The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14

Harrison in the early days of his career as
a lawyer held true TO the end.
BIG FIRM FORMED.
The firm OF Porter. Harrison & Fishback
was formed in 1865. and continued under
that name until 1870. when Mr.. Fishback
retired and Cyrus c. Hines took his place.
When Governor Porter retired Mr.. w. H.
H. Miller. afterwards attorney general OF
the United States under President Harri-
son. entered the firm. Mr.. Hines retired in
1884, and John b. Elan was taken into the
firm. which became Harrison. Miller g.
Elan. n remained as such until General
Harrison became President and Mr.. Miller
attorney general.
In his biography of General Harrison.
written shortly prior 10 the latte-s entry
into the high Office of the President OF the
United States, General Lew Wallace said
OF him.: General Harrison is a lawyer by
natural gifts. Probably no contemporary
exceeds him in quickness of comprehension
and breadth or reach of judgment Analy-
sis with him is an instructive mental OPP
Grafton. He does not go TO the books to
md principles: with the principles alreauy
IN mind it is his custom TO ask for the au-
thorities. That which ought TO be the Jaw.
as he sees it. almost invariably turns out
10 be the law. These qualities make MN
a master of all classes OF questions ana
equip him for practice in the highest courts
as well as in the lower. in criminal cases
rot less than civil, in matters probate ana
in matters chancery. They make him also
equally formidable before a jury or a Judge.
his examination and characterization OF
witnesses are never-failing sources or
amusement and study TO the bystander:
Nhen he has finished with a witness and
notlned MIN TO stand aside II Is seldom
that he has not wrung from him all the
person knows of the lea Sf nQrfinpnCV TO the
issues involved in the case. On such occa-
slons he is scrupuIously kind and courte-
Gus Inc witness steps down and out ana
goes MS way without bitterness, If he has
crossed himself he is very often unaware
OF II. In after-refectiOn he remembers
ch4efly the pleasant voice and countenance
of his interrogation.
so in gun in the heat of conflicts.
General Harrison is scrupulously observant
OF the amenities due TO the jury, opposing
counsel and the presiding judge. His de
pertinent 10 the latter is so respectful that,
while wrestling against an adverse opinion.
he was never known to have been the oc-
casion OF a scene in court. He is earnest
Wnere what he thinks his rights are in
volved, but never insolent. cringing or an
cry. In course of speech, speaking OF the
facts ELECTED, he keeps himself carefully
within the record. In the closing argu-
ments the opposing counsel finds no neces-
slty TO interrupt him, neither has he trouble
with him in preparing a record for appeal.
Tricks, traps, surprises and small ad-
vantages are foreign TO General Harrison's
ideas of professional honor. He may not
be always eloquent, but he is always logi-
cal. If the occasion demands ii. however.
he can be grandly eloquent. His indigna-
ton. like his pathos, is natural. He despises
attempts at ramati effect: he is charac-
terlstically straightforward and his COM
parsons are never far-fetched. The secret
OF his power. whether in court or on the
stump, lies in the fact that he never fails
to make himself perfectly understood"
NOTABLE LAW CASES.
Some of the most notable cases in which
General Harrison appeared were the
famous damage suit brought against Gov
ernor Alvin p. Hovey by Lambdin p. Mil
ligan and others on account of their arrest
and trial as members of the Infamous con-
spiracy against the Union known as the
knights of the Golden Circle; the notable
case in the Supreme Court of Indiana en-
titled Robert S. Robertson VS.. The State
or the relation of Alonzo G. Smith, being
the case familisrly known as the "Lieuten-
ant Governor case" involving the title 10
the seat of Lieutenant Governor. which
was usurped Dy Mr.. Smith by force and
S Mps the great criminal prosecution of
DER Of fahe yo,n Glenn md for the muir,
Cold Springs, near Indianapolis; the
suits instituted by the city of INDIANAPOLIS
against the Citizens Street-railway Com
pany, transferred TO and heard by the
United States Circuit Court; and the Vene-
zueia boundary case, which possessed inter
nauonal Importance. In the Lieutenant
governor case General Harrison gave the
nrst noteworthy evidence of his consum-
mate ability as a constitutional lawyer.
Many of the most profound and intricate
constitutional questions and points were
involved In the case, and the judges on the
Supreme Bench included such able jurists
as Allen collars, James l.. Mitchell and
Byron K. Elliott. These eminent legal
lights put all kinds of puzzling Questions 10
General Harrison during his ar011manf no
fore them. and the attorney astonished all
present at the hearing by the wonderful
qulckness and .clearness with which he
answered the int~errogatories, almost as
rapidly as they were voiced. Throughout
his later brilliant career he never came
upon the time when the luster of his fame
achieved in the celebrated Robertson-Smith
case dimmed in the slightest degree. In the
street car cases he made an oral argument
without the aid of manuscript that was
taken down In shorthand. printed and scat
tered broadcast among the prominent law
yers of the land. This argument is still
used and quoted in cases involving similar
issues. 1t is not likely that a stronger or
clearer statement OF the rights and obliga-
tons of a street-railroad company has ever
been made. In the Venezuela boundary dis
pute General Harrison demonstrated that
the law contains no attitudes which he
could not reach. From a position as the
foremost constitutional lawyer of his own
country he leaped into eminence as a man
thoroughly versed in international law. He
argued for his client, the country of Vene-
zuela, before the august tribunal at Paris,
composed of the greatest jurists of the
world, and in fierce competition with tine
ablest counselors of England and France
General HarrisOn's marvellous ability tc
make himself easily and thoroughly com.
pretended by everybody within sound OF
his voice, whether it were raised on the
stump or before a legal tribunal, has beer
mentioned. An admirable example of THIS
faculty is found in his fascinating and al
the same time profoundly erudite book
This Country of Ours" in which he pre-
sented the American constitutional form
of government in almost as readily under
stood manner as Charles Dickens did the
history of his country i'm his "Child's His
tory of England"
HARRISON AS A SOLDIER.