The Washington bee., 1901-07-20
A CONSPICUOUS FIGURE.
A Bachelor and a Prospective Benedict.

A Bachelor and a Prospective Benedict.
A most conspicous member of the
Washington Bar is lawyer James NJ
Kicks, fully six feet in height with
broad shoulders and of atheletlC built,
Jet black in complexion. with sCanty
locks, close shaVen save heavy gray
81 mustaChe, always attired in fault
less linen and clothes OF a jaunty cut,
and his figure is sure to attract atten-
uOn anywhere.
He first saw the light under the
shadow OF one Of the mountain spurs
of Southwest, Va, about the time
when our nation vas in the midst OF
the memorable political struggle Of
which the Mexican Waf aWakens rem
uisCenCes. The Civil war found him
d well grown lad, large enough 10 be
quite a valuable asset IN the hands Of
he man who, according TO the law OF
the land, claimed 10 own him Even
q these days his daring and initiative
ed him into an experience that at one
lime threatened to put an end 10 his
mortal existence.
Pretending to act under federal au-
thority, young Kicks had the temerity
to lead a raid OH some Of the farm
crs in this out Of the way section. For
awhile they had everything their own
Say until their capture Their tria!
lad been fixed, their condemnation
ordered, and the sentence was about
10 be carried out when one OF his capt
Ors, Conrad Trigg, who represented
his District in Congress saved Kicks
and his comrades from being shot.
He attended the freedman's school
of Wythville, in 1867 taught by Mrs. A
p. Spencer of this city and her friend,
The wife of the late Rev. Alex Ellis Of
Savannah, Ga. IN tue intervals OF
school sessions he assisted his father
by working on the farm and helping
him in the blacksmith shop. Mr..
Kicks made rapid advancement and
subsequently, entered the Hampton IN
stitute and graduaIedin 1873. Booker
Washington was student there N
these daYS On the occasion OF the
visit of Charles sumner the excellent
manner in which he recited not only
merited the approval of the Bay State
Statesman, but found the subject OF
oar sketch the lucky pOsseoSOr OF a
bright FIVE dollar gold piece
For FIVE years Mr.. Kicks taught IN
the public schools in Virginia with
great success. IN 1879 he bade good
bye to virginia and entered the Theo-
logical Department of Howard Uni
versity Judging from the serious IN
preSSiOns made by some OF his ser
mons, he gave the promise OF a sue
cessful career in the pulpit.
But his views changed and he enter
ed on the study of law and graduated
in 1886 in the same class with James
+. Bundy, member of the Board OF
Education.
In 1887 on the motion Of his friend
and former instructor, Mr.. J. w.
Cromwell, he was admitted to pract-
ice before all the Courts OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia, having previously
passed an examination admitting him
to practice in Virginia.
He at once hung out h shlngle,
mindful of President Garfield's advice
to the law class AT Howard one month
prior to the assassinauon-'go out III,
10 the world and capture your places
Mr.. RiCks was not long IN hnd1ng
clients and in keeping them. he
steadily won his way, 50 that today ne
is in the enjoyment of handsome
practice worth not less than two thou
sand do lars annually. His books are
SO kept that he can readily tell the
source Of ali his business, as we'll as
the kinds AID classes of cases which
he tries. An examin alton dISCloses
The fact hat one-tOurth of the cases
and two-thirds of The fees received
during the last twelve months came
from his white clients.
With the success that has been his