The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1912-02-24
THUS STAMPING MR. LUCAS OF THE BEST AND LEAD
ING AFRO-AMERICAN LAWYERS IN ILLINOIS, OR IN
SECTION OF THE COUNTRY

tionship. as we'll A. the recognition
that Bob gave her for ten or twelve
years. when he was without a home
in a strange city here. which TWO or
three people testified that he after
wards denied. but which an over
whclming number of witnesses Swore
that he had recognized and admitted
on numerous occasions and under
various striking circumstances.
The girl. Rosa Mott> Brody-Dur-
gan. who died since this case began.
only last December. was proved to be
the daughter OF a hayward sister.
Kate Motifs. who died almost thirty
years ago, no one seems TO know
just where: but that she gave to ?
Rrodcy family. one well known
here to adopt and raise. with whom
she lived. until her marriage. She
WAS about thirty-two years old when
she died. unfortunately not living TO
see her fight for recognition a an heir
Ia this estate. She leaves 4 husband
and. it is said. a will which disPp>eS
OF her expected share OF the estate
which is one-iiith. the share Of each
heir.
Thus ends onc OF the greatest ciyE
CASES ever tried in Illinn'S. establish
ing beyond cavil CT contenNon here
after. the claim made by these CON
tested heirs when attacked by the
other Motifs. thai they were bone and
flesh. A. well A. the other heirs,
OF the same father n Robcrr 7.
Mott>.
Thomas Wallace Swami W., tn
investigator who went into Iowa and
elsewhere. and under the leads shat
had been furnished him by the Jack
sons. discovered and rnoarthcd ,he
documentary evidence and important
old persons who knew the Mott
family history.
The wonderful battle waged and
won for these disputed heirs by their
sole counsel and lawyer. J. Gray
Lucas. against the fearful odds or
money and an array OF talented c"un
sci. seven in number-fve white and
two Colored lawyers. nave st1Erped
him a. one of the a5lCst lawyers IN
the country. of whatever race: il
aught was needed to prove l.. this
last great victory. in brilliart ca
reer a. lawyer in many celebrated
cases. Most of all. however. it
proves his unwavering fidelity In a |
cause once intrusted in his hands
against almost insurmountabIc OBJ
stacles and his wonderful sci: rcli-
ance and courage. in his singlc-hand- |
ed rout OF the formidable array. II |
battle which. he asked neither favor !
nor assistance OF any lawyer. VIII, m
soever.
A great and needed lesson is
taught the Negro race b. the heir,
in this case. who were as usual. inn
portuned to get other white counsel.
pr else additional white counsel. and
who did all they could to dcstroyi
heir faith in Attorney Lucas. b.
,ause he was also ColOred and had i
white lawyers As his opponents.
The arguments in the c1se uccu-
bed about four hodrs, two hours tc
| side, and when NJ. Lucas had lin
shed his remarkable address. all
ioubt was dispelled as to this last
est of his ability to handI. every
'hase of the case.
The wonderful patience and care of
Judge Cutting in the hearing of this
most intricate and, in many respects.
xasperating case, was an additional
roof OF the fine judicial tcmpCra-
nent of this exemplary JUICE: for
his case has had the Court a:ten-
ion from last July. soon after Miss
Gertrude Jackson, through her moth
RS selection. became the admi1istra-
rix and head and brunt of the fight.
own to the present time
Miss Jackson has been the support
ehind her aged mother and has
roved herself captain of no mean
rider; and least of all. gutter. She
5 Spartan in the right. when a;
lw. as she is in music-her profes-
the head. However. it may
e truthfully said. Zone and God is
majority"