The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-05-01
LEADERS AT THE BAR
SOME PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONs
OF O'CONOR AND BRADY.
THE. LATTER WAS A BORN ORATOR
THE OTHER HAD NO SUPERIOR IN
THIS COUNTRY.
THEIR PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS

EMINENT CONTEMPORARIES OF THE
IRIsH-AMERICANs.
In an entertaining volume entitled
Extraordinary Cases. just issued, Mr..
Henry L. Clinton gives an account of
some of his observations and expert
ences at the New York bar, to which he
was admitted in May, 1916. Among the
distinguished lawyers he writes about
may be mentioned Ogden Hoffman,
Charles O'Conor. John Van Buren,
James w. Gerard, James T. Brady and
Horace F. Clark. OF the above men
toned, the we'll known Charles O'Con
or, and the less known, but almost
equally great, James T. Brady, were of
Irish parentage. -...~
Mr.. Clinton remarks that both were
alike in being great lawyers but they
were wholly unlike in their chief char
acteristics and personal appearance.
OConor was tall and well propor-
toned, with little that was remarkable
in his general aspect, except that his
countenance usually wore an extremely
thoughtful expression. Brady was short,
rather small, well proportioned except
his head. which was very large and out
of proportion to the rest Of his body. On
account Of the great size Of his head
Brady could only wear q hat made espe-
cially for him. Any one who for the
first time saw O'Conor engaged in an
argument or trial would recognize him
as man Of decided ability and Of deep
studiousness, thoroughly prepared for
the work he had in hand and wholly abb
sorbed in his case, but otherwise not
presenting very imposing appearance.
On the other hand, one who first saw
Brady thus engaged would be struck
with his dignified and commanding
presence, and the observers eye would
be at once riveted upon his massive
head. Though short, he possessed a
striking figure which would command
attention anywhere. His serene and
captivating manner would indicate ex-
treme confidence in the merits and suc-
cess of his case.
O'Conor's manner, on the contrary,
would betray anxiety as to the result
and a determination to do everything in
lawyers power to achieve a victory
for his client. Their habits, also, in re-
spect to preparation for trial presented
an extraordinary contrast. O'Conor
spared no labor in the preparation; all
the preliminary work was performed or
supervised by him, even to tho smallest
detail.
It seemed almost impossible that any
other lawyer should prepare himself so
thoroughly as he did with regard to
both the law and the facts. Brady's
habits were the reverse; he went to the
very opposite extreme. In the early part
Of his professional career, indeed, ne is
said to have been quite studious. Af-
terward. however, and especially during
the last twenty years of his life Che died
in 1868, when "a years of age), he made,
as a rule, no preparation for trial.
When consultations were appointed
for the lawyers on his side of the case
he failed to attend them. But, on the
morning when the trial began. he
promptly appeared in court. AS soon
as the trial had started, he gave close
attention. He was quite likely to learn
for the first time something about the
side he represented when the case was
opened to the jury by the attorney or
junior counsel associated with him.
After the trial had progressed little,
he would grasp, as If by intuition, the
leading features and the turning points
of the case; any one who did not know
to the contrary would suppose that he
had made as much preparation as
O'Conor before trial. AS Mr.. Clinton
puts it, O'Conor succeeded by reason of
his almost superhuman assiduity in pre-
pairing his case.
James T. Brady succeeded in spite of
his incidence and lack of preparation.
-O'Conor was good speaker; Brady was
a born orator. In addresses to jurfes
and public assemblies the one was pow.
erful, the other was magnetic. When
O'Conor closed public address, the au-
dience would applaud with considerable
enthusiasm. When Brady, on the other
hand, wound up his speech, the entire
audience would yell: Go on! Go on!"
and continue to yell so long as there
was the faintest possibility that their
demands would be complied with. In
large political meetings, when Brady
was to speak, the managers would put
him down as the last speaker in order
to hold the audience; for the vast crowds
assembled would wait to hear Brady IL
they had to remain all night. He was
the pet and idol Of the bar as we'll as
Of public meetings,
We are told that the contrast between
Van Buren, and O'Conor was very striE-.
ing. Van Buren possessed great ability
and WAS mod stud diogs