The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-17

John S. Miller. inventor of the i'm
munity BATH, special counsel for Stand
ard oil, the man who saved the packers
and caused President Roosevelt TO rage
in special message TO Congress against
the law which prevented an appeal by the
government from AN unjust decision Of
a Federal judge" has the fight Of his
life to keep John r. Walsh out Of the
penitentiary, writes the Chicago CORE
spondent Of the New York World.
Mr.. Miller has unusual talent for rescu-
ing predatory wealth from the conse-
quences Of its violation Of law. The de-
feat of the government IN the beef trust
cases brought him a rush Of Standard
Oil Fetainers. He is the highest priced
lawyer in the United States to-day. The
gossip that ne received 100000 fee In the
packing litigation is generally believed.
That Standard oil viii pay him 10000
is the rumor among lawyers. Though in
dicted for misapplying more than $30O0.-
COO John r. Walsh would be ten times a
millionaire if his railroad assets could be
realized upon. That he will spend every
dollar in his possession to secure an ac-
quittal is the statement made by his
friends.
Legal AbIutiOBs Welcomed.
The CELEBRITY with which the Standard
Oil seized upon the talented Ar Miller
has tinge Of the comic in It. The
immunity BATH which Judge Hum
phrey said was good. made all the re-
baters over the land sit up and notice.
It focused the eyes Of all thT0ttiers Of
competition upon Mr.. Miller. Standard
Oil overwhelmed him with pleas Of i'm
munity. we have told the govern
ment our secrets and now it wants 70
use our evidence 10 convict US was
the plea made. Then Mr.. Miller began
to fix up HIS bath tub. The packers had
told. under coercion secrets 20 Com
missioner Garfield. and Judge Humphrey
decided they were entitled 10 immunity.
When the storm In the White House
subsidized, Judge Humphrey was removed
from his activities in Chicago 10 his own
sphere in Illinois, and Judge Kenesaw
Mountain lands was appointed. Then
the bath was prepared and Standard
Oil stood ready for the plunge. The De-
partment Of Justice faced a crisis. If the
Humphrey decision We're followed every
Federal indictment against Standard OIL
all over the country would be crushed.
Mr. Miller made his plea and Judge Ian
dis decided he could not give the re-
baters . bath.
Is ResourccfuI Man.
Mr. Miller is resourcefuI. The district
attorneys fear him \ keen student Of the
law. he has "a shrewd, forcefuI. peuetrat-
ing personality. From prefessorship Of
mathematics in a small New York uni
versity. and later of Latin and Greek, 10
the pinnacle Of the profession Of law is
the jump Mr.. Miller has made He is
ffty-nine years Of age, and has been d
noted man in Chicago for twenty-five
years. In 1891 Mayor Washburne ap-
pointed him corporation counsel, and hs
held the Office until late in Mayor Swift's
administration.
He won many important suits for the
city. the most notable against the en-
croachments of the Illinois Central on the
lake front He is an influential Repub-
licau. and a pOtel., factor in politics. He
is ranked among the ablest cEaucery law
yers in the city. and his connection with
numerous important cases CT this kind has
brought him prominently before the pub
lie He is a member Of the firm of Peck.
Miller d Starr. Mr.. Miller is a native of
Lowviile, St. Lawrence County, y. Y. He
was graduated from the St Lawrence
University al Canton in 1869. and for three
years devoted himself 10 teaching in the
university He studied law in the mean
time. and was admitted to the bar at Og-
densburg. He came to Chicago in 1874.
and within a few years success came to
him.
Miller n Good Fellow"
-Four years ago he was elected president
Of the Chicago Bar Association, and
proved to be one Of the most popular law
yers who ever held the Office. Mr.. Miller
is what lawyers and laymen call a good
fellow" He has a fine sense Of humor, is
cool under all conditions, and is noted as a
jury winner. In his denomination he
brings out his points without intimidatng
witnesses. His manner is soft, sympa-
thetic, and confidential He can tell a
funny story with all the expression Of an
actor and. while he Is not an orator. he
makes telling speech.
Not only is Mr. Miller great as a trial
lawyer. but he is one Of the most expert
y y
noted for his knowledge OF the intricacies
Of the Federal laws and the interpreta-
lions put upon them by the Supreme
Court
The Standard Oil cases in Chicago, St.
Louis, and Findlay. Ohio. are I'm charge OF
Mt Miller The railroads indicted for re-
batting and the railroad officials under in
dividual Indictment are reaching out for
his services. He is the most aggressive,
active opponent of the big stick"
Banker Walsh, who asserts he. too. is
suffering from application of the big
stick" pins great faith on Mr.. Miller.
we hope the public viii suspend judg-
ment until the Walsh case is tried. saws
Miller. Il am almost certain he viii -
acquitted
Mr.. Miller is married, has a son and a
daughter. and is a leading member of the
Chicago, Union League, Hamilton, and
Renwood clubs.
Probable Cause Of Death.
r.