The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-17
TRIBUTES OF LAWYERS.
Their Estimates of John NJ. Butler
Personal "Reminiscences.


Albert w. 'Wishard spoke yesterday of
some OF his personal "reminiscences in re-
gard to Mr.. Butler. He said: "The first
time I ever saw Mr.. Butler was one sun
day in Center Church, Charlottesville. Mr..
Butler was leading the choir. I was about
fifteen years old, and had just begun my
school life at Wabash College. At that
time a very important suit was on trial
before Judge cowan. of the Circuit Court.
u. w. Voorhees, was prosecuting the case
and Mr.. Butler was defending 1t. The COL
lege faculty gave. the students permission
to hear the argument in the case. Mr..
Butler, Henry s. Lane and Joseph Z. Nc
Donald were the most distinguished law
yers produced by the Montgomery county
bar. At the time first vent to Craw-
fordsviile Mr.. Butler was much talked
about by the students. He had solved two
problems In higher mathematics that had
never been solved by any other stucent.
His solutions were framed and placed in
the college library.
AT the age of thirty-seven Mr.. Butler
was the active member of the firm Of Nc
Donald & Butler, one of the leading law
firms o. the state He would have been
given his consent to take 1t before Albefs
@. Porter was announced He was one OF
the most influential political speakers in
the State. His plain. logical say o. stat
ing things held the attention Of every the,
and the fact that he did not seek po;:t {, al
only because a IL beIieved # to be his euty
as a citizen made those who heard h:m te-
lieve what he said. The most serious thing
death dRsi ever of %b hspP ProtSer to GEORGE Mr; ssuS HSo s sisd 's af
the age OF thirty, yet he was one of the
leading lawyers of the state at The time
of his DEATH"
Albert j. Bcveridge, who studied law with
the firm of Butler & Mcdonald and was for
a long time their managing clerk, said yes
terday of John NJ. Butler: II knew John
M. Butler and Joseph r. Mcdonald as 1
have knowp few men, and l think ! was
never closer to any one than to each OF
TN dnem The rn Wan. a toset fnerr a plct they stood yoo sf fn
life / studied law with them and was for
a long time their managing clerk. While
1t Is sa natural tn for me neu to w be T par sba to Their sr
press the unanimous opinion of the bar
when l say that in their death two of
the very greatest lawyers that Indiana
ever produced or ever will produce. passed
away. Indeed / do not think there were
two greater lawyers In the country. Mr..
Butler was a man Of mighty ability. This
was the first thing that struck you about
him. The next was his great will power
and then when you came to know him
better, his exalted character constantly
impressed itself upon you. he was a
scholarly man and during his college years
became a tutor in Wabash College and the
work Of no regular professor was eyer
~ TIN n& VI
This student habit he never lost. He never
embarked upon any subject without going
to the bottom of 1t. He was the most
1t possible that he worked too hard. He
did his work himself, seldom permitting
any one else to do any part OF II for him.
was the closest observer l ever knew.
Absolutely nothing about the office seemed
to escape his attention. | recall a dozen
auired the Office to be In perfect order.
He would notice the absence of a book
from its proper place on the shelf He
paper that went out OF his Office. even to
the point of their form and appearance.
No lawyer ever saw one o. ohm M; But.
proof Of a brief back TO the printer fo-
correction because the type OF one letter
happened TO be broken. This was a part
everything thoroughly and required the
same of every one else. Like all strong
characters his likes and disiikes were
wart. unfailing friend He was a great
Republican and believed in the elementary
doctrines OF the Republican party as he
Presbyterian C~hurch-with all his might
Indeed he did everything with all his
might. He lived with all his might. In
dianapolis will never see a greater lawyer
or a nobler gentleman"
Addison c.. Harris: when John NJ. But
Ter came to this city and entered our bar
IU
Hendricks, Mr.. Hord and others. some of
whom are now living and some dead. who
lent such lustre to the indianapolis bar.
He was in the full strength Of manhood.
endowed by nature with peculiar fitness
and aptitude for the performance OF the
duties OF a lawyer In the large and more
Important matters of active and aggressive
litigation. He never once turned aside TO
secure political preferment or popular ia
vor: but he held steadily and courageousiy
to the performances of professional duties.
Never, perhaps, in the history Of this city.
were there more cases before the courts re-
quiring thorough Investigation and clear.
logical presentation than during Mr.. But
ler's active. professional life. Mr.. Hord.
perhaps. would read a greater number OF
cases: Major Hendricks might express his
thoughts in more polished. sentences, while
Mr.. Butler excelled in analytical and force
full statement, embracing broad views and
a strong grasp OF the question under dis
Qualities naturally brought him into ma
tionai prominence in the matter of railway
aau otner corporate litigation, involving
great financial interests. and held him,
rather. from advocacy before the Jury
His time ard talents were entirely en-
srossed' with the AFFAIRS Of hi9. $!!<4tP.