The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-07

Curious People Crowd the Federal
COurt-Center of Interest.

Court-Center Of Interest.
Chicago Evening Post.
Excuse me. Mr.. Brown, 1 didn't get the
name of the patent you are referring to?
The Lampey? All, yes: thank YOU"
The words, spoken in a low, careless
voice, were not inherently interesting. but
they were spoken by an ex-President OF the
by a crowd which had been anxiously wait
ing for. an hour and a half to see BENJAMIN
Harrison do something or say something
being fought in the United States Circuit
Court of Appeals In the Monadnock build
ing. The court room was crowded with
people who didn't know an elevator cable
had no personal interest in the outcome or
the legal fight between the Crane Elevator
Company and the Standard Elevator Com
pany. But they did have a very lively In
terest In the picture of a man who was
for four years the President Of the United
States, the ruler of 100000 people, sitting
exercise of the legal profession in which he
had won distinction before the American
people chose him as their chief magistrate.
impressed most Of those who studied his
every movement so intently as more the
lawyer than the man of anairs, more the
counselor than the chief ruler of the great
} est nation on earth. He is short, and they
thought the brains Of the President of the
United States ought to be further from the
ground. They admitted, however. that
there were brains enough behind that pro-
tuberant forehead. and watched the actions
the ex-President's brains dictated with
close attention.
The entire morning session was occupied
by the argument Of attorney Edwin II.
Brown for the Crane company. who en-
Standard Elevator Company has been in
fringing on patents owned by his client,
and that the appeal of the Standard com
pany from the decision of Judge Jenkins,
enjoining such infringement, should NOT be
allowed. Ex-President Harrison, who Is 10
close the case for the Standard company.
followed the argument Of his opponent in
tently, and frequently bent forward over
the table in front of him to make notes of
the points of the argument. His favorite
leaning back comfortably in his chair. with
his right or left arm thrown carelessly
over its back. while the ex-presidential
gaze was fixed more or less fntenuy on
some point in the ceiling.
Frequently Mr.. Harrison and the much
younger attorney, Frank 7: Brown, who is
senior counsel on that side of the case.
whispered together in reference to some
statement of their opponent, and TX his &C.
casional satisfied smiles. with the accom-
paniment of twinkling eyes, could be taken
as an indication, Mr.. Harrison expected TO
make hay out of his opponents argument
when his own turn came
the silk-robed members of the court, Judge
Woods. Judge Bum and Judge Showaiter,
were reinforced by Judge z. 5. Grosscup
and Judge r. S. Tuthill. who occupied seats
on the platform. They were attracted
doubtless by the same laudable curiosity TO
see an ex-President trying a lawsuit that
accounted for the large attendance OF spec
tators in the court room.
Early in his argument Mr.. Brown re-
ferred TO TO- a .d Gsse .rieh 6y ,a ,ne law cc,, nsm on on
the other side was a member" Mr.. Harrison
only looked bored at the compliment. how
ever. and with a stubby lead pencil con-
veniently held in his mouth looked through
one of the piles of law books on the table.
Mr.. Harrison then whispered to his .asso-
c,ate. after which he conferred with his
client, ex-Mayor John A. Roche, the head
of the Standard Elevator Company. who
then left the court room temDorariiy on
some kno mission: Mr.; Harrison
comfortable position and looked intently. at
the ceiling over his iron-bowed spectacles.
The value aSS n Of t the d trsyer'ns e s,1tacs ~as
observed the counsel making the argument.
The spectators didn't know what IL was
about, but Mr.. Harrison gathered some
meaning from il. for he wrinkled his brows,
made a notation and then took a handker-
chief from his pocket and carefully laid
ii across his knee. subsequently, Mr.. Har-
rison at intervals rubbed his fingers with
the piece of linen. which later furnished the
nearest approach to a sensation in the case
by falling to the floor. Inc deputy Inlted
ran 2 close race for the honor OF return
ing it to Mr.. Harrison and the stenograph-
err won.
Then the case proceeded. Mr.. Brown
made an elaborate explanation, from a
model in front of him, of the workings of
the Crane elevator. to show the advantages
of the double cable system. TO which his
client claims the exclusive right. Judge
Woods wasn't quite clear on that point and
observed:
.I confess I don't quite see, if one
operates on the valve and the lever works
freely. how the other cable has any effect
because the operator can make the car
move as ierky as he pleases. Does II pre-
vent jerky work"
\ sir" admitted counsel. with ap-
parent regret, while the other Mr.. Brown,
he of the Standard elevator side Of the
case. got up and looked at the model i'm
great elee. while Mr.. Harrison showed his
enjoyment more moderately. remaining
seated. but smiling with evident pleasure;
Then Mr.. Brown, who had the floor. did
soma more explaining in the hope of con-
vincing the court that the two-cable sys-
tenn was a great thing after all.
Its in the intermediate spaces that YOU
claim il has operation asked Judge
Woods.
Yes. sir
"Ah, | get your thought now"
In this Judge Woods had a distinct adj
vantage over the spectators. but the case
proceeded just the same. Mr.. Harrison
seemed somewhat grieyed that Judge
Woods should have got that thought. and
pensiyely cleaned his finger nails.
Frequently when following I'm his own law
books citations made by opposing counsel
ex-President Harrison's lips moved rapidly,
as though he was talking TO himself: often
during the argument he interrupted. realiz-
ing what a center Of attraction he was.
We're IL not for the danger of committing
might be described as "stubby' i'm appear
ance. Even with a tall silk hat surmount-
ing his silvery hair he Is far from impos-
ing in stature.