The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-01-02
Our New York Letter.

AS the Thaw trial approaches, in-
terest centers in Martin w. Little,
ton, the new leading lawyer for the
defense. Littleton's life is interest
ing; only IS years old, yet he ranks
already at the head Of the criminal
bar in New York city. Born IN Ten
nessee, of poor parents, early moving
to Texas, the young man at sixteen
was a ''track walker" on one OF the
railroads of that state. When one
day he was told by a superior that
he might become some day 9 freight.
train conductor, he replied. Not j;
some day I expect to be great
lawyer in New York." and today,
only II years from that day, bis ex-
pectations have been realized, and
not only is he a great lawyer, but the.
greatest. Without usual educational
advantages, he educated himself
read law at odd times and while
working for his daily bread, the
Young man entered law office N
Texas, showed the stuff he was made
of, married, came to New York nm
known and without means, but with
determination that quality best or
ali qualities.
It was not long before the young
Southerner made himself felt. He
began to be recognized as q success
full barister and an orator OF no mean
ability. At a great political meeting
in the old academy of music in Brook.
lyn, at which David B. Hill was the.
chief speaker, Littleton's name ap.
peared as one Of the "tail-end
Speakers along with some others TO
be used to fill up the time. The
speech was made it startled, thrilled
the gathering such eloquence bad
not been expected from any Of the
speakers, much less the least OF them.
That speech made Littleton famous
in a night. John C. Sheehan, the
great lawyer and politician, was one
Of those who heard the speech, and 9
little later, when Sheehan as the
manager Of Judge Alton B. Parkers
candidacy for the nomination foa,
president was looking around for the
best to be had to place Parker 9 name
in nomination at the national con-
vention he turned to Littleton as the
man. How well the young orator
did the work is a matter OF history.
His name was on every tongue.
Later Littleton was made president
of the Borough of Brooklyn (vice
mayor) which office he filled with
ability, relinquishing it because, as
he put it, he could not make both
ends meet" Beginning then, the
practice Of his profession on the New
York side of the river, it was but q
few brief months before Lttleton's
name appeared on one side or the
other Of every important case.
Thaw searched the United States
for the best ability; tried Delmas OF
California. Now at the second trial,
he is to be defended by the yet young
Southerner, he and his friends be,
lieying that in Littleton, they will
have unquestionably the best talent
obtainable. =
Martin w. Littleton was born IN
1872 in a log cabin in Tennessee; was
a sttrack walker at 16 years of age
in Texas, a bakers assistant and farm
hand in youth; did chores and went TO
school one term; studied law and was
admitted to the bar at nineteen; out
grew the town of Weatherford and
went to Dallas at the age of twenty
one; came to New York at twenty,
four, made a speech which nominated
Parker for the Presidency in 1904:
at 81, was Borough President OF
Brooklyn, and at IS is selected as
chief counsel in the most noted
criminal case of the day.
H. w. F1NLAYsoN.
A5O BROADWAY. New York.