The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-06


United States senator-has been a no
tably brilliant one from boyhood.
He was born in Baltimore on April II.
1850 His father was a learned and
YPulent gentleman, distinguished for
business sagacity and success. as well
as Tor his generous philanthropy and
public spirit His mother was wo-
man OF excellent discretion. generally
beloved for the sterling virtues of her
character and for the kindness and be-
ncvolence of her life.
As boy isidOr Rayncr was thought
iul and studiOus. with a sympa thetic
disposition and particularly keen wit.
Ills early education was probably re-
ceived at the hands Of his father Tn
Ill he was Is years OF age he attended
"A private school. He was devoted 10
literature and defamation and would
frequently practice the latter in the
woods near MS fathers country place.
at Mount Washington. on one occa-
sion a friend OF his father visiting the
house. observed the boy gesturing and
Nociterating in the most vigorous way
IN the woods. and inquired 10 the in
Unite amusement OF the father, if his
son was demented
At - years OF age IEidOr Rayner en-
Tered the University Of virginia There
be promptly distinguished himself in
his studies and was popular with the
faculty and students. His interest in
letters and oratory Increased. and he
became leading figure i'm the Jeffer-
son society the membership Of which
embraced a large number of Young
men who have since become eminent
IN the fields of Jurisprudence states
! iuanship and journalism. including no
tably senator John w. Daniel of Vir-
ginia. John :. Wise. now Of New York
the late Henry W. Grady, Of Georgia
and former United States Senator
nn-fc T~.anH~
From among men Of THIS sort the bril-
liant young Baltimorean was chosen.
IN 1868, as anniversary orator Of the
Jefferson society. The subject of his
Grafton upon this occasion showed the
bent Of his sympathies. It was civil
and Religious Liberty"
Admitted to the Bar.
After pursuing both the academic
and the legal cuTriCula at this ceIe-
brated seat Of learning the embryonic
advocate returned to his native city
and sought admission to its bar, He
continued his legal studies for a brief
period in the law Offices of Brown &
Bruno. and in due course presented
himself for examination as to his quail
hcations 10 practice. He was examined
for admission in the accustomed way
by Ex-Governor William Pinkney
Whyte and two other prominent mem
bers Of the bar. The distinguished ex-
governor himself conducted the exam
ination. and had not proceeded very far
with his inquisition when. astonished
by the promptness. amplitude and lu-
cidity Of the young mans answer TO
every question. he turned to his coll
leagues upon the examing board and
said:
There's no occasion to ask him any
thing more. He has mastered his
books so recently and well that he
knows more about these matters than
we do
Mr.. Rayner is a thorough and fin
ished student Of his profession. He is
deeply learned in the common law and
IN The decisions of the courts of Mary
land and of the United States He is
a fine special pleader. He has also a
fenlarkdblp memory FOR cases and from
the thirueth to the last volume Of the
Maryland Reports there is not a case
which Mr.. RayneT has not read. His
strong sense sound Judgment and COM
prchensive views. together with his 6le-
Waited and refined sense of right. invest
ms opinions on legal questions with
great weight with the bench and the
bar.
Shines at Trial Table.
OF course, nj the trial table he shines
most brilliantly. His preparation is
complete. his mastery Of the facts
thorough i'm their details; he seizes the
controlling points. holds them with a
relentless grip and presses them upon
court or jury with a torrent of argu-
ment, illustration and eloquence that
are irresistible Combined with all this /
ne has rare tact i'm conforming to the /
intellect Of the court and the feelings !
Of the jury. In this way he has won
many cases which many men would (
have lost. and it is no exaggeration to |
say that he has never lost "a case which 4
any one else could have won. His 1
speeches I'm court are clear. direct for |
chile and marked with elOQuence not
easy 60 be cqualcd.
I'm respect for the bench, Candor fair /
ness and integrity he would be an ex- I
emplar TO any bar. He is notably kind /
10 young members Of his profession, by I
whom he is frequently consulted and /
spares neither pains nor time TO aid 4
them
Mr.. Rayner's method Of preparing his /
more important legal arguments may
best be illustrated by Everetts descrip- |
ton of Mr. Webster's state Of mind /
as he "sat an hour and a half with" |
him "the evening before" the reply TO /
Hayue. The battle had been fought E
and won within. upon the broad field 4
of his own capacious mind; for IL was /
Air. Webster's habit first to state to /
himself his opponents argument in it's 4
utmost strength. and having over
thrown il in that form he feared the 1
aenorts of no other antagonist"
His Defense of schley.
It was Mr. Rsyner's defense of Adri- I
-al Schley that caused a national wave
of commentator. The inquiry is well 4
remembered.
The sudden death OF Judge Jere NJ. !
Wilson. senior counsel for Admiral /
Schley. threw upon the Baltimore adj
Nocate the entire burden Of the case.
lie was not an admiralty lawyer. He
had worked for months on the case.
taking mp trigonometry in studying the
stadimeter, delving into sea law and
lore. learning about gulf stream cur
rents. cOaling at sea problems. tactical
diameters OF cruisers and whatnot of
tedius detail
When the crucial moment came he
VAS saturated with his subject Laying
down his copy Of the specifications ne
talked with alluring facility in pleasant
tones until, becoming warmed up with
earnestness, he sneered at entangled
witnesses. scOffed al trick memories
dashed as with scorpion whips" the al
legged tradUcers Of the man whose fame
rang around the earth.
The audience tried to interrupt with |
applause as he made point after point I
but he rushed along unheeding until h
fairly swept the assemblage "Off its
feet with his dramatic climax.
The climax came quickly And such
= climax For full half minute the
big room was as hushed as "a forest on
a sultry day. Then. like a hurricane.
came the applause. The tension had
been remarkable. The stiffness was