The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-08-18
AS. CHIEF JUSTICE
The Appointment of Sir CharIe1
Russell Looked Upon With !
Favor by Both
PRESS AND BAR OF ENGLAND.

PRESS AND BAR OF ENGLAND,
The Climax of His Career Reached
in the Parneu Commis-
sion Case.
OF the many Anglr Norman families,
whose descendants have become re-
nowned on the continent OF Europe in
tho United Xii gdom, and in America, I
know Of none which boasts prouder
lineage than that OF Russell, says NJ. J.
Jordan in "Donahoe's Magazine"
When RolIo the Northman invaded
Normandy there was certain squire in
his train named Turstain, descendant
of Olak, the sharp e,ej king !, .Rerik
who claimed as the price of his allegiance
the barony of Brig check and it's castle
of Rozsl, near Glare Hugh. de Rozel
accompanied William the Conqueror into
England, and from him the Russel1s of
the House of Bedford, as we'll ais the
scattere families of that name in Ireland
and Massachusetts, claim descent. m
Ireland the Russells were one of the Nor
man families which became ''more Irish
than the Irish themselves" Charles Ar
thur Russell was born in the county
Down, Ireland. in the year 1888. His
early education was acquired liz Newry,
where he was fitted to enter Castlenock
College, which is we'll known to all Amer
icau visitors to Dublin, from it's pictur-
esque position on the skirts of the
Phoenix Park, and it's close proximity to
the famous strawberry beds.''
After short time Sir Charles Russell
mAtriculated at Trinity College, Dublin,
and did not obtain degree, presumably
because SO few facilities were then &C.
corded to Catholic students by the uni
yersities OF the United Kingdom, where
they were tolerated, but not recognized.
1t is Of melancholy interest in the light
of later events to notice that the first
Catholic scholar, as we'll as the first Cath
olic Fellow Of Trinity College, Dublin,
was Professor Thomas Mcguire, whose
life terminated SO tragically on the eve of
the famous Pigott exposures. Like Thur
low, who afterwards became Lord Chan
cellor of England, Sir Charles Russell
first became solicitor, pract1cing at
Dundalk, where some wonderful stories
are told of his early encounters with the
celebrated John Ross.
But q just appreciation Of his own tai
ents urged him to the higher profession
OF barrister, which he attained IN 1859,
being then called to the Euelish bar,
from Lincoln's Inn. His early struggles
at the English bar are not surprising to
any ono who has ever spent year il the
inns OF court. He supplemented his mar
row income by what he drew from contri-
buttons to several newspapers. in this
field Of his labors having worthy help
mate, it is said, in his wife, who is near
relative Of Rosa Mulholland, the novelist.
His fine presence, strong common sense,
good nature and iollity, soon made him
hosts of friends on the northern circuit
which he followed, and in short time
be had the satisfaction of finding his in
come amounting to the sum of two
thousand guineas.
Thirty years after his admission to the
bar, Sir Charles Russell was made
Queens counsel. This is merely an hon
orary distinction conferred by the Lord
Chancellor on barristers of certain
standing. Queen s counsel are distin-
Ruished from members OF the junior bar
by the silk gowns, which the rank er-
titles them to wear. This is what is
known as ".aking silk
Few men, however, who have had the
privilege OF wearing silk, and sitting in
the inner bar, have had such timely re-
cognitlon Of their superior talents as
lawyer and advocate. As a lawyer, per
haps, Lord St. Leonards alone, ana as an
advocate, Ersk1ne, received 90 early as
Sir Charles Russell substantial acknowl-
edgement of superiority in their protes
sion. There is scarcely any case of i'm
portance tried before the English courts
in the last quarter Of q century in which
the name of Russell ia not found, as
c,unsel for either Of the litigant parties.
+. 1t is worth noticing that he now has
suocessively filled the judicial positions
then occupied by the two leading counsel
in the Tichborne case, Lord Ohist jus,
tice Ooleridge and Lord Bowen, although
the Claimant had not Sir Charles Rue,
sell. opposed to him nor did he avail him:
self Of his we'll known powers 40 an advo-
cate. hare never heard that Sir Charles
Russell was offered retainer in this
case, although several other leading AN-
yers of tho time when ohered brisfsg ~
fused Americans. will doubt rsl1sll,s
bsr O'Donnelli . q Sir h1ris