Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-13
GEN. BILLY FITZGERALD
A Picture of the Man Who May Help to
Convict Durrant.
The Attorney General of California
His Legal Career In Viclssburg.

The Geographic announcement that At
torney General Fitzgerald may be called
upon to make the closing argument for the
prosecution in the case of Durrant, who is
on trial for the murder of Blanche La
mont in San Francisco, has occasioned
much interest among his many friends in
Washington. There is not southern man
who Goes not know Gen. Billy Fitzgerald
of Vcksburg" by reputation, and not a
Missssippian of any note who does not
know HIM personally. He was prosecuting
attorney of Vicksburg for many years, and,
although an extreme republican in politics,
never had any opposition for the place. He
was regarded while holding this Office as
the best criminal lawyer in the south, and
when an important case was being tried in
Nicksburg the leading papers of the south
invariably sent their good men to report
Billy Fitzgerald's speech.
One of his most remarkable successes was
the conviction of man who was charged
with murder. Fitzgerald had but the
flim5iest evidence to work upon, and that
vas entirely circumstantial. Still, he once
told the writer, he was absolutely sure of
the prisoners guilt. Upon the night that
the crime had been committed there had
been an unusually severe thunder storm.
When the evidence was all in the defense
was confident of acquittal, and its lawyers
based their arguments upon the absolute
failure CT the testimony to connect their
client with the crime. The jury seemed to
have already settled the case in the pris-
oner's favor. when Fitzgerald arose to
make the closing argument. He admitted
that no human eye save that of the victim
saw the crime committed, but said that the
Almighty saw it and expressed his anger in
his elements. Then he proceeded to vividly
describe to the minuteSt detail the murder
as he had assured himself it had been COM
mitted. He pictured the murderer stealthily
creeping upon his victim; the short, sharp
struggle; the plea for mercy stified by the
thrust of the knife. Then he followed the
murderer fleeing from the scene. the storm
enveloping him, every flash of lightning
the angry glance of an Omnipotent eye;
every peal of thunder sentence of ven
geance from an outraged Cod AS he pro-
ceeded in this way the strain upon the
dense crowd in the court room grew ter
rifle.
face grew ashen and his teeth chartered.
He was pitiable object Fitzgerald
pointed trembling finger at him, and in
ringing whitening tones hurled al him the
saved him that night from His wrath in
order that he might be dealt with by his
brother men. There was no use for any
thing else. The accused had broken down
ard was pleading for mercy between the
sobs of a confession, and the jury found
him guilty without leaving the box
Gen. FITZGERALD spent some time in Wash
ington during the latter part of President
Arthur's administration. and was appointed
by the latter justice in Arizona. After
u
fl rnia where his legal attachments soon
secured for him most lucrative recognition.
In a very short time he was elected men,
Der of the supreme bench of California, and
at the last election was chosen attorney
general of the state. He is short in stature
and quite stout, with a strong, smooth face,
that bespeaks his Celtic ancestry. He al
WAYS dressed in black when in Washing
ton with an eXpanse of white linen shirt
BOSOM and wore a high hat. He was far
sighted, and was prodigtous reader.
In the morning he would walk up and
down the avenue from 18th to 18th streets,
in front of Wizards, reading the paper.
He would tip his beaver slightly back from
his brow, hold the paper at arms length
and walk with something that closely re-
sembed pompous strut, although he was
the most unassuming of men in every way.
One morning Maj, Eugene McMichael of
the War Department and the writer were
standing at Wizards awaiting Fitzgerald.
AS he came down, reading his paper IN the
manner described, a stranger touched Nc
Michaeps arm and politely inquired: Can
YOU tell me who that gentleman is?' Nc
Michael cast glance toward his friend,
took in his entire appearance, which un-
consciously gave the impression OF supreme
Importance, and then quietly remarked:
.'Well, he looks a good deal like one of
the twelve apostles, but I think he's Gen.
Billy Fitzgerald Of Vicksburg."
The stranger broke into a laugh that
shook him all over, and went into the hotel
still shaking. 1t was Mark Twain, and he
enjoyed McMichaers dry humor to the full
Those who know Cen Fitzgerald, there
fore, are anxious that he may take upon
himself the duty of closing the case of the
state of California against Durrant They
know that speech would be the effort of his
is to make 1t there are three or four men
in Washington who will gladly cross the
continent to hear it.