New-York tribune., 1899-06-11

ubore I am sure. he met with no opposition
in drawing as large a check as he chose
Novy why did millionaire like Mr.. Midas
modern type Of the Biblical Centurion run ''
risk Of nervous collapse by returning! 0"np'
hocorse bot, Bench and Bar conceded that Mr..
SLAUGHTER though no favorite with either was
the best aIl-around lawyer in the state lie was
indcfatgable, fearless, faithful, persistent ana
crudte; a perfect tower Of offence OF ueieho'
for q litigant-rough, uncultured, unloVapie' Ou'
strong He won his cases by fighting, asking
no ravors and granting none and no matter
how desperate a mans affairs might be- they
wore popularly supposed to be in fair way OF
recovery as soon as it became known that
Squire Slaughter had them in charge
Labor was his delight. When not in court
he was in his office. unless performing MS t"'
domestic duties Of eating and sleeping. his law
library was one of the finest in the country
The book dealers had standing orders 10 SEM
him everything published on his chosen SUBJECT
He was conservative in his way, conforming MS
methods with those of the rural attorney WIN
whom he had studied as boy by running
chores and caring little for clerical heIp OF
mechanical labor saving devices. AS the vol
umes arrived, he painfully went through theh
himself contemplating the cases IN lohshahu
under their appropriate titles, in great blank
books Coupled with this wonderful industry ne
possessed an instinct for what he called the glSt
Of matter. Lawyers opposed TO nm ior the
first time were likely to sneer that ne slthPE
cited everything in sight but if any court IN
the world could spare the time to hear MN ne
stood ready to demonstrate that each reference
sustained the point for which it had been ad-
duced
Mr.. Slaughter also had general library COM
Irising pretty thoroughly the range OF science
poetry fiction and letters. However cheaply "i
extensively bound book might be, ne UedIe"
each on, as it arrived in the same way. lie
ripped off the cover and cast it into the waste
basket and then sent the work to the bndery
per me law studenD to be bound in uniform
style Of fun calf.
always doubted Notwithstanding this pride
and care Of books, whether Mr.. Slaughter mad
any genuine love for literature. Books were his
tools rather than his friends. He was wont TO
say that he wouldn't give a subterranean hurrah
for a volume without an index, and wherever
one was lacking. he set himself at work supply
ing il. The application of this rule was APP
Iarent i'm his briefs, wherein ne did not hesitate
to make unprofessional references to Don Juan
Lavengro or Bacons Essays, for instance II
thereby he could accentuate a point. But ne
absolutely wanted that artistic sympathy when
incines book lovers to exchange Impressions
and views and would sit apart, during such
chit chat. twisting uneasily in his chair IKE a
deaf old lady at a sewing circle.
Mr. Slaughters manner in court-not man
ncrs. mark you. for he had none-was not at all
diplomatic He was audacious and aggressive
with "A chip either shoulder all the time
His busting advent seemed to say Here,
come to try the So-and-sO case. Mark my words,
I'm going to win. I'll wear you all out; I'll
grind you all down; my name is Enoch
Slaughter who doesn't know when he is
beaten; So. look OUT And, indeed, il seemed
that prediction, prejudices, impressions and
facts were alike bowled down by the
force Of his personality He buled with
out discrimination the witness on the stand. the
jurymen in the box the baliff who reached him
a glass of water, the opposing counsel and the
judge the bench. Toward the latter espe-
cally, unless he was papably with him, in
which case he scarcely veiled his contempt, ne
never scrupled to innuendoes Of bias and
favor. often outrageous in their unwarranted
conclusions but which, | am convinced. H.
stoutly believed. Such procedure had resulted
from time to time in open protests, the throw
ing OF law books and inkstands. and the in
Fiction Of heavy fines: but through incessant
untirng warfare he had brought and all to
the opinion that the easiest way to get along
with the Squire to let him go his own gait
As a remarkable instance cf how a strong in
teect Lay be absolutely lacking in self-knowl-
edge it may be said that Mr. Slaughter not only
believed himself to be generally beloved by the
profession. but also took pride in posing as the
bfoI,