The record-union., 1895-10-26
FAT FEES.
Some Big Ones in the Fayerweather
Case.
Nearly Half a Million Has Already
Been Divided by the Lawyers
Interested.

| Been D1VIde0 by the Lawyers
Interested.
The fees which lawyers receive are o
interest usually only to the brethren o
their confession and those who pay them
| Sometimes when men gain fame, al
Conkling did in politics, and Charlie.
O'Conor did at the bar, there is popular
interest in these earnings, as is also the
case when fee of unusual size is paid
| When the Fayerweather will was Offered
for probate, and announcement wa!
made of contest, the impression wa;
that the opportunity for the earning o
fees which, because of their size, would
become traditional, would be sure to be
taken speedy advantage OF. Some oil
the most distinguished lawyers in this
city and a few from other towns ap-
peared in the courtroom at the time OF
the first hearing that one in which Fred
eric Coudert denounced the will as q
fraud upon its face. and thereby. inferen'
TALLY at least, making accusation against
one Of the members of the bar. General
Woodford's par tner, Thomas ID. Ritch.
Not far from six millions of dollars was
the appraised value of Mr.. Fayerweath-
er's estate. He left no children, and his
widow was an invalid whose days, &C.
cording to the physicians, were num-
bered. There were collateral heirs and
some twenty colleges which had been
unexpectedly enriched by this will of q
man who was not estimated before mis-
death to be even millionaire, excepting
| by few of his closest friends.
Tho litigations have extended now
over a period of four years, and distin-
guiShed counsel have continued In the
case. The executors have disposed OF
some millions, and they have some mill
ions in their hands, and yesterday in
proceedings in court Information OF some
OF the counsel fees was made public. For
instance, John b. Parsons, whose friends
say that he is fond OF the repute which
he has of having ''the finest practice at
the English-speaking bar" received Sl5,-
900, and ex-Judge Arnoux the same
amount for services as counsel to the ex-
ecutors. This does not represent all OF
their earnings, Tor before this lasts &C.
counting Judge ArnouX had received so, :
900 upon one occasion Tor services, and
Mr.. Parsons $4,000, and then again a
second time these two counsel divided
S4l, 900 between them for a later service.
SO far, then, it appears that Parsons and
The largest fee ever awarded by our
courts was to William Nelson Cromwell
a few years ago, for services as the re-
ceiver and reconstructor of a financial in
stitution which was hit very hard at the
time of the Barings' collapse. MIR. Crom-
we'll gave but few months time to this
work, and for that reason his fee seemed
TO be unduly great. 1t was in the neigh
borhood of $50, U00 and, large as it was,
/ - Phi Hur "a
court az having been fairly earned. be-
cause Mr.. CromwelPs management saved
the property, and indirectly was instru-
mental in giving renewed confidence to
the mark ct.
Mr.. Conkling's great fees have been
the subject OF much interesting discus
sion. and there is no doubt that some of
them match the largest received by some
| of the ablest OF our lawyers. One anec-
dote was told this morning Of the manner
in which Mr.. Conkling gained some of
his fees. There had been litigation be-
tween two Western railways, and the
| subject was put in the hands of referee,
who had some fifteen or twenty hearings
no one of which lasted more than an hour
! or two. Mr. Conkling served as one OF
the counsel for one of these corporations.
| At last there was an agreement of set
| Element which compelled q payment
| from Mr.. Conkling's clients to the other
| corporation, and an agreement to pay all
| counsel fees and expenses.
Mr.. Conkllng was asked for his bill.
Il was thought that he might charge as
much as $4,000, although all OF the other
| counsels were satisfied with 8. 0OC
apiece. MIR. Conkling, however, charged
| $4,000. The railway corporation pro-
tested. claiming that the charge was ex-
orbitant. Mr.. Conkling was asked to
shave his bill, but instead OF doing so he
said with characteristic emphasis, strik-
| ing his desk with bis fist as he did so
| Fifty thousand dollars and not one cent
less" and he meant it, 80 that the com
pany was compelled before it got It's
discharge to pay him that large sum.
! This incident got noised abroad and il
! frightened one or two corporations which
! have been disposed to place cases in Mr..
! Conkiing's hands, and they retained
| other lawyers.
One of the most remarkable fees ever
| paid in this city was an indirect one.
| The Government had entered into very
/ important litigation with very promi-
nent business house over an alleged vio-
| lation OF the revenue laws, by means
| OF which enormous under valuations had
| been made. Suits were begun, and q
proposition was made to the collector
! and to the l nlted States District AttOr-
ney, who was then Noah Davis. for set
Element. Into the case had been called
as one of the advising counsel, very
prominent politician, who was also III
/ official relation with the Government.
/ lie then held. and did for many years.
an important official post. and he mad d
very high reputation as man OF integ-
rity. 1t was the intention of the defend
ants in this case to pay him a retainer OF
/ SIG, 900, but 1t was suggested to them that
/ his relations to the Government would
make 1t improper, If not strictly illegal.
/ for him to receive any retainer or fees
The case was settled and the $50, 600 was
delivered to some one who bought real
estate with 1t ana subsequently turned
that real estate over TO this Government
officer. That property appreciated in
value so that in few years it was ap-
praised by the Assessors as worth 500.
600. 1t has always been a question among
those who knew all these facts, and who
knew the distinguished public man
whether or not he had knowledge that be
was in this indirect way really paid fol
his services in that litigation. hiladel.
phia Press.