The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-22
IMMORTAL ]. N" DYING
ECCENTRIC CHARACTER WHO w.s
KNOWN IN EVERY HAMLET.
story of a Brilliant Lawyer who Fan
Under n Mental CIOud-The "PreS-
sure" Never Removed.

ROAD managers, motel keepers, editors and
large section of the populace at large 90
'''The Immortal J. NJ is reported diving =,
the residence of his nephew, William Free
here.
u. N" came into being forty-fve ,,oa-.
ago, though Jacob Newman Free is sevenf,
two years old. Free was engaged in a hal
tie for the life of man accused of mprder
at Cincinnati. The case was desperate br,
his professional faith in the innocence -
his client and his matches eloquenca ca
cured a verdict of mot guilty"
Frees appeal for mercy won the hearts -,
Judge, jury and spectators, and likewise ~
the prisoner, After the trial Free wenf n
his residence to recUperate his STRENGTH
which had suffered from the severe draft ~
a months night and day work. The "a
leased prisoner followed him there and con-
fessed his guilt. Free rushed back IN the
courthouse and dashed into the courtroom
where bench and bar were intent upon an.
other case, and shreked Your Honor
An attack of apoplexy ended the sentence
which was the last Free ever uttered ~
court. The SCATTERING of his belief in tho
murderer he had defended with SO mucb
zeal and the nervous strain together proved
too great wrench to his finely organized
mind. He recovered his health in a few
days, but his clouded intellect never.
Free disappeared shortly afterwards
When next heard from he was no moro
Jacob Newman Free, successful practitioner
and admired orator, but ~. M" lecturer on
Pressure" an unknown force with which
he identified himself and claimed to control
His fame travelled faster than the railway
ana large audiences of eager listeners await
ed him wherever he Went His renown was
a re hcSc fxryI,o ~,
tention from all other subjects
Ever since he ceased practicfne- 1aw ct
NJ has been supervising the weather .lift.
ing the pressure from the United states
and, Atlas-like, standing between his native
country and mysterious calamities which
he was sure would overwhelm millions with
undFeamt of evils if he did not intervene
lie also speedily acquired fame by his abiI-
lily TO separate the rural editor from bie ax-
changes live without paying board hills
and ride without paying railroad fare. Ow
ing to his duties as superintendent of pres
sure he did not think it incumbent unon
him to pay bills of any kind, and there are
few who can boast of ever collecting one
from him. He has been a bird of passage.
same town. He has visited every State in
the Union and nearly every town of more
than village proportions.
What pressure" is or why he was able
TO secure control over it he never under
took to explain, or at least never succeeded
He was a ready lecturer and one gathered
from his fervid remarks that pressure
is savage and vindictive and only his mar
tyrdom has prevented it from hurting the
universe back into chaos.
There is said to be hardly important
railroad in the country on which he has
not been as welcome to ride as its president.
How he secured his unparalleled assortment
Of life passes is a mystery, but he was a
may account for it in part. Over a hundred
slips of paper reading God for j. N. and
one over all lines for life" are in his possess
sion. and they have never failed to be hon.
ored.
u. Ms" appearance in rural news
paper office used to cause greater commo-
ton than a lifelong subscriber with a dark
brown grievance. When he entered the
front door the editor would vanish. if he
philosopher to mutiate the files and ex>
changes and annoy the devil" He always
demanded notice of his lectures, and when
his request was not complied with he would
return and scare the office silly with threats
to resign his position as superintendent Of
pressure" or, at least, to let it visit its
prevent him from numbering newspaper
people among his warmest friends.
Next to paying railroad fare, u. NJ en-
tertained the most hearty antipathy to hotel
bills He had no intention of paying them,
and saw no reason why he should be
nOyed with the discussion. He never failed
to register at the best hotel in the town
Long ago, when his fame was not firmly
established, he visited st. Louis, and nat
he was taking his leave the manager said:
well j. NJ you have been a welcome
visitor, and have afforded both profit and
knock off half your bill"
Il never allow anybody to be more mag
unanimous than L" replied ~ NJ" who al
story, so I'll knock off the other half
and he did. His generosity soon became
marvellous how quickly they fell in with his
ways.
~. M has been a splendid specimen of
physical manhood. He is six feet tall, and
as straight as an arrow IS supposed to be.
His features mark him anywhere as dis
tinguished: his massive brow, thin, aquline
nose. brilliant, expressive eyes, and heavy,
overhanging brows giving him regal mein.
he was at one time regarded as the hand
soonest man in Ohio.
Jacob Newman Free was born in Tifin o.,
the eldest son of a clergyman. Al four
years of age he read the Bible with ease,
and at six his proud father always had him
read the Scripture lesson and text He ac-
quired while in his teens a speaking ac-
quaintance with thirteen languages. His
memory was remarkable brief glance al
page being sufficient usually to impress 1t
verbatim upon his mind:
He went to California during the gold
craze and established a wagon train over
the mountains. He prOSpered, and in two
years was worth $4,000. He took tramp
from the range and made him partner in the
enterprise and went East to purchase sup
plies. On his return he found his partner
had closed up the business and vanished
Free returned East and began studying
law. He did not stay long on the threshold.
his oratorical abilities securing him
speedy admittance. Fame and abundant
practice were his and wealth was only a
question Of time when the collapse came
The civil war deeply affected the wander
ing philosopher. 1t offended his doctrine OF
peace and love, and he started South 10
bring it to an end. He penetrated the Con-
federate lines and had nearly accomplished
his purpose of interviewing Jefferson DAVIS
and entreating him to surrender when ne
was unceremoniously bundled North. ,.,ob
They gave me thirty minutes in when
to leave" he used to say, "and / have
twenty-nine and half of EN- coming 10
me-"
He was personally acquainted with AoTao
ham Lincoln. and never failed TO receive
considerable and kind treatment from the
His memory of names and races
IS of the proverbial kind, as he rarely lol
gets either There are those who believe
ne knows more people than any other LIVING
man.
y. NJ was a warm friend of Congress
man Lands, and; during the campaign la ~
fall. visited the Delphi orators district 10
lift the veil" which he imagined was