The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27
CANFIELDS COUNTRY LAWYERS.
One OF Them IL Famous for His Success
with Juries Made Up Of Farmers.

When Richard Garfield is brought to trial
at Binghamton for conducting gambling
house in this city, the most distinguished
array Of counsel that southern New York
can produce will appear for him.
Elmira. who will be in charge of Canfield's
defenoe the firm of Curtlss, Arms & Keenan,
of Binghamton will appear for the gambler.
This makes former candidate for Gov
ernor, q United States District Attorney
(Curtiss). former County Judge (Arms),
and the law partner of the late Senator
O'Connor (Keenan) lined up for the cele-
brated proprietor of gambling houses in
this city and Saratoga.
There il no improperly in the appear
ance OF Mr.. Curtiss, despite the fact that
he Is the United States District Attorney
for the southern district OF New York;
for his duties are clearly outlined by stat
ute and he Is not debarred from private
practice.
the Garfield trial, and especially In the con-
nection OF Mr.. Curtiss with Il. MIR. Clrtiss
is the most celebrated jury lawyer in the
southern tier.
II Mr.. Curtiss ever ran for Office he could
be certain Of the solid vote Of the Broome
county farmers. He Is the farmers idol;
and az farmers make up the juries that try
very much his own way II his cases have
even shadow of merit in them.
The late William F. Howe was clever
Jury lawyer, winning many cases that an
other man. and a better lawyer, would have
lost, by appealing to the emo tions Of the
jurymen. Farmers are not emotional, as
rule, but they have other weaknesses,
- xvht Nv RI oa hoa iod md
mastered.
They tell lots Of good stories about Mr..
Curtiss and juries In Broome county. One
| OF these, involving q comparatively tri6ing
case, illustrates the skill with which the
| man who IL to talk Canf1eld's case to a jury
| victory,
The State Hospital at Binghamton houses
| some two thousand insane men and women,
Under the law the hospital can take only
patients who have reached the dignity OF
| complete insanity A mere idiot has no
| right in the hospital. The place for him
is the county almshouse.
turned out, In the opinion Of the alierlists,
to be an idiot, and demand was forthwith
made on the county authorit les to take
| him to the almshouse. as the State Hospital
couldn't keep him any longer. The county
authorities said they had enough IDIOTS
on their names as II was, ana OeCllneO the
| contribution with thanks.
The State Hospital went into court to
| show that the man was an idiot, not an
insane person. Mr.. Curtiss appeared for
| the county.
The State produced alienists from New
York and other big cities to prove that the
man involved was an idiot. The Attorney
| General sent a lot of lawyers to help to
| get the man out Of the hospital and into
the almshouse. The State closed It's case
strong.
Mr. Curtiss got up to address the jury
| in what appeared to be hopeless cause
His most ardent admirers couldn't gee a
chance for him. But they had under
| estimated his resources. Mr.. Curtiss said:
Gentlemen of the jury, do you know
| what Is involved in this case? II this man
| is insane he remains In the State Hospital,
to be clothed, fed and cared for by the State
of New York. If he Is an idiot, he goes
to our almshouse, OUR county almshouse,
to be clothed, fed and cared for by the
taxpayers Of this county, already grooming
under burden Of taxation from the State.
Gentlemen, you are to decide whether this
man is an insane person or an idiot
The jury were out just long enough to
take one ballot. They decided that the
man was insane, and he is up In the State
Hospital yet.