The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-24

Years ago. in the little sunny town Of
/ San Jose. in California. "a schoolgirl one
day passed a fippant note to her boy
/ lover The note fell into the hands OF
the teacher. and the girl was dismissed
! from the Normal School for conduct "uE-
/ becoming q lady" Then there was trouble
land all tongues were set a-wagging in
san Jose. The guardians Of the giri-for
She was an orphan-sUed the principal
/ for defamation OF character. They won
/ their case and the girl was reiustated.
She Is now a prosperous matrOn and her-
/ self "a school principal
! To this little tempest In a far distant
/ teapot Dolphin Michael Delmas to-day
owes his great chance OF conducting the
| defense Of Harry K. Thaw. now on trial
Tor his life.
Delmas was the lawyer that won that
little libel suit in san Jose and who
reinstated that girl in the Normal School.
He was induced to take up this petty suit
\ by II. Z. McPille. the boy lover in the
case. His only consideration was friend
/ ship. He certainly won that considera-
ton
Ever since the day when that schoolgirl
was INDICATED young McPike has wOr-
shipped Delmas as "a demigod. He con-
siders him the greatest lawyer. not only
Of California or Of America, but of all
time. writes Edwin Emerson in the
I Louisville Courier-JournaI.
Now, it 50 happened that Mr.. McPike.
who has since then become a lawyer
himself, was travelling in the East at the
time when Thaw shot White in the Madi-
son Square Roof Garden. McPike's father
was a warm friend Of Associate Justice
/ McKenna, Of the United States Supreme
Court. Judge McKenna was IA friend of
ThaW's father. Young McPike told Judge
McKenna what he thinks Of Delmas as a
lawyer. Judge McKenna knew Delmas
already. for Delmas has appeared on
several occasions before the United States
Supreme Court as a pleader. and when
ever he has done so he has appeared 70
advantage. II was Delmas who argued
and won the great case Of the California
railway tax suits before the United States
Supreme Court, after a contest that had
lasted more than thirteen years Judge
. ~ J
Thaw's family 10 engage Delmas in his
defense, as -the ablest criminal lawyer
now alive IN America" Such an opinion
coming from a judge who might himself
sit on the ease in the court Of last APP
peal was bound TO be all potent. MIR
NcPike telegraphed 10 Mr. Delmas in
California 10 come on to Pittsburg and
New York. De}mas came. Since then he
has been the leading attorney Of counsel
for the defense ia Thaws case.
CaIIfornin's Greatest Lawyer.
In California Delmas' young friend, Mr.
McPike. is but one Of the many thousand
Not only DeImas' friends. but even his
enemies. acknowledge Dclmas as the
greatest living lawyer Of California. Ole
judges and lawyers who have tried issues
with Delmas do not hesitate to compare
him TO such legal stars as Rufus ChOate
I Daniel Webster. Aaron Burr, and Chic.
Justice Marshall.
Apart from Delmas' native ability and
the genius, which he himself would define
as hard work. Delmas owes his high posi-
ton - .he leader OF the California ban
largely 90 the Character Of some OF H.,
most prominent eases which he has tried
/. DeImas is the only big lawyer in Calitor
MIA who has consistently esD0Used tb'
case Of the people against the Southern
Pacific Railroad and who has beaten III,
railroad people "a a stauGstil
The Southern Pacific Railroad iJ Should
be explained is the worst hated corpora
ton west Of she Rocky Mountains. WheI
Frank Norris pilloried this corporation az
''The Octopus ne merely voiced the feel
ings Of all the people about him. Delmas
from The time that ms fought Leland Stan
ford. Charles CTockcr, and Coils =. Hunt
iugton in the great case Of David s Col
tons widow against those railroad baron
OF the past down 20 the present day, Ia.
persistentiy championed all manner o
legal suits. big or little. provided the
were brought against the Southern Pa
cific. The most annoying thing To tn
, railroad is that he has mostly w"p thes
suits.
, A former law partner Of Delmas. VIII,
is now engaged I'm litigaCT0n with his for
, mer chief. told me that Delmas had
standing offer from the Southern paci6
! of a 100000 retainer provided only ia
would handle no more damage suit
against the railroad. <'Dcimas is such
/ fool" said his former partner, that d.
! never would take this offer. and yet h
I Was always head over ears in debt.
"Delmas would sacrifice anything 70
the sake of friendship or good hatred. a.
= for women. he sees them ali in a goldei
] haze"
j This reference TO women would be un
dcrstood by all CaliCornians Womei
] have played the fool with DeImas al
through lis life. lie has been as wax 81
their hands. losing both his money ant
his reputation ia consequence.
Delmas is Il FreHchman by BIRTH hav
ing been born in France. the son @
French parents. lie himself pronounce
his name Deimah. and iu his early day
resented any other pronunciation He i
proud Of his likeness TO Napoleon, an'
Tor this reason prefers to lc; but ON
j portrait Of himself abroad This is
photograph which was taken many year
, ago i'm san Jose, showing "a stray cur
over his forehead, after the manner Of
i certain famous portrait OF Napoleon
story Of SchooIboy Days.
] Delmas' people came 90 California 4
$ the days Of the gold rush, and settled j
Z che Santa Clara Valley In the town O
/ san Jose street bears their family name
, Dolphin was educated at the Jesuit Col
, lege Of Santa Clara. one Of the bes
classical colleges OF America. Dclma
was graduated from it with the hishcs
2 honoys and received gold medal 30
] his proficiency in the classics. only on
1 other man I'm California holds the mat
, of this medal, and that is the presiden
= of the college. Dclmas, according 20 tn
college authorities. was the brishtes
/ pupil ever graduated from Santa Clara
{ Afterward he was graduated from III
Yale Law School and was admitted to IN
J Connecticut bar.
They tell this story Of his schoolbo
= DAYS ut Santa Clara. Dcluas. the bette
10 perfect himself in Greek, solicited IN
O. ,-,,. ~ MIN 70 rnrnin,.. MIN I-nthr