The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-10
HIS LAW STUDENTS.

Attorney Charles Cox Gives Reminis cences
of Judge NibIack.
Probably there is no attorney practicing
at the bar of Marion county who has been
more intimate and familiar with Judge
Niblack than Charles L. Cox, deputy
prosecuting attorney for the criminal
court. who. as 8 boy, came here in 1879 to
study law, and was taken into Judge
Niblack's Office as a student. Mr.. Cox
was seen by a SENTINEL reporter yester-
day and asked to relate something of his
relations with the old jurist.
"In al my liie," said Mr.. Cox. 81 have
never been associated with a man who
possessed more sterling qualities of mind
and heart than Judge William F. Niblack
No father could act with more uniform
kindness and forbearance to boy strug-
Cling for a start in life than did he toward
me. After serving the state fourteen
years in congress he was elected to the
supreme bench. His long service in the
national legislature had naturally taken
him away from the routine practice of the
professio which he had honored
for so many years and while,
perhaps, his mind HAD not lost
its wonderful retentiveness he had be-
come, go TO speak, somewhat rusty as to
ready application of his knowledge Of
MANY of the principles OF law which came
up in the regular order of business for the
consideration of the supreme tribunal.
He worked necessarily. The close of the
days proceedings brought no interval OF
rect to him, for night after night, when
the balance OF the world was buried in
sleep Judge Nibaok toiled in his office or
at his home, frequently through the entire
night, unrAveling the complicated prob
lens involved in the liti-
CATION which had come up for ad-
Indication from the lower courts
of the state. He was not gifted with her
culean strength, and the large labor he so
willingly assumed, before many months.
began to tell on his physical energies. He
possessed a wonderful tenacity and will
power, and although frequently advised
by his associates on the supreme bench
and other friends to shorten his hours of
toll, he kept on the course he had adopted
until finally he was stricken with almost
total blindness and forced TO abandon ali
reading. 1t was at that time that my
close intimacy with Judge Niblack began.
was with him almost constantly, and
read 10 him the records, briefs and tran
scripts OF evidence in the various cases he
had IN hand for consideration and as
sisted by his remarkable memory he
formulated his decisions, which were in
variably characterized by the admirable
qualities Of clearness and brevity, invaria-
bly, supported by authorities which were
sound, and law which was unquestiona-
bic.
al learned to admire the Judge for his
splendid mind and the entire simplicity of
his social and public life. He was in all
the term implies. broad gauge citizen
a typical American Of the highest order.
If there was one thing. which than any
other stamped him as being all that have
said. it was his natural. spontaneous kind
liness to those whose pathways were along
the humber plain of life. In this he WAS
distinctive among all men around him
who moved in the same sphere with him.
AS an illustration, l recall his gentle kind
ness TO old John Smith. the aged colored
man who has for years been employed in
various humble capacities about the su-
preme court room. When Judge Niblack
was on the bench the janitor of the su-
preme court, who was regularly employed,
became stricken down with consumption.
Old John Smith was then employed
by Judge Niblack to assist In the janitor
work. The old negro was very poor and
had a large family to support. He told
his story to the judge, who not only gave
him work. but kept him continually en-
ployed ever after AS lawyer Judge
Niblack was distinguished by the great
breadth of his opinions and while on the
bench bis opinions were known, far and
wide. for their purity, force and directne ss
of application. In these respects l hon
estly believe they were without equal. He
was the most intimate friend and adviser
of Governor Hendricks and there was no
one man in Indiana in whom for many
years Senator Mcdonald placed such i'm
| plcit confidence. As in ali political par
ties, the democratic party in Indiana has
not at times been without its tendencies
| to factiona disturbance and in this con-
nection think | may say without lear
| of contradiction that Judge William T..
| NiblRck was for years the balance heel
of his party in this state, and in that re-
lation succeeded in softening down and
keeping suppressed much of bitter, per-
sonal conflict, which uncontrolled or I'M
neutralized would have worked unestim-
able harm to the party organization.
Judge Niblack" said Mr. Cox. continu-
ing was one of the most unsopblsticated
men | ever knew. During the fourteen
wears he was in congress he carried back
and forth with him to Washington an old
wedge-shape carpetsaok which contained
! bis entire wardrobe. have heard him