Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-05

died about 1868. Graham went into
the army. was made a colonel and died
during the war or soon after. Graham
was a candidate for the office of circuit
clerk remember he was chagrined
at the vote in Moline. In mentioning
the action of the Moline people in his
case he wrote: They are like flock
of sheep: when once they get started
they rush ahead even though preci-
pice is before them"
J. T. Browning, of Moline, now re-
tired from practice, came to Moline
soon after Graham & Webster. He
practiced there with much success for
many years.
a familiar character in Moline was
one, II. L. Smith He came to Moline
about 1854. was a merchant there and
failed. He was a painter by trade
and a contractor. He carried on his
| business as painter and contractor for
several years. but ii was not suffi-
GENTLY lucrative for him. So he stud
| led law and for a time. speaking after
| the manner of men. he made the fur
Ify." The war came on and offered
opportunities which he readily awaited
himself of.
Scarcity OF Law Books.
The practice of the law of Rock Isl.
and county after the war did not diff
fer particularly from the period before
Before the war. there were few acces-
sible law books or reports. When ques-
tions of pleading were discussed be-
fore the court. "Chitty on Pleading"
was the standard and often quoted
| t. &c
TO by the modern lawyer and yet the
work is standard still. In the absence
of law books and reported cases as
precedents, the old bar relied greatly
upon personal argument from recOg-
niZed principles of law and practice.
| For several years, both before and af-
ter the war, Judge Ira o. Wilkinson
was judge of our court. He was d
very able practitioner. A mention of
Rock Island county bar, would be in
complete without mention of the Judge
| The judge was striking character,
naturally kind, a warm friend, but a
strong opponent, kind to young men
and as a judge. cOnsiderate, but of
those that knew him none fails to
remember his singing irony and cut
|
play it. Two lawyers of the bar were
defending a man for the larceny of
paper money. It was during the war
when paper money was at a discount.
The lawyers contended that gold and
silver was the standard of value. This
contention was for the purpose of saw
ing the defendant from the penitenti-
airy and secure Imprisonment in the
county Jail instead. 1t was attempted
to be proved by the defendants lawyers
that the paper money was worth less
than S. in gold or silver. objection
TO the evidence was made by the states
attorney. Judge Hiram Bigelow. Judge
Wilkinson sustained the objection, re-
marking at the time, 1T won't do; when
a man steals he should steal at par"
| Changes i'm Character of Litigation.
During the past 80 years the charac.
ter OF the litigation in our county has
changed. There was a great deal of
litigation growing out of trespasS of
cattle, but farms are well fenced now
considerable litigation in every form
about roads, but nearly all necessary
roads are now well established Hence
that litigation has ended. Litigation
over defective land involving boundary
lines arose. but lines are now well de-
fined. Litigation for rights of way for
| railroads, occurred as did litigation
over defective land titles, but time has
pretty thoroughly settled land titles.
Years ago there was great deal of
commercial litigation. Lawyers had
| business men and firms for clients, and
did the collecting of notes and fore
closing of mortgages. Now credit is
given for a short period, and a business
man without capital is soon known as
a success or a failure This kind of
| litigation is generally in the hands of
one or two lawyers. and as a rule is
! not contested, so the lawyers source of
| income in this direction is not ample
Personal Damage Cases.
| But while litigation in many re-
| spects has greatly Iessened, another
| class of litigation has greatly increased.
| refer to actions for personal injuries.
! believe | am safe in saying that one
| half, il not more of the time. of our
court in trying civil cases is taken up
! in the hearing of personal injury suits
| Thirty or 40 years ago personal in
| jury suit was not common There are
some reasons for this change There
is a great increase in manufacturing
Many more men are employed, hence
a great many more chances for injury
Then the men are largely employed by
corporations. The existing prejudice
against corporations. which insiduous-
ly enters the jury ROOM has a great
deal to do with the bringing AMI deter
mination of the results. There are 9TH
er reasons which I might give. but
which | refrain from mentioning.
of the Courts.
Our courts. What an arena for the
oftime display of human passion and
prejudice, a clearing house in part for
the penitentiary and the reformatory.
when the state settles its balance with