.
accidentally omitted to mention that his
client was the unwilling possessoro of a wooden
log. The effect was electrical: it proved fatal
tothe plaintiff. and the rest Of Cummings speech
was not even listened to. As n matter OF fact.
the lady suffered from no such disability.
Being Il north countryman. Lee had an ac-
cent so strongly provincial that it often did
injustice to lis elo1uence. Thus. whenever
he had to employ tho oft-rccurrirg phrase.
"showing cause it produced II sound equiv
alentto "shooing cows" Ono day I.rskine
took the opportunity to inform tho learned
counsel that II, tho South we shoe horses.
not cows" We are also told Of Leo that tho
familiarity with which he addressed the Jury.
which often helped him to win verdicts.
was not viewed with approval by other menu
bers OF the profession. who considered that it
tended to lower the tono Of the bar, and now
and then provoked criticism not altogether
courteous. Once. on Lees tcllin. Cunning
that he had Just bought somo good
manors In StafTordshire: Il wish then"
said Dunning. you would bring them with
you to Westminster Hall" That Cunning
was an ugly fellow may DO inferred from
the following story: Ono night he was at
Nando's coffee house playing Mt whist. when
Thurlow. who had q communication to make
to him. called and asked the waiter to give him
O note. How shall l know Mr.. Cumming.
sirT" There's no difficulty about that" an
swered Thurlow: AL you have to do is to
take it up and to give it to tho ugliest man In
the room. You will find him there with n face
like the knave Of clubs" 1t appeared that the
young mon on the circuit with DunninG were
often astonished to find that n man OF such a
mean fgure and unprepossessinG countenance
should manage to win tho preference OF all the
$3.50 ~ 'oS sb'F' 'so
IN the barristers aliGhted at an assize
town Cunning called for tho chambermaid.
Here. child he would say. arc you the
person who has care OF the beds 2" II am.
Sir" Then" he would add. there's n
guinea Tor YOU" Dunning we'll understood
the value OF n preliminary fec. TO
return to Ice. it seems doubtful. from
another story how far he deserved the nick
name OF Honest Jack" Lord Eldon relates
that once while on circuit with Leo he said to
him after supper. II have observed that you
always state evidence and quote cases In such
q way that the statement and quotation may
give you a chance OF success. the evidences
and the cases not being stated clearly. and to
fair and Just representation. And now. Lee.
can that be right? How can you Justify 1t"
"Oh. YES" Lee answered: Its all right: DIR.
johnson said that counsel We're ut liberty to
state as tho parties themselves would state.
what 1t was most for their interest to state"
BY and by. however, when Leo had had his
bowl of milk punch. folieysd by two or three
pipes OF tobacco. he systaspiy said; Come.
'st,us 20 10 bed: l have Acen thinking upon