The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-29
CHINOOK JAReoN WON.
a Lawyer who Made his Plea In q
Tongue the Jury Could Understand.

a Lawyer who Made His PIea In q
Tongue the Jury Could Understand.
Every old timer in Tacoma, or, in fact,
in the state of Washington, either remem-
hers 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 a client a
man arrested on the charge of cutting
timber on government land The United
States was represented by two federal at
torneys, brought from a distance, either
Portland or San Francisco, If 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
i books. Clark strobe in with three VOL
umes Of law under his arm. The jury was
composed entirely Of loggers and ranohers.
Opening the case, the imported lawyers
delved deep into the tones of law before
them and cited decision after decision
bearing on the case on trial. Then, using
language one half OF the words of which
were too extensive for the jury's under
standing, they launched into their argu-
ment.
LAS the United States attorneys finish
ed 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 tillicumsr he commenced, and
then In flow Of Chinook jargon went on
to plead his clients cause. There was not
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.
I'm vivid Chinook Clark painted word
picture Of the trials and tribulations Of the
settler In the wilds of 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 de-
pri we'd 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
down their rugged cheeks as Clark's Chi
nook flowed on.
1.-The lawyers from afar were awake to
the disadvantage they were being placed
under. An objection was entered to Clark o
use of Chinook or any other language
which the opposing counsel could not I'M
derstand.
"'Your honor answered Clark, the
jury here is TO decide this case. The emf
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 the western frontiersman, 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, ex-
plains to the jury, and IL l mistake not,
also, your honor, the situation l have but
few words more to say, and, with the
courts permission, will continue in Chi
nook
1.-The permission was granted and
Clark's client acquitted without the jury
leaving their seats Tacoma News.