The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-13

pleXioned with eyes, beard and hair jet black
and curly. When years came en- apace his
personal vanity led him to dye his abundant
locks 10 conceal the gray hairs-the adj
vance guard. He continued this practice
till in the end his general health was I'M
paired by it. and, in The opinion Of many.
his death FASTENED. Although Of medium
height he had the appearance OF great
physical strength and solidity. He had not
that thoughtful. studentliks air one asso-
ciates with a member Of the legal profess
sion. His dress was plain and in good
taste. and in his hroadcieth sack coat one
nand was generally poe keAed as lie W alkeu.
Byrne according to Oscar Z. Shuck in
''Bench aud Barr was very vain. but his
vanity was perfectly harmless. He was
never envious of any mans success in his
particular line, and never underestimated
the efforts of those with whom he con-
tended at the bar. Withal ne really pos
sessed great simplicity of character, and
would take advice from those qualified, in
his judgment. to give it, and followed il, so
far as MS impulsiyeness would allow. But
Byrne had among his other peculiarties
great obstinacy, and would never admit
that he made IA mistake. He was fond.
too, of being considered so general in his
knowledge of literature that nobody could
mention or quote from any author with
which he was not acquainted.
He was often pitted against Colonel
l(s
Bench and Bar" the latter INDUCED in
quotation. adding that he supposed the
learned District Attorney was familiar
with it. Il should think So" quickly re-
sponded Byrne; II wrote it myself"
Baker. legal veteran as he was. showed
signs Of establishment, but ne quickly re-
covered himself aud said. II never before
saw or heard this gem attributed to the
learned counselor, but when he asserts its
paternity it is not for me TO deny 1t. l
cannot say know he did not write it, but
/ am ready TO take the witness-sland ana
state under oath that read these very
words in Milton before the gentleman was
born" Great minds often think alike"
Byrne added quietly.
A hish-pitched almost shreking voice
was drawback to the lawyers complete
success as public speaker. but Byrne was
very effective when one got used to the
peculiarly of his utterance This was
shown in the Fair trial. a cause celebre in
which he was engaged just before his death.
as we'll as in other important cases.
He had a good many fOibles, one of
which was disposition to over-cOnvivi-
ality. In fact. the pleasure-loving side of
his nature was so promin emit that those
who knew Harry Byrne were sometimes
in doubt whether he considered life q
serious business or a jest to be laughed
away as quickly and as easily as
possible. He managed TO amass n estate,
though. amounting TO between $4,000 and
500 600. all of which he left to his friend,
E. +. Carpen tier, millionaire at the time.
because they had been friends In life. The
Iegacies were to David Scannell, late chief
of the San Francisco Fire Department;
Elijah Nichols, known as 1.-THE Count"
close retainer of Byrne and who subse-
uuently beca me lay brother in Catholic
order. and II. II. Byrne Ciprico, little son
of George Ciprico, the barber. $1,000 each
and to Mary Gross. $4,000.
Three of Bvrne's nieces-Mary E. and
Catherine F. Holcomb and Julia II. How
ard. daughters of deceased sister of
Ryrne-came from Connecticut and con.
tested the will. Ii the reader will step
into law library and take down Milton FL.
Myrick's reports OF cases In the Probate
Court Of the city and county OF San Fran
cisco from January /. 1872, to December /,
1879 edited by the late Timothy H. Rear.
den of the San Francisco barr, he will find
this conte sted case under the caption, "Es. |
tate of n. n. Byrne," the first in the vol
ume. The dry and uninterestliig text of
lawbook sometimes furnishes material
fact on which TIE most fanclful and expert
romancist may Guild better r .han on care
fully concocted fiction: The nieces. by
William Loewy, pleaded undue influence,
as the beneficiary Carpenter drafted the
will The court decided: IF beneficiary
draft will it is in itself ground for sus-
picion, aud the circumstances OF its execu-
ton should have close scra'iny; In this
ence. The deceased was in possession of
his faculties ami made the will as he de.
sired" win admitted to probate.
Byrne died in San Francisco March /.
1872, few months after the close of his
last term as District Attorney. He bore
through life. according 10 Mr.. Shuck. his
unfortunate marriage as the memory of a
controlling sorrow.
H.
THE ACTRESS.
On the 26th of December, 1853. there ap-
u