Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-09-07
REEDS FIRST CASE
II Occurred In San Jose, Where He
First Studied Law.

The records of the courts here show
the facts as to the career in Santa
Clara county of Thomas B. Reed 81
Maine thirty-six years ago, when he
was young man of "a years of age
says a San Jose, Cal, dispatch Al
that time he spent two years here, and
for time there were prospects that he
would cast his lot and fortune in San
Jose for life. AS he is remembered
now, he was a young man of slight
figure, and neither in bulk Nor in the
impression that he made did he give
any promise of the physical size and
political eminence which he afterward
attained
On first coming here from his ma
tive state young Reed for time taught
school at Stockton and a small public
schGcl at Alviso. Subsequently he
came to San Jose aad began the study
of law in the Office Of S. o. Houghton.
a we'll known pioneer attorney of
Santa Clara county, who afterward be-
came a congressman from the then
Fourth congressional district, which
comprised everything south OF the
counties of San Joaquin, Alameda and
San Francisco, and who is now assist
ant district attorney at Los Angeles.
Reed was admitted to the bar at the
September term of 1863 of the district
court, of which Samuel B. Mckee was
Judge
The applicat ton for Reeds admis-
sion to practice was made by Attorney
HoughtCn- The committee appointed
to examine him as TO his qualifications
WIS composed OF S. o. Houghtcn, c. T.
Ryland, the we'll known capitalist.
who died a few years ago, and w. T.
Wallace, who aterward came INFO
bench in San Francisco. At that time
Attorneys Ryland and Wallace were
partners in a f1ourishing law business
in San Jose. On the day following
the application the fact of young
Reeds admission to practice in the
court records as follows-on Septem-
Der s, 1868:
And now comes Messrs. Ryland.
Wallace and Houghton, the committee
by the court TO examine said
applicant. Thomas B. Reed. Esq, and
report favorably to the admission of
said applicant 1t is therefore ordered
by the court that the said Thomas B.
Reed, Esq, be and is hereby admit
ted to practice as an attorney and
counselor of the court upon his taking
the necessary cath
1t has been said that the examiners
only asked Reed one question, which
had little if any relevance to his
knowledge of law or practice, but the
answer was so witty that they let him
off on that and recommended his ad-
mission to practice at the bar without
further ado
On his visit to San Jose during the
campaign Of 1896, Con-
gressmah Reed made some inquiries
Judge Isaac n. Senter, who
was county judge there when he was
admitted to the bar. Reed stated that
he remembered him especially because
he tried his first case before him. 1t
was the defense Of a Spaniard named
lose Garcia, charged with an assault |
with intent to kill and murder The
testimony offered by the prosecution |
made it plain enough that Jose Garcia |
had killed his man and there was ap- |
oarently no defense TO offer. Speaking |
If it himself. Reed said once upon !
line: .All l could do was to offer some /
concerning my clients pre-
Tious good character and then talk. |
This l did to the best CT my ability. I |
scarcely knew what 1 was going to say,
,ut while on my feet happy thought |
anne to me. Admitting, for the sake OF /
I said to the jury. in my.
most persuasive way, that a Senior
Garcia did shoot this man, where is
he evidence that that Jose Garcia is
he jose Garcia now on trial in this
ourt?' I then went on to declare that
While the prosecution had offered con
iderable testimony 90 the effect that
ose Garcia had done the shooting it
lad not in the least particular identi-
led this Jose Garcia with the crime.
Suppose 1 asked, a hundred wit
lesses were to come into court and
wear they had seen John Smith shoot
Bill Brown. and then suppose a John
smith was on trial fer his life accused.
# the crime Would it not be neces-
airy. gentlemen of the jury to offer
,rcof that this John Smith was the
cry John Smith who had committed
he crime?' 1t chanced to be an I'M
sually intelligent jury" added Mr.
iced, and it saw the point very
uickly and acquitted my man. This
5 the way in which 1 tried and won
ny first case in court
Judge Senter, before whom the trial
vas hsld. died several years ago.-San
francisco Chronicle
No NrI-y1-cn ADEDC TN- TDnU