Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-04-12

rounding, and In other parts OF the
State, especially in cases OF import
ance. He never lost courage and
would never yield tn the last re-
source had been mustered.
He was the leading counsel 10 the
case Of the State We. "Monkn Brans-
tetter, tried in January, 1877, on .
charge of murder, growing out OF .
difficulty 10 which JEFF Lowry was
killed near Vandalia, in Audrain coun-
ty, the December previous. Branstet-
ter was man abont thirty years of
age, a member Of one OF the old
and prominent families OF Pike and
Audrain counties, whose father was q
minister much respected for his piety.
The father had employed Judge For
rist to defend and had implicit conf
dence In the Judges ability
to clear his son. After q hard
fought trial of several days the jury
returned into court verdict OF guilty,
fixing the punishment at q term
Of sixty years in the penitentiary.
On the announcement OF the verdict
the father OF the defendant was COM
pletely overcome and sank to the
floor, bewailing aloud his sons mis-
fortune and the family disgrace, amid
much excitement of the spectators.
Judge Forrlst, undaunted, with voice
heard above everything, exclaimed:
"Fatber Branstetter, be not overcome
nor discouraged at this verdict; the
law -suit has Just begun.n
Forrist appealed the case to the Su-
preme Court, the decision OF which is
reported In the Sixty fifth Missouri
Reports. A new trial wac ordered,
when change Of venue was granted
to another county, where the case
finally resulted in the discharge of the
prisoner.
He was never known to accept re-
tainer ON the side of the prosecution.
Not only was he able, but he possessed,
to remarkable degree, that chief
element of success as case winner
the courage before court or Jury to
maintain the rights of his client. he be-
iieved that q lawyer was q public Off
cOA aWA0 OWOA . haey " ouO R0bAC 0tu
was always ready to accept service
from the poorest and most humble,
and the impecunious person accused
of crime could depend upon his
ablest effort in his behalf, as could
those able to remunerate him for his
services.
Though always with a large prac-
tioe and clientage, he never accumu-
lated any property. He pursued tine
practice of the law more from the love
Of the great principles il embodies and
enforces, his duty to his fellow man,
as he felt, and that perfect sympathy
he had for the distressed and unfortu-
nate.
The bar Of Audrain county, in its
resolutions of respect to his memory,
said of him in part: "He was law
yer OF great ability and learning;
earnest and eloquent in behalf OF the
interests of his clients; genial, cour-
teous, true and accommodating to his
brother lawyers and kind and gener-
QUE to fault In social relationa." His
genius and talents were ofthat extra
ordinary kind that made him char
acter sui generis. Though dead ten
years, suen was the indellible Impress
ions he made upon the minds OF the
people Of his community that his
character, personality and acts OF
generosity are still among the SUBJ
jects Of daily recurrence.
In September, 1859, he married Miss
Rosamond L. Pease, of Geauga county,
Ohio, who survives him. They
reared two chiidren-a son, Frederick,
and daughter, Ella, who is the wife
Of Judge John A. Guthrie, OF this city.