The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-10-20
Entered Law at Fifty-Seven

And the circumstances of his admls'
sion. which he related to me. were ex
ceptional.
Smith went to congress in the mid
fifties from New York district About
that time runaway slave. known as
Jerry. had made his way across New
York state, had been traced to SYRIA
cuse. and from that city had been able
to cross Lake Ontario into Canada. SO
the United States marshal. acting un'
der the fugitive slave law. was not
able to lay his hands on Jerry and re-
turn him to his owner; but he did Sc
cure evidence, as he thought. which
justified the arrest and prosecution OF
several citizens of Syracuse charged
with aiding and abetting the escape OF
runaway slave One of these men
was Moses Somers. at that time the
editor of the leading paper OF SYRIA
cuse. The men were accordingly ar
rested and taken to Albany to be ar.
raigned before the United States dis
trict court.
LAS soon as Gerrit Smith heard OF
the arrest OF the men-his home was
at Peterboro, a short distance from
Syracuse-he hurried to Albany. offer
ed himself as their counsel. had his
offer accepted. and appeared in the
United States court with the accused
men. Smith. let me explain. for years
had appeared before the state and fed
eral courts. but he had never been
admitted to the bar-he had always
appeared as next friend. matter u.s.
uaIly very easy of arrangement IN the
old days But in this particular case
the court. which had long been sus
pected Of pro-slavery leanings, refused
point blank to permit Mr. Smith to ap.
pear as next friend for the accused
men. even when Mr. Smith protested
vigorously that be had the right so to
appear. and the cases were adjourned
for day to give the prisoners oppor
tunity to obtain counsel who were
members Of the bar
Late In the afternoon OF that day
Judge Ira Harris OF the state supreme
court and afterwards United States
senator-the father OF the Miss Harris
who sat In the box with President LIN
coin the night of his assassination III
Ford's theater. called Mr. Smith be
fore him.
"'Mr. Smith. said Judge Harris. I
have just been told that the Unitee
States court this morning refused Il
receive you as counsel for the mel
who are accused in the Jerry case
on the ground that you have not beef
admitted to the bar Now. II you vii
come into my court tomorrow mornin,
; will admit you to the bar ex gracia
; so. the next day. Gerrit Smith. wit
had studied law in his early man
hood and had a wonderful know!edg
OF 1t. appeared before Judge Harris
was asked few questions. was ad
mitted to the bar. and received IRON
the clerk OF the court his certificate
Then he went to the United State
!. court room and said to the Judge Their
that he was now member OF the ba
OF the supreme court OF New Yor
state and showed his certificate. II
further stated that he was present I
appear as counsel for the men a,
= cused in aiding the slave known a
Jerry to escape There was nottin
for the court to do but recognize nil
E as counsel. and he managed the cas-
so well that the prosecution of nl
8 clients was soon abandoned BY th
q federal authorities. 1t was the frs
. and last case that Gerrit Smith NO
as lawyer AZ
copyright. 1911. by E. J. Edwards. A
Rights Reservadh