Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-10-05

| law ana Is FAMILIAR with every stream
and current of authority. He is close
student of the history of legislation
from its inception. He is thoughtful,
profound, painstaking and conscien-
tious. He is familiar with the bounda-
ries of state and federal jurisdiction
and acquainted with the decisions
which are the "peaks and promon-
| tories, the headlands and beacons of
the law" Knowing neither friend or
foe, blind to every prompting of inter-
est, a protector of the rights of all.
Judge Mestrezat has become a COM
manding figure in the brilliant gal
aXy of jurists for which the bench of
Pennsylvania is famed
STRUGGLES OF EARLY LIFE.
| Hon. Stephen Leslie Mestrezat is a
comparatively young man, born Feb
| 10, 1S48, in Mapletown, a village of
Greene county, Pa, near the Mononga
hela river. His people were and are
still tillers of the soil. Aided alone
| by his untiring industry, Mr.. Mestrezat
began his struggle with the obstacles
that usually beset the pathway of the
young lawyer. He became student
at Waynesburg college, and was grad
uated from that institution with merit
ed honors.
Having laid foundation for legal
course, so far as a thorough knowledge
of the classics could afford, he enter
ed the law department of Washington
and Lee university, when that famous
institution was under the presidency
of that distinguished southerner, Cen
eral Robert E. Lee. Among Mr.. Mes
treats preceptors were two of Amer
ica's foremost lawyers, Hon. ]. Ran
dolph Tucker and Judge ]. w. Brock
enborough.
A DETERMINED STUDENT.
Here among the hills of Virginia,
young Mestrezat spent his hours in
ceaseless toll, familiarizing himself
with those great principles which form
| the anatomy of the law. He was grad
| uated from this institution in 1871, at
the head of his class of %, and the
same year was admitted to the practice
of the law in Greene county, Pa. In
1873 he went to Uniontown compare
tive stranger, and began the practice
of the law at the county seat of Fay
cite. Twenty years later he returned
to his native county as judge of her
courts, Greene county being at that
time a part of the Fourteenth judicial
| district.
OF Judge Mestrezat's success at the
bar the profession in Pennsylvania is
familiar. AT the end of the first two
years of his practice he was rewarded
with larger clientage than is usual
with a young attorney. His success
had been such that it attracted the at
tention of the late Chief Justice
Charles e. Boyle, then the leader of
the Fayette county bar, and in 1875
he suggested to MestreZat the forma-
tion of law partnership. The latter
readily assented. and from that time
Mr. Mestrezat became a prominent
| figure in the state and federal courts.
The firm of Boyle G. Mestrezat contin-
ued until President Cleveland appoint
ed Mr.. Boyle chief justice of the su-
preme court of Washington territory.
STANDING IN SUPREME COURT.
The reports of the supreme court of
| Pennsylvania show that he was en-
gagged in nearly every important cause
taken to that court from Fayette coun-
| ty during his practice at the bar. The
| Dawson Bridge company case marked
| the close of his career before the SUI
| preme court This case attracted the
attention of the profession through
out the state. In the court below Mr.
Mestrezat was defeated, being unable
to make the court see his position on
the legal principles involved. They
had not been passed upon by the su-
preme court of the state. A large ver-
dict under the instructions of the
court was given against the bridge
| company, Mr.. Mestrezat's client. He
directed his client to take an appeal to
| the supreme court, where he argued
the many intricate legal questions in
volved in the case. and secured a re-
versal of the judgment of the court be-
low. His position on the law was
fully vndicated and sustained by the
higher court
In all the years of his practice no
attorney ever came into court with his
cases more thoroughly prepared. He
was a ready and forceful speaker, and
was prepared for every defense. He
was true to his clients, making their
cause his own. Feeling responsibility,
he listened patiently to details, and to
his industry there were only the limits
of time and strength.
In 1898. when Fayette and Greene
counties comprised the Fourteenth ju-
dicial district, Mr.. Mestrezat was elect
ed judge by a majority of over 1000,
and on Jan. 1, 1894. he began his ju-
dicial labors. On Jan. /. 1898, upon
the retirement Of Judge Ewing, Judge
Mestrezat became president judge of
the Fourteenth judicial district.
HE IS A DEMOCRAT.
Judge Mestrezat is a Democrat, pos
sessing the Jeffersonian requisites of
ability, honesty and faithfulness to the
constitution Prior to going on the
bench he was active in the interest of
the success Of his party, though he
never sought a political Office. He
comes from long line of Democratic
ancestors, and is in his political faith
to the manner born. In 1877 he was
elected district attorney of Fayette
county on the Democratic ticket in one
of the most remarkable and fiercely
contested campaigns In the history OF
the county, and served a full term OF
three years from the first Monday of
January, 1878. In 1884 and 'S5 he was
hai nf ral