The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11

events. when Voorhees, made stirring
speech for his client, in the course of which
he referred in caustic terms to the other
parties TO the cause. the pugnacious indi-
viduai felt aggrieved and swore vengeance
against the lawyer. He announced that he
would horsewhip voorhees, on sight.
HOW HE COWED = BULLY.
Voorhees, knew the bully and was perfect
ly sure that the threat would be carried out
to the very best oftthe tough's ability. He
went over to the Main-street office. entered
the room and locked the door He sat down
and thought the whole matter over. He
came to the conclusion that if he allowed
the bully to whip him the circumstance
would be to him a professional disaster. lie
was only young lawyer, just beginning to
get few cases, and blow of the kind i'm
pending would be a thing from which he
might never recover.
Old John Baird. Voorhees, friend, had
an office just across the hall. He had heard
of the threat had seen Voorhees, enter his
office and felt that the moment was critl-
cal one for the career Of the young lawyer.
So Baird stepped to the latter's door and
turned the knob 1t was locked
"Dan," he called out, let me in.
VOORHEES, was deeply absorbed in his re-
Elections as to the proper course to pursue
and paid no attention.
Dam came the voice of the old lawyer.
in sharper and higher tone, ''let me in or
I'll kick this door down.!
Voorhees, admitted Mr. Baird without fur
Their delay. The latter looked at him in an
inquiring fashion, but for a moment neither
spoke. They sat down facing each other.
and then the old man said:
You've heard of that bluff?'
Yes" Voorhees, replied.
What are you going to do about 1t?
We'll, said the young man, We peen
thinking the matter over pretty carefully"
''Yes2"
And have made up my mind to kill the
fellow"
Old John Baird got on his feet without
another word and beckoned voorhees, TO fol-
low him. The men passed into Bairds office,
containing an an assortment of revoivers.
Take your choice he said, pointing TO
lie lot.
weapon and made an examination of it.
This one will dc" he said.
The old man fished around until he found
some cartridges for the revolver. Then he
loaded it up and handing it TO voorhees, re-
marked: Now. stop him. do ii for your
own good and for the good of the commun>
ity.'
All this occurred on a certain Saturday
morning. The afternoon of the same day
VOORHEES,, with Baird's revolver in the side
pocket of his sack coat, went down the
county. He expected to meet the fellow
somewhere on the courthouse square, and
face to face on the south side of the court
house near the Third-Street corner. AS soon
as the bully saw the lawyer he gripped the
butt of his ever-ready borSeWhlp ana pre-
pared to sail in.
I'm goin' to horsewhip YOU" he said.
VOORHEES, calmly drew his hand from his
side pocket and in it was clinched old
Baird'S formidable firearm.
And / going to kill YOU" voorhees,
replied, leveling the pistol at the bully's
head.
The bully became limp. Voorhees, stepped
closer to him, seized the whip from his
nerveless grasp and gave him few terrific
stripes over the shoulders. Then he handed
the whip back to it's owner and said:
Now get out of town and never give me
the ghost of an excuse for 1t or I'll Kill
you" - -
The bully sneaked away, mounted his
horse and has never been seen in Terre
Haute from that day.
In appearance Mr.. voorhees, was one or
the most striking figures in the Senate. He
was Familiarity known as 1.-THE Tall Syc-
amore of the Wabash by reason of his
large and magnificently proportional figure.
As an orator lae had few peers. His legal
reputation based largely on his foren-
sic powers, and it is an undoubted fact
that success attended his efforts in many
+ cases commonly regarded as almost hope
less, owing to his ability to sway the jury
by the magnetic qualities of his address
Notwithstanding Mr.. Voorhees, earned large
fees as a lawyer and had drawn nearly
$3.50 coo from the public treasury as salary
for services during the forty-one years of
his public life he died comparatively poor.