The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-14
Dolphin M. DELMAS.
Character Sketch of the California At
tOrney Conducting the Thaw Case.

Dolphin Michael Delmas was
brought into the Iimelieht of metro
politan life for the first time last week,
says the New York Times. when he
assumed active charge of the defense
OF Harry K. Thaw. Everything SEEM
ed to be against him. He was called
upon to stay the tide of adverse cir
cumstances that was jeopardizing the
life of the young Pittsburg million
aire. Mr.. Delmas was a stranger to
many details of the practice in the
New York courts. First he showed
his daring by ruthlessly casting aside
the debris of Thaw's case and arrang
ing a campaign of his own. Then he
won point and surprised District At
torney Jerome by introducing testi-
mony tending to show that Stanford
White had threatened to kill Thaw.
His skill as a trial lawyer was mani
fest, especially as Mrs. Thaw told her
story. The narrative was punctuated
with points of emphasis, like so many
legal mile stones.
Mr. Delmas is a Napoleon of the
west in more senses than one Those
who know him best say he rather
brides himself on his resem blance to
the Corsican- conqueror. There is
suggestion Of Napoleon in the poise of
his head, his profile and the shape of
his temples. His facial resemblance
to Napoleon is emphasized by his habit
his forehead, like that seen in the por-
traits of the French emperor His
friends in San Francisco have twitted
him on a story that he was, indeed,
descendant of Napoleon. Some Cali
fornians even believe that. Mr.. Delmas
being of French extraction. there is
some kinship between the two men,
When the story is mentioned to him.
the lawyer assumes an air of gentle
depreciation.
The most striking of his mannerisms
are his flowing gestures and habit of
looking at a witness or into the jury
box with his head bent forward and
his eyes cast upward. He has a habit
of holding his eyeglasses in his hand
his head and turns UP his eyes he raises
his glasses horizontally and looks across
them, forming a picture that is dis
tfnctive and striking.
Mr.. Delmas is SO years old and prac-
ticed law in California for so odd years.
Most of his practice has been in civil
cases, and some consider him at his
best in that branch of his profession.
The suit which carried his fame all
over the country was the contest over
the millions of the late Senator Fair. |
He represented the contestant, Mrs. |
Craven and met one of his infreCuent |
defeats He also defended a libel suit |
against Claus Spreckels, and was re-
Gently sought for the position of gen
eral counsel of the Southern Pacific |
but declined. /
While he never posed as a criminal |
LAWYER soma of his greatest victories |
have been won in such cases. He has
had 16 clients accused of homicide, and !
all have been acquitted. He defended |
D. J. Arnold. who shot Grannis after a
street fight in San Francisco. Another
noted criminal case in which he acted
as advisory counsel was that of Trux-
ton Beale, formerly in the diplomatic
service and one of the witnesses to the
killing of Stanford White. Reale was
charged with Thomas H. Williams. of
killing Frederick Marriott. the editor
IF the San Francisco Newsletter. The
case had some startling parallels with
that of Harry K. Thaw. Marriott was
said to have made an insulting remark
regarding the woman who afterward
became Beale's wife. The defense was
,arried to successful issue by recourse
20 the 'tunwritten law
These trials. however. hardly hint at
he personality of Mr.. Delmas. He be-
ongs to the Chesterfieldian type of
nan. His suaye speech, rounded ges-
ures and measured periods. all framed
n fine English, impressed those who
saw him at the Thaw trial last week.
said they had helped to
make him famous on the Pacific coast.
The law seems to be a consuming
passion of his life Next to that he is
shrewd f1nancier. His love of retire
nent has been emphasized in recent
years, since a personal episode in his
Much of his leisure was spent at his :
home near San Francisco. He
Heights in books, and is omnivor-
JUS reader. Political position has no
for him He is in demand
IS a speechmaker at banquets and 9TH
II public functions. On these occasions