Evening journal., 1913-07-22
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Law Offices Of the
Famous Charles 0'COnOr
b, holland.

Charles OConor, who died in 1884, at
the age OF So was for many years the
rival Of William NJ Eearts as leader
of the American bar OConor was a
very strong Democrat With Horace
Greeley he went upon the buil bond OF
jefferson Davis. at the time the eN-
president of the Confederacy was held
ion trial ON the charge OF treason.
O'Conor became widely known M 1872,
when he was nominated tor the Presi
dcncy alta convention held in Louisville.
ky., which represented that portion Of
the Democratic party which was unwill-
ing TO support Horace Greeley Tor Pres
idcnt. Ar O'Conor declined The honor
but was nominated and votcd for m
spite of his resignation. lie received
about 10000 votes. A year later he
gained even wider prominence as the
senior counsel employed in the prosech
tion of the Tweed ring con-pnutors The
success of these prosecutions was in
great measure due TO Mr. O'Conor's
work.
For many years Charles O'Conor was
retained in lending and sensational liti-
CATION one OF the most conspicuous OF
which was the famous Edwin Forrest di-
,orcc suit Yet. notwithstanding Mr..
O'Conors prominence as lawyer and
the wealth which lac gaiucd in the prac-
ticc of this profession, he was a man of
the utmost simplicity of life This char
acteristic was especial, noticeable in the
arrangement of his law offices IN Kew
York city.
When ! was law student used oc-
easionally 10 visit Charles O'Conor in his
offices which were established in a build
ing called "Jamccy Court" This was
as quaint building as could be found
even in the Inns of Court, london. where
the lawyers of former times were accus-
toned to hnve their offices. ram,
shacllc staircase ON the outside offered
the only means of entering the building
or departing from it. In a suite Of two
or three rooms. one of which opened
directly ON this little staircase. the pre-
eminently great lawyer. Charles OCouor,
had his Offices
often uoticcd that it was about as
bare of furniture as the cell of monk.
What there WIS was oi the rudcst and
of the most commonplace description.
The floor nf the piliccs was covered with
fine sand and anybody who went In their
always brought ont footprints in the
sunI
Mr. Ot onor WAS very Kind 10 me
when I was law student We law
clerks u.cd to eat our luncheon in the
court yard. and Mr. Ofonor frequently
hrousu bright red apples to VS. ana
gave them to rs with a cuuitly grace.
In that way got pretty we'll acquainted
with him. that one day J vcnturcd
TO sav 20 him:
"Alr OConor Won have thc2most sparse
ly furnished law offices m Ncw nrk.
Why. oven some of the 1onihs awvors
havc more richly furnished offices But
What puzzle, INC is why you -nnd Nour
noor instead Of having a rug or carpet
ON ~"
"llc looked nj mr with mo.r whim.
steal smile and there was a merry twin
hlc i'm his cyc as he said MY boy
/ clicui- are not afraid 10 come 80 me
I it have and upon the floor. hu IT
were to put q carpet 'rpon the nopr o
/ my ofliccs they wnnLl hp 80 di~conccrtr,
thai thcy mied lcsrr' mo. nni thc, ccr
iainlv wonh ha'o their minds distract
cd from tho hu~inee. which brought then
Ito me don't know what other law
ycrs may ihiuk hut find that sand T.
tho host bind of floor furniture for my
onicc
iCoryriqht 1913. by f. ] Edward.
/ Al rights rcseNcdl
Tomorrow Mr. Edward- viii tell "Tov
Precious Relic Was Fut into Goo'
shape