Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-20

was nrst drawn Oy only portion ol, tuc
corporation officers, although the share
holders had approved the loan.
National banks were an unknown
quantity then and wildcat schemes held full
sway. 1t was to be supposed, therefore,
that Mr.. Blatchford, Jr., had no easy time
in winning his case. But he did, and the
defendants were mulcted completely. New
York lawyers had a wholesome respect for
'Sam" Blatchford's legal powers after that,
and one of the first brother members Of the
bar to congratulate the victor on his
triumph was the venerable Justice Field,
also of the Supreme Court, and the Nestor
of the bench.
More than 80 years ago Justice Field
came to Washington to accept his seat in
the Supreme Court, and although born in
Massachusetts and admitted to the bar in
New York CITY, the senior Justice in point
of long service received his portfolio as a
citizen of California For Justice Field
was "Forty-Niner," and one of the very
first ''Forty- Miners" at that. He can lay
claim to what is possibly the only instance
of the kind among the records of the United
States legal fraternity-that of being a
Judge in reality before receiving his initial
brief
Not an Enormous Fee.
Justice Browns first case was one in
chancery, and the judicial dignity of Mich
igan's honored representative in the tribu-
nal, acquired during his IL years expert
ence there, does not preclude the occasional
bringing out from its place in the Justices
private library q well-worn ledger. The
ledger has history, too, because it con-
tains record of every case in which JUS
tice Brown took part from the time he re-
ceived his first fee of S11 25
Justice Brewer had attended to making a
few motions for his uncle before New
York City court, after being, like Justice
Blatchtord, admitted to the bar in Albany,
when, to use the words of the Justice from
the 'Sunhower State" he journeyed to
Kansas City and Leavenworth before either
of these cities were anything very much
more than mere stopping places on the
overland route to the Pacific. Still, q pair
Of hilarious Deavenworth 1rishmen paid his
first fee of $40, and evidently it was well
earned, from Justice Brewers description
of their antics, which placed them in need
of legal aid.
The defendants hired horse and buggy
from a liveryman for the purpose of attend
ing funeral several miles out of the city.
While on their mission the mourners fell in
with number of cowboys and imbibed
freely Of the contents ofsundry TASKS in the
possession of the cowboys. They must have
succeeded in drowning their sorrow, for the
temporary custodiaus of the livery rig soon
got on race with other mourners at the
funeral and disastrous collision resulted.
The buggy was completely wrecked and the
liveryman sued for damages. Justice
Brewer was called in to defend the culprits,
and convinced the jury that his clients met
with the accident through the carelessness
of the other parties in the race and the
liveryman was out to the extent of his rigs
value, which for the time and place proved
considerable. 1t meant what was then re-
garded princely fee for the lawyer, though
which the Irishmen at first demurred to
paving on the ground that it was too much
of an extortion.
Some Other Maiden Efforts.
A merry twinkle generally gathers in
Justice Harlan's eye when he calls to mind
his maiden effort in the class of cases
which obtained in the Blue Grass region
down at Frankfort, KY, and not so many
years ago either; while Justice Gray's ex-
perience was much the same up In the Old
Bay State. But Justice Lamar's earliest
of a triumph in legal arena
came to an abrupt end, Just when the pa
pers were in readiness for filing, and mat
tiers looked decidedly like a verdict in
favor of the plaintiff. Incidentally also
certain obligation which represented the
retainer in the case waited long time be-
fore payment was made, and the Secretary
of the Interior of Cleveland's Cabinet
hasn't yet forgotten the amusing side, Of his
first case.
Newton county, Ga, was no very prolific
field for unemployed lawyers several decades
,go, if it is now, and so Squire Lamar, as
ne was called by his companions, felt that |
he had promising future before him, when
one dav the Widow Dolliver burst into his
office and wanted to discover how she could
take revenge on a well-known young man
about the county, Tom Downs The irate
lady was informed of the cost such knowl-
edge would entail, but genuine cash was
scarce just then. A note for S25 supplied
the place of retainer, and Newton county's
attorney set about preparing the documents
for suit, in which the Court was asked to
decree a verdict of damages against Tom
Downs because he had broken his promise
to marry the Widow Delivers daughter
Visions of large slice of the damages fall |
ing to the attorney for plaintiff helped ma |
terially in fastening the opening of the |
action, when the word was passed that the |
suit was off-NIiss Dolliver had become Mrs, |
Tom Downs.
But Squire Lamar was entitled to some |
hing for his trouble, and the note for S25 |
vas finally paid; not for many months |
hereafter, however, and not until the |
7oung lawyer was known as legal fighter |
If the first rank all over the Cracker"
The ill health of Justice |
lamar. by the way, makes it possible that |
le will resign soon alter the new admins
ration is installed. In that case the name
# Don Dickinson Is the one most fire.
uent1y mentioned for the vacanov