The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-11
THE MARION COUNTY BAR IN 1857.
Jonathan w. Gordon.

Jonathan W.. Gordon was a genius In the
sense that he was endowed with remark
able gifts. He was also a genius in the
lower sense given to the word by those
who say 1t is little IL anything more than
the lndomitable will which fights against
all obstacles and never tires in pursuit or
its aims. His life was full OF romance.
Poverty did not clip his wings; it rather
aided him in his flight. / have heard the
story of his earlier life in fragments from
his own lips. Born In Pennsylvania he
drifted West with the emigrants from the
Keystone State; tarrying a short time in
Ohio, he found a home at last in Ripley
county, Indiana, in the midst or the
bamboo thickets" which never had any
existence outside of Sims Colley's imagin-
alton. In the early forties We find him
deeply immersed in the study of medicine.
He performed the journey from Versailles
to Chicago to attend the medical college
on foot, being too poor to travel otherwise.
Desiring afterwards to pursue his studies
in anatomy, he undertook with some equal
ly venturesome students to procure a sub
ject for dissection from the village GEM
etery at Versailles. The cemetery is bound
ed on the east by the precipitous bank of
Laugheryc reek, which rises sheer from the
bed OF the stream 10 a height of fifty feet,
more or less. Surprised and surrounded at
their work the amateur resurrectionists
had no way of escape except by the creek
side. Gordon made for the cliff. leaped out
into the darkness and reached the bottom
after being pretty well scraped and bruised
by the tree branches. Pulling himself to-
gether he managed to flank the pursuing
party and got back TO his bed without be-
ing caught. The small village community
was in a buzz about the affair, and Gordon
was not long in discovering that he was a
suspect" Just then the army broke out"
and Gordon condoned the matter by march,
ing with the Indiana volunteers TO the
Mexican war, and the escapade was for
given, though 1t will never be forgotten.
Jerry Skeen took me TO the cliff one day
TO show me where the great leap was
made, and to-day the children Of Versailles
tell the story to visitors with such frills
and trimmings as traditions usually carry.
During an epidemic there Gordon had an
active practice for a young physician. He
had bad luck and he frankly owned that
there were several graves in the cemetery
that would not have been there but for his
mistaken diagnoses. Let brother physicians
who are without sin cast the first stone at
the grave Of the erring young doctor. The
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upon him to such an extent that he turned
his attention to the law. he might blunder
in his new vocation, but he would have
nobody's life to answer for. His medical
studies were Of great use 10 him as a
lawyer in cases involving questions Of med
zeal Jurisprudence. A quack witness who
set himself up as a medical expert was al
ways made TO appear RIDICULOUS under Cor
don's cross-eXamination Occasionally, how
ever, he met his match. There are some
physicians who know how 10 testify upon
a scientific question In language which a
jury of plain citizens can understand, and
there are others who imagine that they
are making a fine impression when they
exhibit a wonderful facility In the use OF
technical terms which are all Greek TO the
nonprOfeSSiOnal man. Once Gordon tackled
DR.. Z. II. jameson, whe had given a
Gordon tried to break him down. but failed.
and gave IL up in despair. In his address
to the jury he tried to show that the Doctor
was wrong, but said that when he heard
Or: Jameson make such a statement he
felt "as II one OF the fixed stars had left
in a Cincinnati medical college Vas here
as a witness for a brother doctor in a mall
practice case. The professor was a man OF
a volubifity that was marvellous. Gordon
squared himself for a tussle, and he had IL
Tor several hours. The witness. who was
an old stager, knew his rights, and that,
when compelled 20 give a categorical yes
or no answer he would have leave 10 ex-
pam. % ne WOULD say, eS, 1OlODel Tor
don. but with this explanation" He would
then turn to the jury and deliver them an
address OF five or ten minutes, until he
appeared to be a popular speaker who was
entitled 10 the floor, while the Colonel
seemed TO be some impertinent interlocutor
interrupting him. At last, his patience worn
out, Gordon said: stand aside. I'd lust
as leave try 10 cross-examlne a whirlwind.'
But these were exceptional cases, for. as
a rule, he came out OF these encounters
with flying colors.
Once embarked In the law he buckled
down 10 his studies with the energy and
persistence which always characterized MIN.
His powerful constitution, though weakened
somewhat Oy disease contracted IN the
army in Mexico, enabled him 10 accomplish
a range OF study, reading AID miscellaneous
practice that Few men could bear. His en-
ergy was tireless and s~leeDless In the lit
erai sense OF the words. never knew a
man capable OF working so long and 50 con-
tinuogsly without rest or recreation. His
recreation consisted In mere change OF work.
BY easy trans tons he went from the study
OF the most difficult law gu -stiOns 20 Iie-
ber's Political Hermeneutics'' or Rants
"Critique OF Pure Reason" and on occasion
he could drop into poetry or fiction. though
resources were so vast. and his preparation
so elaborate, that he was sometimes embar-
raised and tedious In presenting his case.
AS he once expressed IL himself. he was
like the farmer who put such a big load In
his wagon that IL broke down before he
got To market" He was not content 10
appear in any case without full preparation,
gree an off-hand ability which always en-
abled him 10 acquit himself with credit.
/ think those who knew him Well and haVa
encountered him at the bar VIII agree with