Evening star., 1899-03-30
CHINOOK JARGON WON.
How O FrOntfersman Got Ahead o
Some City Attorneys.

How O FrOntfersman Got Ahead of
Some City Attorneys.
From the Tacoma News.
Every old-timer in Tacoma, or, in fact,
in the state of Washington, either remem-
bers or had a personal acquaintance with
Attorney Frank Clark. Clark has been
dead some eight years. but during a con-
versation between attorneys his name came
up, followed by the narrative of this in
cident in his career: +,1a
Twelve years ago." said the lawyer tell
ing the story, CLARK had as client a man
arrested on the charge of cutting timber
on government land. The United States
was represented by two federal attorneys,
broughC from distance, either Portland
or San Francisco, II l remember arlSnt.
When these lawyers came into court there
followed behind them porter, who un-
loaded armful after armful of books. Clark
strode III with three volumes of law under
his arm. The jury was composed entirely
OF IoSgerS and ranchers. Opening the case,
the imported lawyers de.Ved deep into the
tones of law before them and cited deci-
sion after decision bearing the case on
trial. Then using language, one-half of
the words of which were too extensive for
the jurys understanding, they launched
INTO their argument
AS the United States attorneys finished
Clark arose, picked up one of his law books
and, without opening the volume, threw it
The third was opened only to be cast aside.
Cark then squared himself to the. jury.
Neslka tiillcums," he commenced, and
then in flow of Chinook jargon went on
to plead his clients cause. There was not
man on the jury but what understood
every sentiment Clark conveyed, whereas
the high-f1own language of the imported
attorneys had been utterly lost to them
In vivid Chinook Clark painted word
picture of the trials and tribulations of the
settler in the wids of a Washington forest
or the desperate effort necessary to main
tain wife and babies And because his
client had hauled a wagon load of cord
weed to the village store to trade for food
he had been arrested and his family de-
prived of his support.
Ihere was possibly not one In the jury
box but what had-at some time been in the
position Clark pictured Every sympathy
IN them was aroused. Tears tricklei down
their rugged cheeks as Clarks Chinook
flowed on. ~
The lawyers from afar were awake to
the disadvantage they were being, placed
under. An objection was entered to tClark's
use of Chinook or any other Iangua pc
which the opposing counsel could not un
derstand ~
Your honor answered Clark, the jury
here is to decide this case. The eminent
gentlemen for the prosecution have used
language SO grandiioquent that not one of
the jury has understood it's purport / am
speaking to them in the simple talk of the
western frontiersman, understood alike by
both Indian and white man who fraverse
and have been instrumental in the deyeion-
ment of this northwest. My language call
II jargon If you WISH explains to the st,trv
and. II mistake not, also, your honor. the
situation. l have but few words more
TO say, and. with the courts permissIon
Will continue in Chinook -
The permission was granted and Ola rlx e
client acquitted without the jury leaving
their seats