The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-07-01
His Achievement in Rescuing a
California Miner.
INCIDENT IN THE ATTORNEYS LIFE
Dressed as a Miner He Appeared
For the Prisoner.

The following story OF John Van Ar
man, the celebrated criminal lawyer, ap-
peared in the Chicago Tribune:
There are but handful of men who
ever heard the tale from Van Arman's S
own lips. There are not many who
know the story at all. Among those
who have heard of this California adven-
ture, some OF them from the great law
yer himself, are: Ex-Judge Wing, Lu-
tl1er Latin Mills, Harry Olson, Assist
ant States Attorney, Attorney ]. C..
Farwell, Attorney Albert R. Gates.
John Van Arman was born in New
York in 1890 of Dutch and French par
ents. He was admitted to the bar in
New York City and commenced the
practice of law in Marshall, Mich, but
came to Chicago in 1858 and continued
as member of the local bar until his
death, which occurred in 1900.
Shortly after his return from the war,
great sorrow came to the attorney and
drove him to the mining camp. He
had three children, two daughters and a
son about twenty-five years of age,
5named John Van Arman, Jr. Van Ar
man loved this boy as few fathers have
loved sons. But the young man was
drowned in Lake Michigan.
The father was overwhelmed with
grief. He could not continue his prac-
tice of law in Chicago. His office, his
home, and all familiar scenes reminded
him of his great sorrow. He could not
force himself to sit down and read law
book or listen to clients weary tale.
Van Arman thought, perhaps. that new
scenes and hard manual labor might
cause him to shake off part, at least, of
his grief. He fixed up his business
affairs, said farewell to his family, and
completely disappeared from view for
nearly two years.
John Van Arman donned the garb of
miner and went to work in town in
California, just the place the lawyer, who
tells this story, has forgotten. He Sc
cured employment in one of the mines.
He sought, in fierce onslaught with his
pick upon the stubborn quartz, to forget.
He mingled with tine miners as one of
them and was soon looked upos one of
them. AS the noted lawyer toiled shoul-
der to shoulder in the deep shafts with
the miners, murder was done in the
camp.
In saloon quarrel one miner shot
another-nothing unusual, by the way,
but this particular shooting proved es-
recially exasperating. The victim was
popular, the slayer a quarrelsome fell
low in his cups and not we'll liked.
The murderer took to flight, an angry
mobe close upon his heels. He succeed
ed in giving himself up to the sheriff
and was put behind the bars. A band
was organized to lynch him, so high did
indignation run, but the attempt was
frustrated.
The authorities promised an immedi-
ate trial and the miners came to the con-
clusion that they might as we'll have a
legal as an illegal hanging-there could
be but one verdict of the jury, they
reasoned. No miner dared to raise a
voice in favor of the prisoner, had any
one been so disposed. A special grand
jury was summoned and indicted the
prisoner. Two days after the shooting
the man was brought before the judge
for trial. That day the miners knocked
off work and jammed the courtroom and
crowded the commons about. 1t was an
interested and bloodthirsty mob. The
judge, an unscrupulous fellow, knew
how the people felt-they wanted a
quick trial and hanging verdict
care you ready for trial?" he asked
the accused.
The defendant shook his head.
"Have you a lawyer?"
mo"
"Have you any money to hire one?"
mo"
"I'll have-to appoint one, then"
He looked about the room, addressing
the few shysters present. One lawyer
said he had to go out Of town, another
felt i'll, yet another had an excuse. No
one dared to take up the task Of de-
Tending the prisoner, SO strong was the
feeling against the defendant.
"I can't get you lawyer" said the
Judge, wearily. "That's not my fault.
You'll have to look out for yourself.