The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-05-07
A DROLL CHARACTER
nCOUNSELOR" NOLAN WAS A WIT
OF THE NEW YORK BAR.

PICTURESQUE Legal Light. who For
Years Kept Gotham's Judges and
} Lawyers Laughing.
! In a book entitled s'The Barrister"
Charles Frederick Stansbury has
brought together the best Of the anec-
dotes of Tom Nolan, who was known
popularity among members Of the New
York bar as 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. if not serious. attrac-
tons. The counselor was himself sui
generis. His drollery was individual.
Some characteristic stories from Mr.
Stansbury's collection are here set
down:
At a political convention a friend
asked Nolan:
Isn't it strange, counselor. that
your friend Croker. who is such a
mighty power down your way. does not
get nice political Job for himself?'
The barrister drew himself up. look
ing his inquisitor over from the corner
Of his eye, and then replied. with Sc
verify: "'Tis peanut brain you have.
Clancy, to ask me that. Is there amy
job be hasn't got?"
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 to his Office with her
eleven witnesses. Judge Dugro, who
was sitting, was not convinced ap-
parently by Nolan's perfervid oratory
and granted the adjournment. Then
the barrister arose.
''Your honor" said he. ''naS seen ft
to grant a postponement Of the case.
and, while humbly submit to the rul-
ing Of the court. yet would like to ask
your honor to do me personal favor"
''Certainly. counselor, with pleasure"
replied Judge Dugro. What is it?'
''Go you to my Office" thundered 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-
counter with a witness, as the follow
ing incident illustrates:
The plaintiff, Mr.. Foley. was suing
Mr.. ". for damages sustained by care
lessness of defendant in allowing his
donkey to escape from his stable and
trespass upon plaintiffs lawn. Foley is
in the witness box.
Barrister Nolan (for defendant)-You
say that Mr.. W.'s animal caused all
this injury to your property?
Foiey-Yes. sor.
Barrister- Where did you 6rst 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 SO me donkey?
Foley temphatically)-If I saw yez
tied up in the sthable, don't yeZ sup
pose I'd know yez whin 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 case on
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
ang his voice to a pitch that could be
heard by citizens in the City Hall park.
he concluded his peroration as follows:
"And who, gintlemen Of the jury. is
Jacob Sharp? will tell you. gintle-
men. He is man so lost to al! 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 dinner at Delmonico's in
honor of former Justice Abrah ham X.
on his retirement from the
bench, one OF the remarks Nolan made
was:
There's Recorder Smyth- Hes a
good judge. a foine judge, but be
thinks livery man ought to so to prison
at least vance"
Nolan on one occasion was candi-
date for a municipal Office. and in the
course OF his canvass ne asked wo-
man of his acquaintance If she would
use Der influence in obtaining for him
her husbands vote. Sure, ! will"