Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-03
CHAPTER ".

Col. Franklin was a man OF strong
traits and preludices, and II was evil
dent to Irving Warde that il he in
terested himself in the Wright case
he would come nearer perhaps than
pny one else in solving the mystery
involved in it. He was not an ex-
tensive practitioner of his profession.
but he had accomplished number
Of wonderful feats in cases which
had become historic. 1t was Franklin
who had unravelled an election con-
spiracy and made the demonstration
so clear to the courts that the emil
nently respectable gentleman who
appeared to have been elected
chancellor on the face of the returns
was deprived of the Office to which he
had been elevated by one of the
cleverest frauds recorded in the his
tory of electoral rascalty. Reside
this. there was the great diamond
swindle which had fame in its day
throughout the entire lower MissisS.
ippi valley; case ramifying into
Nilus, New Orleans and Nicksbure.
II was Franklin who exposed it. and
ny the exposure landed number of
Rudacious swindlers in the penitentl-
ary He was known to he wealthy,
though he did not practice his profess
sion with that assiduity which be-
tokens the born lawyer. Indeed it
WAS hardly of sufficient scope Tor the
mans many-sided activity, and though
! he took very sharp interest in that
"a, - ,N.h Il Il,
readiness IF r"sourceful intellect
! and makes unusual demands upon the
! ingenuity. he very cordially despiscd
! that other sort which intiictS a dull
nrudgery. II was popularity supposed
that the colonel Was interested in
number of enterprises outside of the
law. which paid him more handsomely
than his profession. In Arkansas he
owned plantation which Yielded him
n fine cotton crop every year, and it
was said that he had some interests
in common with his friend John T..
Wright. He came to NiluS about 20
years before the opening If this mar
rative, and by his affable manners.
his dash. his decidedly handsome face,
and the mcsmcrisD. as il were. of
his personality, he was soon success
fully launched. he happened TO win
al the start several cases that occu-
pied notable places in the popula r
fancy, and this at once made him
famous. But his financial success
dated from the time when he defend
ed John r. Wright from the charge of
murder In fit of passion the lat
ter had killed the overseer of his
plantation. and when his anger sub
sided and his reason returned he
found himself in a by no means envi-
able position. Public sentiment was
against him, and in those days that
vas more potent than the law. While
the invisible statute allowed one man
10 kill another for insult or Islander
it was often brought to bear with
equal force against the wanton per-
petratnr of crime. Franklin was
employed TO defend Wright. He a,
once raw the desperate situation OF
his client. and the necessity of sccur-
ing an acQuittal by other means thar
trusting to the luck Of "A jury trial
He worked on the case like a rcmorse
I'sS mdcnlnt, anu nv ulI n'' utSitd u
80 use his clients money freely. Pub
lie sentiment was subsequently van
, pushed by The corruption and Wrigh'
Was acquitted. From that time on ,
close intimacy existed between th'
client and his lawyer. The popular
, idea was that Wright had given hin
. an enormous fee and that he had al
lowed him share in his own business
md in addition had probably ASSISTED
: HIM in embarking in several independ
: tnt enterprises. In any number o
9 ways did the planter show his graft
, tude for the services rendered hin
by the lawyer.
n AZ the time Wright was murdered
:, Franklin was about 40 years old IL
a was tail of stature and he dresse
with srcupulous care. lie was yer,
" handsome man, and il was matte
~ OF pride with him to groom himscl
~, wei, The correctness of his attire
the faultless linen, and the rose tina
>. he always wore in The lapel Of hi
coat were all intimately connecte
with the suavity and courtliness O
3 his demeanor. His hair was partl
frosted by Tim"'s bIigiting touch