The times., 1899-04-09
A sHREWp SCHEME.
Speech tn the Jury in Chinook Jar

From tIe Tacoma Nevs.l

From the Tacoma NewsJ
Every old-timer in Tacoma or, in fact
in the State of Washington, either remem-
hers or had personal acquaintance with
Attorney Frank Clark Clark has been
dead some eight years. but during a con-
yersation between attorneys his name
came up followed by the narrative of this
incident in his career:
Twelve years ago" said the layer
telling the story, CLARK had as a client
man arrested ON the charge OF cutting
timber on Government land. The United
States was represented by two fed=ral at
torneys. brought from distance. either
Portland or san Francisco if I remember
Alright When these lawyers came into
court there followed behind them a porter
who unloaded upon the table fronting the
judges bench armful after armful OF
books. Clark strobe in with three volumes
of law under his arm. The jury was COM
posed entirely of loggers and rAnchers.
Opening the case the imported lawyers
deived deep into the tones of law before
them and cited decision after decision
bearing on the case on trial. Then using
language, one-half Of the words of wh-ch
were too extensive for the jury's under
standing they launched into their argu-
ment.
As the United States attorney finished
Clark arose. picked up one OF his Law
books and, without opening the volume
threw il aside. The next book shared the
same fate. The third was opened only TO
be east aside. Clark then squared himse
TO the jury.
'Nesika tillicnms,' 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 flown language OF the imported
attorneys had been utterly lost on them.
In vivid Chinook Clark painted a word
picture of the trials and tribulations of
the settler in the wids OF a Washington
forest. OF the desperate effort necessary
TO maintain wife and babies And be-
cause his client had hauled u wagon load
OF cordwOOd to the village store to trade
for food he had been arrested. and his
family deprived of his support.
There was possibly not one in the iury
box but what had at some time been in
the position Clark pictured. Every SYM
pathy in them was aroused Tears trick
led down their rugged cheeks as Tiark's
Chinook flowed on
The lawyers from afar were awake 10
the disadvantage they were being placed
under. An objection was entered to
Clark's use OF Chinook or any other Ian
guage which the opposing counsel could
not understand
' Your honor answered Clark, the
jury here is to decide this case. The EN-
inent gentlemen for the prosecution have
used language so grandiloquent that not
one of the jury has understood its pur-
port. l am speaking TO them in the SIM
pie talk OF Western frontiersmen. un-
derstood alike by both Indian and white
man who traverse and have been instru-
mental in the development OF this north
uyas AItrl Ion oil "a
wish. explains TO the jury and if I mis-
take not, also, your honor. the situation
have but a few words more 20 say, and
with the courts permission. viii continue
in Chinook
The permission was granted and Clark's
client acquitted without the jury leaving
their seats