Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-05
FIERCE FIGHT OF A LAWYER
Rev. Josiah Fisks Career as Pod Mar
Recalled
EXPERIENCE WITH THE KUKLUx CLAN
Finally Receives Pay for Government
work Performed During Recon-
structIon Days of the
south.

Tho city OF New Orleans has been given
another object lesson in the pertinacity OF
northern people. The stubborn prosecution
OF the famous Myra Gaines suit. that lasted
through two or three generations, has been
almost equalled by another suit, in which
Council Bluffs man is the plaintiff, and
which has been pending since the good old
days of the ku-klux. The case has reached
settlement, and 1t now looks as If the
plaintiff will in a short time be enriched by
the possession Of several thousand dollars.
The fortunate man is Rev. Josiah Fisk,
now bent and decrept with the storms and
weight of more than seventy-five years. The
money comes from judgments obtained
against the city several years ago for salary
due Fisk as district attorney. tale OF
most thrilling experiences and hairbreadth
escapes is connected with the story. Mr..
Fisk was law student and practically a
law partner of Abraham Lincoln In Illinois
In ante-bellum days. and at the close OF the
war he naturally stood high in the estima-
tion OF President Grant. AS a recognition oil
his ability and his services he was appointed
district attorney for one of the branches oil
tho city of New Orleans in 1868, and served
we'll and acceptably through the days Of re-
construction.
In 1872 he was reappointed and served
continuously until 1878, when the parish Of
Jefferson, where he was located, was turned
over to the administration of the secret
oath bound organization which terrorized
nearly all of the southern states-the ku-
klux. Negroes were nightly whipped, shot
or driven out of the country, and Fisk was
active in his efforts to investigate every
case of outrage that was reported. Finally,
warnings commenced to come from his
friends that his life was in danger and he
| 1xtua tn 1nou tow Ha
built on these lines, and as the danger in
creased he became that more pugnacious.
When the klklux got complete control of
the parish the friends Of Fisk finally got
him to understand the real dangers Of his
position, and he became less aggressive In
the discharge of his duties and was finally
| forced to leave the city few days before
this the Judge of the parish court, who was
a personal friend OF Fisks and who granted
| him the judgments for his unpaid salary
was killed by the kuklux. Fisk was marked
| for slaughter at the same time and only
escaped by leaving the court house by another
door, acting on the hint of his kuklux friend
Both left the court house together and the
| Judge was killed at the steps. A man named
Allen, who had the misfortune to slightly
| resemble Fisk, was killed by the gang under
| the impression that he was the hated lawyer
Fisks judgments aggregated about $500
| and he has been employing his time, with
| the assistance of legal friends, in trying
the supreme court of the state four times
and once to the supreme court of the United
! States. In each appeal he was successful
but every known legal obstacle was thrown
| in his way to thwart him and prevent pay
ment. When the parish board found there
was no longer way to avoid making the
| requisite levies to pay the judgment they
| hunted up all sorts Of claims against FISK
and had them credited upon the judgments
| until the judgments have been reduced tc
| less than half the original amount.
Among the Council Bluffs men who have
| undertaken to assist the old man was e.
| II. Odell. He has been in conference with
| Attorney Louque and yesterday he received
| notification that the case had been COM
promised and that Fisk would receive sum
| of between 81, 900 and $4,000. This will be
very acceptable to the old man, who is in
| firm and in very straltened circumstances
| His little home at 140 Benton street is all
| he has in this world. By the terms Of the
| compromise he will receive about $1,000 g
year until the debt is paid with interest.