The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-16

course of study under his father at Smith
ton. Before he was u he was admitted
TO the bar In 1871 he located in Wash
ington, Kan, where he took desk room In
the office of Thomas j. Humes, now judge
OF the criminal department OF the supe-
rior court. Not liking that country. the
following year he went into New Mexico
and Arizona, and from there an adveu-
furous spirit prompted him TO seek his
fortune in the mines of Alaska In May.
1883. he found himself at Juneau, but
there he experienced a rude awakening
from his dream of wealth. and in Octo-
Der turned his face toward Washington.
He located at Snohomish. then place OF
about 800 people, and pracuced his profess
sion until June, 1856, when he went to the
village of Spokane Falls, now the thriv-
ing city of Spokane After a. stay of six
months he came to thiy~city, and in 1887
formed a partnership with J. T. Ronald.
with whom he had become we'll acquaint-
ed while practicing at Snohomish Mr..
Ronald was at that time prosecuting at
torney for the district formed by King,
Snohomish and kitsap counties, and he
appointed Mr.. Piles his deputy, a position
he held for two years. In 1889 Mr.. Piles
was elected city attorney of Seattle. and
while in that office he drew all the ordi-
nances widening, Strengthening and ex-
tending the streets after the devastation
caused by the great fire.
Since then he has achieved reputation
as a skilled practitioner. and has come to
the front as a criminal lawyer. His most
notable case was, perhaps. that OF the
State VS.. Ursula Unfug. whom he cleared
of charge of murder in the first degree
in having shot and killed Thomas Hen
derson Boyd. His last case was that of
the State VS.. Paul f. Page. charged with
the murder of Harry l.. Fraser, the out
come Of which is fully known.
= &c n zQ1
Piles is Republican in politics. and one of
the most aggressive political leaders 10 be
found in the state. Since becoming a cit
izen in Washington he has been eXcep-
tionally active in the ranks of his party,
and has been a delegate TO every state
convention but one. That was the famous
convention of 1889. the first held in the
new state. and ar which Elisha =. Ferry
was nominated for governor. Mr. Piles,
who was an ardent supporter of Mr.. Fer
~. was turned down at the primaries in
this city. Nothing daunted, he and his
associates formed the Harrison Legion,
chartered a car and went to Walla Walla,
where the convention was held, and
worked their hardest for their candidate.
In convention Mr.. Piles is a fierce an
tagonist, but he brings to bear such splen-
did fighting qualities that he commands
the admiration of his opponents In the
late county convention it was his stub
nation OF Nathan Beman for auditor al
time when that candidate seemed hope
lessly defeated. Perhaps the most noted
forensic contest in which Mr.. Piles ever
engaged was in the Olympia convention.
August 10 and II. 1899, when the solid
forty-four from King drafted the canal
plank. secured its adoption into the plat
form in the face of what appeared 10 be
overw helming opposition and then as
one man fought their way through. un-
TIL hattle-stained. they emerged with the
winning ticket. headed by John Fl. Nc
Graw. Mr. Piles was one Of the foremost
OF the fortyfour. and his speech on that
occasion is remembered as one of the best
he ever made. il caused an old Ken
tuckian who was a spectator Of the scene
TO say: THAT hoy is like his father. II
was a beautiful fght. [ did not think he
could make it. hut l never saw him
aroused until now"
II is hard 70 give an idea Of Mr. Piles
as an orator lie possesses a good ad-
dress. having "A well-rounded, muscular
figure. with broad shoulders and erect
bearing, that give him an appearance of
soldity and great strength he has
large head, a round. fun face. wears
black mustaChe. is dark CompleNioned.
has beam!ng blacS eyes and a shock OF
hair the color of the ravens wing.
His voice is penetrating. and in impas-
stoned passages ranges upward 10 nigh
pitch. and az those times the speaker
slips easily about. gesturiug smoothly and
launching his thunderbolts az the opposi-
tion. II as then that he resembles great
tiger-cat aroused 10 the intensity OF dra-
matte utterance. ami woe BE- 10 his advcr-
sarv.
Mr.. Piles father. Who - a man OF strong
parts. IS stiu living az an advanced age,
IN the home az Paducah. Ky. where Gen
Grant made his first stand and fought his
f-st battle during the war % the rebel
lion.