Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-15
DELMAS, THE LEGAL NAPOLEON
Erom thc NeM York rImc..


in "nne English" impressed those who
saw him at the Thaw trial last week.
Californians 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 a shrewd fnancier. His love of re-
tirement has been emphasized in re-
cent years. since q personal episode
in his life made public in San Fran
cisco. Much of his leisure was spent
at his country home near San Fran
cisco. He delights in books, and is an
omnivorous reader Political position
has no allurements for him. He Is In
demand as a speechmaker at banquets
and other public functions on these
occasions, however, his attitude Is dis
tinctly dignihed and courtly one.
To his skill in the examination of
witnesses he Is said to add the gift of
eloquent argument, in which incisive
analysis of evidence is mingled with
oratory of a sort that appeals to the
emotions. He belongs to the old
school of orators, as distinguished
from the strenuous, the casual, and
the coloquial speakers in the more
modern fashion. Yet, as one of his
acquaintances said last week when
Delmas wants to be sarcastic his
words are like vitriol in a cup of
honey"
At first Mr.. Delmas took cases of
every sort In recent years his posi-.
tion in California has resembled that
of an English barrister-a lawyer re-
tanned for consultations and trials by
solicitors who do all the work of active
preparation. Most of the cases were
submitted to him for opinions. Such
was his recognized abilities, Califor-
mans said last week. that he was not
infrequently called upon even by the
judges of the courts to prepare opin-
ions in difficult or doubtful cases.
Such a practice and an occasional
appearance as the trial lawyer in suits
of the first Importance soon brought
Mr.. DelmaS a fortune. His fee in the
Fair will case was variously estimated
ut from $4,000 to S150.000 and he
earned $4,000 defending the Spreckels
libel suit
The San Francisco earthquake
changed the course of Mr.. Delmas'
life. Before the disaster he had no
thought of coming to New York. Part
of his fortune, however. was shaken
down by the quake and burned in the
fire tnCt followed. Life in San Fran
cisco was so chaotic that he decided
to travel in the east.
His retention in the Thaw case offers
an unusual example of q single trial
leading a man to form a law partner
ship and take up his residence perma-
nently in New York, as Mr.. Delmas
has decided to do. Last summer the
Thaws cast about for a great lawyer
the greatest in the country II need be
to save Harry X. Thaw. John G..
Johnson, noted attorney of Phila-
delphia, was mentioned. but declined.
Partly at Mr. Johnson's suggestion,
partly through the influence of Justice
McKenna of the supreme court of the
United States, and coterie of Cali
fornians, Mr. Delmas was retained.
He was approached through Henry G.
McPike, his present law partner in this
city, an attorney of standing in San
Francisco and an eX-United States at
torney for northern California.
n detailed recapituation of all that
had been done in the Thaw case was
prepared and submitted to Mr.. Del
mas. The latter came to New York
last September. After consultation
with Thaw. his mother and his coun-
sci, Mr. Delmas finally accepted the
case on November IL last. A few days
before he had been admitted to prac-
tice, on the motion of eX-Judge
Augustus ]. Van Wyck, in the appel
late division of the supreme court. His
fee, according to the estimates of east
ern lawyers who know Mr. Delmas'
abilities, cannot be far short of $780,
600