The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-21
HIS FIRST LAW CASE.
HOW DANIEL WEBSTER BROUGHT
SOME s=LECTMEN TO TIME.
He Was Young Student in the Law
Office of Judge Thompson in Boscawen.
The Story Told by the Son of the En-
gineer Who Built an Old Turnpike Road.


Office of Judge Thompson in Boscawen.
The Story Told by the Son of the En-
gineer Who Built an Old Turnpike Road.
can probably furnish to readers Daniel
Websters earliest experience in managing
difficult legal case. give it on the au-
thority of my father, for the scene dates
back to 1905.
Az that period there was no good road
from what were called the Ports, to wit,
the towns of Boston, Salem, Newburyport
and Portsmouth, through the State of New
hampshire to the Connecticut river at the
point now known rs White River June
ton. The means of communication were
so wretchedly bad that the merchants
could not send goods to the interior except
at great inconvenience. The Legislature
of New Hampshire finally chartered the
''Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike" to be
constructed over the route mentioned. The
stock was principally taken in the towns
on the seaboard, and the corporation of
Portsmouth itself subscribed largely to the
undertaking. A special tax was levied to
meet the subscription, the money collected
and paid into the treasury. This money
was only to be paid over to the turnpike
company when the road had been finished
to a certain point.
Myfather was the engineer for the upper
part of the road, and when all was ready
the proper documents were prepared to
verify what had been done. These were
taken by him to the Office of Judge Thomp-
son in Boscawen, the attorney for the turn
pike company. give what follows in my
fathers own words:
STORY OF TIE CASE
"On handing the papers to Judge Thomp-
son he told me he would send his son-in-
law, who was his partner, immediately to
Portsmouth, and requested me to call in q
couple of days, when the money would be
ready for me. At the appointed time Twas
at his Office. His partner had returned
without the money. 1t seems there had
beena change of political parties, and the
new selectmen decided that the action of
their predecessors was unconstitutional,
and declared they intended to test theq ques-
tions in the court.
81 was dumfounded. had felt sure Of
the money. The company was in great
need of it, and know how much this fail
ure would embarrass them. My face
must have exhibited intense disappoint-
ment. Suddenly Judge Thompson eX-
claimed:
"'I believe will send Dam
"At this a thin face was turned up from
desk near by, showing Il pair of immense
black eyes and swarthy yisage. 1t was
Daniel Webster, then twenty-five or twen-
ty-three years old. He was law student
in Judge Thompson's Office and had nearly
finished his course
eyes, will send Dan,' Judge Thomp-
son repeated. Come again in three days
"All this time Dan did not utter
word, but continued his reading
"At the end Of three days | returned.
Young Webster had collected the money.
exchanged but few words with him at
the time. When in Judge Thompsons
private Office | asked how it was done.
This was his explanation:
Taking a letter OF introduction to the
Judges correspondent in Portsmouth,
young Webster presented himself and
asked permission to use his Office to trans
act a little business. He at once proceeded
to issue, in Judge Thompson's name,
separate writs for each of the town officials,
holding each to bail, after the practice of
that time, in his individual capacity. The
sheriff was sent for, the writs pHt in, his
hands with directions to serve Immediately
and to inform the persons against whom
they ran that Judge Thompson's repre-
sentative would be, for that day, at the
Office designated.
WEBSTER WINS.
In short time they came running in"