The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-10-19
Austin z. Richards.

Mr.. EDIToR:-Pliny Lyman, one OF our
old county treasurers, used to be somewhat
noted for his quaint aud original remarks.
For instance, as he expressed 1t, "lead is
more magnanimous than iroD." And he
very pithily said on one occasion that 1t
was 100 much for Shiawassee county to
pay for the tuition of law students, to give
them out of the treasury the entire income
of the prosecuting attorneys Office, for four
years." If the individual desires TO avail
himself of the most experienced and best
ability at the bar, then certainly the aggre-
CATION of them which make up a county,
ought not only to desire the best legal talent
TO attend to their interests, both advisory
and in the court, but they ought to demand
IL!
This much 1t is just to say, without any
special reference to individuals.
The nomination of Austin K. Richards
for public prosecutor, by the last repub-
lican county convention shows that the peo-
pie are awake 10 the Importance OF this
fact!
Mr.. Richards was farmers boy who
was born In the township of New Haven but
who went into the town of Burns at the age
Of five years His father died at a very
early period In his life, and then he bad to
20 for himself Between the labors of the
farm and other duties, he went to Byron
and passed through the curriculum of study
/ there In the school and afterward attended
the high school at Corunna. In the mean
time he got hold of such law books as he
could and read them with avidity at home,
such volumes as those OF Blackstone, and
Story. Well has SAKE said In one of his
poems, "Twas scarce the Story one would
like to read" but such was the bent Of
young Richards mind, that these studies
as to him were not as the phrase goes, DIR,
He read the law also year in the office
of Hugh McCurdy, and was admitted TO
the bar Dec. Is, 1886, after perhaps as
thorough preparation as any one who has
ever been licensed practice in this county
To say that his career since locating at
Corunna has been complete success, "goes
without saying" He has practced In all
the courts of the state, and in the federal
tribunals as well, and has perhaps de
Tended more criminals In the Circuit Court
during the time, than any other member of
the bar. All this Is squarely in line with the
duties required of him In the prosecutors
Office, and gives him powerful equipment
for 1t!
He has never held any but local official
positions, because he never asked for any
preferment of political Characterization
choosing to devote himself to his profession
than to enter into any strife for place. He
was supervisor of Burns for FIVE years, and
was chairman of the Board one year. He
also held the position of City Attorney in
Corunna for five years, and discharged its
duties with acceptance at time when they
were of very onerous and peculiar nature.
The people will therefore choose him wisely,
for he will not only save money to the
county on account of the successful issues
salutary eclecticism in the prosecution of
cases, for no man has been long at the bar
with a clear view of legal rights and
remedies, but knows that much business is
started by weak and inexperienced official
that never ought to have been moved This
always results in unnecessary taxation, and
every taxpayer in the county feels the bur
den of It!
Mr.. Richards location too is central, and
he can at all times be easily reached by
those having public business with him. On
the occasion of the nomination of Byron p
Hicks, for prosecuting attorney, he said
that in the event of his election the office
would be at Durand, and not at either
Corunna or Owosso! The people will scare
cely be satisfied with this announcement,
and will hardly desire to 20 clear across