The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-05-12
CHINOOK JARGON WON.

Z Lawyer Who Made His Plea In q
Tongue the Jury Could Understand.
Every old timer in Tacoma, or, in fact,
in the state of Washington, either rcmcm-
bers or had personal acquaintance with
Attorney Frank Clark. Clark has been
dead some years, but during CONVERSE
ton between attorneys his name came up,
followed by the narrative of this incident
in his career:
MANY years ago." said the lawyer tell
ing the story, CLARK had as u client n
man arrested on tho charge of cutting
timber on government land. The United
States was represented by two federal ut
torneys, brought from distance, either
Portland or San Francisco, if l remember
Alright. When these lawyers came into
court, there followed behind them porter
who unloaded upon the table fronting the
judges bench armful after armful of
books. Clark strobe in with three vol
umcs of law under his arm. The jury was
composed entirely of loggers and ranchcrs.
Opening the case, the imported lawyers
dclved deep into the tones of law before
them and cited decision after decision
bearing on the case on trial. Then, using
language half of the words of which
were too extensive for the jury's under
standing, they launched into their argu-
mcnt.
LAS the United States attorneys finish
cd Clark arose, picked up one of his law
books, and, without opening the volume,
threw it aside. The next book shared the
same fate. The third was opened only to
be cast aside. Clark then squared himself
to the jury.
"'Nesika tillicu1nsr he commenced, and
then i'll flow of Chinook jargon went on
to plead his clients cause. There was not
n man on the jury but what understood
every sentiment Clark conveyed, whereas
the high flown language of the imported
attorneys had been utterly lost to them.
"In vivid Chinook Clark painted IL word
picture of the trials and tribulations of the
settler in the wilds of a Washington forest;
of the desperate effort necessary to main
tain wife and babies And because his
client had hauled wagon load of cord
wood to the village store to trade for food
he had been arrested and his family do
prlvcd of his support.
"There was possibly not one in the jury
box but who had at some time been in
the position Clark pictured. Every SYM
pathy in them was aroused. Tears trickled
lpN IL 1uSSS1l CIlCChS Us SliiIh , SJll-
nook flowed on.
1.-The lawyers from afar were awake to
the disadvantage they were being placed
under. An objection was entered to Clark's
use of Chinook or any other language
which the opposing counsel could not I'M
dcrstand.
"'Your honor answered Clark, the
jury here Is to decide this case The cmi-
nent gentlemen for the prosecution have
used language so grandiloquent that not
one of the jury has understood its pur-
port. am speaking to them in the simple
talk of tho western fronticrsman, under,
stood alike by both Indian and white man
who traverse and have been instrumental
in the development of this northwest My
language, call it jargon If you wish, cx-
plains to the jury, and If mistake not,
also, your honor, the situation. have but
few words more to say, and, with tho
courts permission, will continue in Chi
nook
THE permission was granted and
Clark S client acquitted without tho Jury
leaving their seats. "-Tacomn News