New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-14

Viosely Wdtcneu BY the veterans VINO knew Li5 kins
men. When he had hnshed his first important
speech they agreed that he was worthy to bear the
family name Mr.. Evars was particularly attracted
to him. partnership was formed 1t continues to
this day. II than professional assocla-
fon they were united by the bonds OF friendship that
have never been severed. In every way possible Mr..
Evarts opened the path OF advancement socially and
politically, well professionally, for his young
associate. Success and fame came quickly. and Mr..
Choate has never failed to show the most grateful
appreciation OF what Mr.. Evarts did for lin.
The firm Is generally looked upon as the leading
law firm In the country Its practice is enormous
It's Income very large. John f. Parsons Is said to
nave made the largest amount OF money ever earned
BY lawyer In single year, Including 100000 for
organizing the Sugar Trust--but aside from such
cepuonally large fees this Mr.. Choatc Is said TO
enjoy the most lucrative practice. though his fees
are NOT looked upon as excessive by any means.
The great lawyers" said william G.. Peckham. the
weiiknown authority elevated railroad land dam
age matters. who his predecessors. SUCH for
ample. as his relative Rufus Choate, tried trng coun
try lawsuits all their days. with occasional OF
magnitude. but even this involved an amount which
would be nccnsderabe In the present Choate's prac
tice. so 1t was with ErskIne and Nicholas Ill., and
even Daniel Webster. 1t Is frequently remarked In
court circles that the great lawyers who are Mr..
Choate's contemporaries divide among them one.haif
Of the business OF the first magnitude, ana Mr. Choae
has the other half to himself. Now, why Is 1t! His
method goes right home to tie human heart whether
II be the tear Of Judge the heart OF juryman.
Just the same he reaches the centre Of the afec
lions OF the Germans who go from TOmpkins Square
to Cooper Institute Where other lawyers are solemn
and portentCDs, wild or otherwise unpleasant Mr..
Choate Is humorous ana human. Other lawyers In
all the annaS Of legal eloquence tried to reach hu-
man nature by some circutous method. or by some
method that human nature baked at. Mr.. ChOa.e talks
just high the heart Of the Judge 1uryman. He
puts on no lofty airs but often speaks with his hands
In his pockets. He does not strive to stir up dark
passions While he is always little keener u Attle
finer and more witty than the man in the box or on
the bench, yet he is always brother man to him."
THE GREAT HUNTINGTON TRIAL AND OTHER
CASES.
A history Of Mr. Choatcs professional career would
require sketch OF a majority OF the great cases that
have been tried here since TIE war. II would in
volvc among Others, the story of the Tweed RIM
prosecution, Of the protracc1 investigation OF the
case OF General Ftz-John Porter, w:om he defended
at West Point before the board OF officers appointed
by President Hayes. which resulted In the reversal Of
the judgment OF the original court-martal OF the
celebrated libel suit Instituted BY CASTOR L. Feuardent
against General Cesnola whom Mr.. Choate success
fully defended: OF the Tlden will case, the contest
over Commodore Vanderbilts millions the Chinese
exclusion case I'm which he argued against the validity
Of the act his appeal TO the supreme Court In behalf
of David Neage. who shot Judge Terry In defence OF
Justice Field and whose act was decreed to be no
violation OF the law; the Stokes Will fight: the case
OF Manchester against TIE State of Massachusetts, be-
fore the United states Supreme Court; the Behrin-
Sea controversy AMI the memorable suit brought BY
David Stewart In 1851 against Coils p. Huntington
for the payment Of large sum OF money, which the
plaintiff declared due him under the terms OF
agreement that he made with Huntington at the
time wien he purchased block Of Central Pacific
stock from the defendant.
This case was OF ususual interest to the pub
&c. All the persons involved were well-known. and
the recital OF the doings Of the "Big Four OF the
Pacific Coast Huntington, Hopkins, Croker and stan
ford I'm connection With the Central Pacic's con-
struction. which was brought out BIZ the trial. made
entertaining chapter at the hands OF Mr.. Choate.
VITO appeared alone for Mr. stewart. His rival in a
dozen contests, Francis ~ Bangs whose passages at
arms with him In the Cesnola case will long be re-
membcrel and Roscoe ConHing then in the prime Of
hi, Intellectual life and entirely devoted to his law
practice lad been retained by Mr.. huntington They
made a formidable pair of defenders. Mr.. Choate
made the most OF this fact with the jury. 81 doubt.
gentlemen he said, whether any man ever Rad to
contend alone against so powerful combination
In the first place, there Is the defendant himself one
of the three great railway monarchs OF the world
all powerful throughout the length and breadth Of the
right the greatest powers OF the bar the most astute
the most crafy-ln the best sense OF TIE word-the
most skilful OF our profession and" with graceful
wave OF the hand toward Mr.. Conkling, ." the Very
Demosthenes OF our time. And yet DO not feel en-
tirely alone OF entirely unarmet. l have TIE evil
dence In this with me, and IL can put that
little weapon iu my sling and aim straight at his
forehead Goliath OF the continent is bound
to bite the dust
HOW HE SEXES AN ADVANTAGE
The marvellous rapidly with which he takes ad-
vantage Of every point and sees tie elements In every
situation that are favorable to him was exhibited to
advantage on this trial again and again. Mr. Hunt
Ington while on the stand proved from the layman
point OF view, a poor witness for Mr.. Choate. His
memory sady defective. Mr.. Choate's most Skill
fnl crossluestioning could elicit from him little If
any specific Information to the operations of the
famous Contract and Finance Company. Ills counsel
smiled bandy and the palntiG himself looked gloomy.
But observe with what telling effect MI ChOate used
tits temporary triumph OF his opponent:
My learned friends upon the other sidc' said he
in closing, have expressed little regret and kind
Of relke for me because described their client as
the Jay Could of the Pacific Coast. Now. gentle
men, q great historical person like air. Gould we
speak of without personality, and challenge your
attention to the appearance OF this defendant on the
stand to say whether he has not filed the BILL Re
of the New York stock market pulled the wires be-
hind the that brought destruction upon 50 many
honest men, and afterward, when called In court
Of Justice describe tie proceedings OF that day, he
knew absolutely nothing about It, although II was all
his own work. Aud positively as to a certain check
he had drawn ne conld not say whether 1t was for
five million or ten million dollars. When Mr.
Huntington took this stand and sw0re that TO the
dividends he Lad received from the Contract ana
Finance Company between october. 1867. and May
1870. he would not tell whether they were one mil
hon or two millions, three millions four millions or
five millions-did he not fill the billG'
Mr. Conkllng had insisted that his client was not
for what his associates had done oh the
Pacific Coast. To this Mr.. Choatc responded Swell
gentlemen II reminds me OF allbi that was intro
duced In another famous case. You remember when
Mr. Tony Weller was called In consultation about the
defence OF Mr.. plckwck. in whose arms the fair
widow who sued him had been found dssolving In
tears. and he said sammy, my advice to YOU Is TO
prove an abb. Some defendants. when brought to
trial. believe In character and some in an alib but
advise you 10 stick TO an alb and let the character