Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-04-25
W. 0. FORREST.
Pen Pictures and Anecdotes of
the Distinguished JuriSt.
Paper Read Before the Kansas City Bar
Association by 7. B. Buckner, Who
Studied Law in Ills Office.

7. B. Buckuer, who formerly
lived in Mexico and was pr0secut.
ing attorney of Audrain comfy,
read paper before the bar asso
citation at Kansas CITY Saturday
night. He had for bis subject
Judge W. o. Forrist, well known tc
every body in this section, and be
told the following amusing anec
dotes of the distinguished jurlst;
IN the year 1876, after having
graduated, l followed the avocation
OF pt dagogue for brief time; bav
ing studied law in the meantime,
went to the town of Mexico, Mo-,
and entered the law Office Of Ken
nan 81 Mcintyre, as law student.
While in their office Mr. Mcintyre
was elected to represent Audraiu
county in the Legislature, and was
after ward elected attorney general
of the state. Their offices were on
the same floor, and, with the ex-
ception of one intervening room, ad.
Joined the Office of Judge William
o. Forrist. This room | appro'
priated to myself as q sleeping room
at night ard in the day time it was
used by these law firms a. consult
ing room. II was connected with
each by doors. and, in fact, had
free and full access to both of these
offices. While law student at
this place first became acquainted
with Judge Forrist.
After had read law for some
months desired to enter the law
at Ann Arbor. but be-
fore doing SO l thought l would
stand an examination for admittance
to the bar, and il l succeeded my
license would give me entrance to
the senior class. l made applica-
ton to Judge Gilehrist Porter, who
wa at that time the circuit judge,
to be admitted to the bar 1t was
in vacation, and he wrote me that
be bad appointed committee, con-
sisting of Sameul Craddock, who
was at that time the president of
our local bar association. Judge
William 0. Forrist, General d. b.
Mcintyre and Hon. w. H. Kennan,
as a committee to examine me, and
upon their report be would either
grant or refuse the license.
The committee meet and appoint
ed a time, about two weeks in the
future, at which time IL would hold
the examination. Tue president of
the association acted as chairman.
He asked me how old / was, how
long l had been reading law and
what books I had read, and then
PASSED me over TO the other mem
bers of the committee for their ex-
animation. / was nervous, excited
and on high mental strain when
Judge Forrist thus addressed me
TON, suppose this committee
should report TO Judge Gilchrist
Porter in favor of your admission to
the bar, what would you consider
your first duty to this committee2"
''set 'em up, judge" said l,
"Mr. Chairman, said the judge,
Il must say the young man has
the most correct ideas of the funda-
mental principles Of the law OF
any young man it has ever been
my good fortune to examine. He
has been here in my office for a
number of months past, and
know he has been faithful student,
but had no idea he had reached
such an advanced stage of develop
ment. have met men who prac'
tised law for years who have no
such clear conceptions of the funda-
mental principles as my young
friend. therefore move that the
committee make favorable re-
port" The motion duly seconded
and carried and the amenities OF
the profession were INDUCED In
and the mental strain wac off.
After 1 had finished my course at
Aun Arbor and returned to Mexico
in my first case l had Judge Forrist
as my adversary. The case was
this: One man had farmed out a
team of young mules to another
man TO break and the mules, being
wild, the man on coming home from
the field one night turned them
loose in the lot TO wallow. with
ropes around their neoks. One oil
the mules, while wallowing, caught
his shoe in the rope and broke his
neck. advised suit for damages
based on negligence. The suit was
brought and after putting in the
evidence, made the opening argu
ment. 1 defined negligence, and tolt
the jury, which was composed Of
farmers, that the question for then
to determine was what a prudent
farmer would have done under the
circumstance detailed in evidence
| told the jury that ] had beer
raised ON a farm, my father beforI
me was a farmer, and knew a pru