Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-03

are twenty-eight stenosraphers in the
state holding appointment as official
court reporters. In the counties com
posing the old Second district over
which MIR Bell Travelled when first APP
pointed to Office there are thirteen report
ers, seven OF whom reside In Omaha and
are employed in the district court Of the
Fourth district, embracing the counties OF
Douglas, Washington and Sarpy.
The first stenographers to be employed Ia
Omaha we're in the service of the railroad
officials who made Omaha their headqUart-
ers. Homer stull, in the office Of 5. II. y.
Clark OF the Union Pacific, and George w.
Loomis, now private secretary Of General
Superintendent Hodrege of the Burlington,
were among the first stenographers to be
employed in that capacity in the city.
Al sorenson one of Them.
Alfred Sorsnson, the editor OF the Exam
liner, was one OF the pioneer stenographers
who were Independent OF any stenographic
situation Mr.. Sorenson, and Mr.. Bell be-
fore his appointment by Judge Lake, were
employed on the newspapers in various ca
pacities and carried on their stenographic
work as q side issue.
Two of the old-time stenographers OF
Omaha have attained positions OF honor and
afiluence, one as the result of untiring effort
and the other by inheritance. James w.
Barr came to Omaha in the employ Of one
OF the railroads. While filling the position
OF stenographer he studied the duties OF
the position above him and made himself ac-
uuainted with all of the details of railroad
work. vacancy occurring in one OF the
clerical offices he was removed from the
stenographers' desk and given position In
the line of promotion. His rise was rapid
and today he Is second vice president OF the
Santa Fe railroad system.
Many OF the lawyers OF this city aud state
remember BILLY" Carroll, one of the
brightest minds and one OF the wittiest
Irlshmen who ever practiced at the Ne
braska bar. Carroll came to Omaha as
stenographer for the Burlington railroad.
He was not with that company long before
he went into the office OF A. ]. Poppleton,
general solicitor of the Union Pacific. Under
Mr.. Poppleton he studied law and after
leaving the service of the Union Pacific for
the Burlington again he formed partner
ship in the city with j. NJ. Woolworth and
w. d. Ntzhugh, the firm being Woolworth
McIugh & Carroll. 1t was not long after
this that by the death OF a relative In Ire-
land Mr.. Carroll inherited a large estate
and Is now a resident of the "ould sod, +"
with no occasion to think of the morrow
but BILLY" Carroll never felt any occasion
for that
Another Omaha stenographer who is now
residing in Ireland is one Flanagan, first
name forgotten, who mixed up in the
Hitchc ock- Paddock contest for the United
States senate long enough to get funds 10
carry him back home, where he has since
remained.
Captain Brewster an Expert.
In the early days OF Nebraska stenogra-
piers Captain Charles Brewster, at pres
ent clerk in the office OF the adjutant
general of the Department OF the Missouri
L. S. A., was one OF the best in the city.
Before coming to the state Captain Brew
ster had been an officer in the union army
and shortly after leaving the railroad serv-
ice entered that OF tho government, where
he has since remained
The old-time court stenographer had
many amusing and interesting experiences
in travelling over their district. Generally
the lawyers travelled with the Judge and
the opening of term OF court in small
county seat taxed the capacity of the
hotels and boarding houses. The Judge and
the stenographer, always being good
bed, and not always TO the pleasure OF
the reporter. One of the early judges had
a habit OF considering cases pending before
him after he had retired and the worse
habit of talking aloud when in deep thought.
The stenographer who travelled with him
has been kept awake the greater part Of
the night listening to the Judge debate the
merits OF a case. finally getting to sleep
after the case had been settled in the mind
of the Judge.
Upon one occasion John II. Bell went to
Minden to report case where certain
cattlemen were charged with numbering a
young man who had provoked their enmity.
A vigilance committee had been formed In
the county and the attorneys for the de-
fense were anxious to see that no mem
Der OF that organization got a place on the
jury. 1t was long time before the Jury
was selected. The last man to be accepted
by both parties was a comparative stranger
who professed to know nothing of a vigil
ance committee and who asserted that he
had nothing to do with such society.
The defense accepted him eagerly and the
jury was sworn to try the issues.
The case was to open the next morning.
Late that night Judge George w. Post, the
presiding judge and the prosecuting at =
torney, Judge NJ. b. Reese, walked out OF
the hotel and strolled around the town
before retiring. AS they turned corner
OF the court house they saw crowd OF
men erecting a gallows and from their
talk learned that 1t was their intention to
lynch the cattlemen that night The man
who was at work on the scaffold was the
last Juror sworn few hours before The
case was not tried until the next term
inc discovery OF the proposed lynchers
caused their disappearance and no further
attempt was made on the lives OF the men
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
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