The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-13
A DROLL CHARACTER
COUNSELOR" NOLAN Was a 4Yr
or The NEW YORK BAR
some @. the Quaint Sayings of ..
Picturesque Legal Liz hi. VIII" : sc
Year, Kept Gotham.s JudEr sd
Lawyers Laughing.

Years Kept Gotham's judge sd
LanEhiur.
In Il boo. entitled The Rarri<t~r-
Charles Frederick SALISBURY has
brought together tie best OF the anec-
dotes Of TEN Nolan. who was known
popularity among members OF the New
York bar rs counselor Nolan For
many years the counselor kept Judges
and lawyers OF New York laughing.
and at political conventions he was one
OF the important. IL not serious, a~ttrac,
tons. The counselor was himself SuiI
ceneris. His droliery was i~ndiSiar=LI
Some characteristic stories from MI
Stanshury's collection are here ~ctI
down:
Al a political convention a fricudI
asked Nolan:
Isn't IL strange. counselor, that
your friend Croker. who is such NJ
mighty power down your way. does not
get n nice political job for himselfy'
The barrister drew himself up. look-i
ing his inQuisitor over from the corneri
OF his eye. and then replied. with Sc
verify: Its a peanut brain you have.
Clancy. to ask me that. Is there amy
Job he hasn't got?" l
Judge Horace Russell told the follow
ing story: Nolan once had a client
whose name was Mrs. Moriarity. After
her case had been placed upon the
calendar Mrs. Moriarity appeared ev-
cry day in Nolan's office with her elev-
en- witnesses. Finally the case reached
the top Of the calendar. and Nolan was
on hand to try it. The opposing coun-
sci asked for a postponement. Nolan
fought the postponement with great
eloquence, laying much stress upon the
fact that Mrs. Moriarity had been put
to enormous trouble and expense OF
coming every day 10 his office with her
eleven witnesses. Judge Dugro. who
was sitting. was not convinced APP
parently by Nolan's perfervid oratory
and granted the adjournment. Then
the barrister arose.
Your honor" said he, has seen ft
to grant n ~postponement OF the case.
and, while l humbly submit to the rul-
ing Of the court, yet l would like TO ask
your honor to do me a personal favor."
Certainly. counselor. with pleasure"
EcpllCO uOSS DuSio. 10 y.
G you to my office" Numbered the
barrister, land inform Mrs Moriarity
that this case has been postponed"
Witty and keen as Nolan was. he
once in awhile got the worst of an en-I
counter with q witness. as the follow
ing incident illustrates:
The plaintiff, Mr.. Foley, was suingI
Mr.. w. for damages sustained by care
lessness Of defendant in allowing hisI
donkey to escape from his stable and
trespass upon plaintiffs lawn. Foley Isl
in the witness box.
Barrister Nolan (for defendant-You|
say that Mr.. WIS animal caused all
this injury to your property
Foley-Yes, sor.
Barrister-Where did you first see
this donkey?
Foley-Tied up in defendants stable.
Barrister-Where did you next see
him?
Foley-On me premises.
Barrister-How do you know it was
the same donkey?
Foley (emphaticallyD-If l saw yez
tied up in the sthable. don't yez sup
pose I'd know yez whln yez got loose?
The barrister excused Mr.. Foley.
1t was in the old superior court be-
fore Judge David McAdam and a jury.
and the barrister was trying a case OF
behalf of the plaintiff in a negligence
suit against the Twenty-third street
crosstown railroad, which was con-
trolled by Jacob Sharp. who afterward
gave the name of doodle aldermen" to
the world On rising to sum up on be-
half of his client Nolan launched forth
into an attack upon Sharp. who had in
no manner appeared in the case. Rails
ing his voice to a pitch that could be
heard by citizens In the City HALL park.
be concluded his peroration as follows:
And who. gintlemen Of the jury. is
Jacob Sharp? l win tell you gintle-
men. He is a man so lost to all his
sinse Of ethics and the rights Of man
that for the sake Of palthry prospec-
tive dividends he would run q railroad
up your spine and make ties out OF
your ribsr'
When the bar OF the city OF New
York gave a dinuer at Delmonico's in
honor of former Justice Abraham Il.
Lid "IruCt VII U3s EtNlEtEItEl lToLu lUe
bench. one of thu REMARKS Nolan made
was:
There's Recorder Smyth. He's a
good judge. - foine judge. but he
thinks livery man ought to 20 10 prison
at least vance"
Nolan on one occasion was q candi-
date for a municipal Office. and In the
course OF his canvass he asked a wo-
man Of his acquaintance II she would
use her influence in obtaining for him
her husbands vote. Sure. l will"
said the Are we not ever
lastingly grateful TO you ever since you
got my husband OF for stealing q gum
mo. no. ny dear woman" cried the
barrister. mot for stealing a gun. but
for the alleged stealing Of a gun"
Alleged be bothered" replied the
woman. Come up stairs and III show
Won tho 0uuu