Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-12

ance in court as certain to relieve the ordi-
nary tedium OF a trial. But he was not all
fun. He could be terrible and scathing
when he chose, and the sharp sarcasm which
made the Laiilaw-Sage suit celebrated was
employed to the confusion and embarrass-
ment of witnesses in many an earlier and
less famous case. No more cutting re-
mark was ever made in court room than
Choate's utterance in the suit of Architect
Hunt against Mrs. Paren Stevens. In sum-
ming up he sketched Mrs. Stevens rise to
social prominence in eloquent terms, con-
cluding:
And at last the arm of royalty was bent
to receive her gloved hand, and how, gentle
men of the jury, did she reach this impos-
ing eminence? IAN impressive pause)
Upon a mountain of unpaid bifs!"
why Choate Succeeded.
When asked Mr. Choate to what he at
tributed his success as a lawyer, he said:
ITO studying the books and fighting In the
courts, principally to fighting in the courts
The remark calls attention to another oil
Mr. Choate's characteristics. He is a broad
gauge man. He does not win cases on fine
technicalities but by appealing to the broad
basic principles of the law. He presented
this view in the celebrated case of the
Mylod election certificate, which involved
the control of the New York senate, when
he said:
"These questions OF disputed elections
were not to be settled by technicalties or by
appeals to techncalitles. They
were to be decided on their substantial
features" He has acted on a principle in
every important case in which he has ap-
peared-and the list includes almost every
trial of national interest that has come VI
since 1870.
Mr.. Choate threw an interesting light on
one cause OF his success as a lawyer when
he said:
II have made it my rule never to neglect
a case, no matter how unimportant 1t may
seem. doctor owes 1t to the dignity OF his
profession to treat cut finger successfully,
Just as he would a fractured skull The
same thing is true of the lawyer, although,
unfotunately, not all attorneys appreciate
the fact" 1t Is due to this devotion to the
interests of even the humbfest clients that
Mr. Choate Is a stickler for the dignity OF
his profession and he has the courage 10 de-
fend it's rights, no matter by whom they
are ignored.
Rebuking n Judge.
On one occasion, when Choate was ad-
dressing Dencn on Wnlen JuuSe van bTunL
was sitting, the latter turned his chair
around and began talking to one OF his as
sociates. This habit which other judges
have been known TO indulge in. is annoying
to lawyers. but they think 1t the part of
wisdom not to notice 1t. Choate, however.
instantly paused in his address and stood
gazing at the bench, with his arms folded.
When Judge Van Brunt surprised by the
hush in the court room, looked around Mr..
Choate said:
''Your honor, have just forty minutes In
which TO make my argument. ! shall need
every second OF the time and also the un-
divided attention OF the court" "And you
shall have it," replied the judge, instantly
acknowledging the justice OF the appeal.
These incidents give fairly accurate view
OF the qualifications with which Choate
started out on his career as lawyer-a pro-
found belief in his profession. reliance on
broad principles rather than fine TECHNICAL
ties keen judgment, ready wit and genial
manner. To these must be added unlimited
ambition and a studious nature. These ad-
yantages soon outweighed the objections OF
wealthy family, a distinguished cousin and
partner famous as a lawyer and public
man.
There was no nonsense about Choate. He
wanted to be successful lawyer, and he was
never led away from that aim. He said tC
one of his youthful friends
II would rather be the leader of the New