Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-28
Nebraska
E. F. GRAY, PIONEER
ATTORNEY, RETIRES
Lawyer Who Has Practiced in Ere
mont Since 1867 Goes to Sioux
Falls to Live with Daughter.
DREW IDAHO CRIMINAL CODE

FREMONT. Neb., March 25.-CspecialO
f. F. Gray. dean Of the Fremont bar
end one Of the oldest practitioners in
Nebraska has departed for Sioux Falls
:. D., to make his home with his dRugh-
ter, Mrs. f. o. Jones' Mr. Gray made the
journey across the continent in an OK
cart In 1859 to California in search Of
gold The next year he did surveying
work in oregon and Washington. study
ms law when he could find time. lie
then went to Boise City, Idaho, and was
admitted to the bar. Going to Lewiston
he was named district attorney Of the
Third district, comprising a third of the
state He drew the present criminal code
for the state Of Idaho In 1867 he set out
to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. a. w.
Gray of johnson county, Nebraska His
father was serving in the Nebraska leg
islature, then held i'm the capitol at
Omaha. z. r. GRAY was shortly after
ward appointed district attorney, with
Headquarters in Fremont. and that was
the beginning of his residence here IN
1867
serves Client Tbirty-Three Years.
From that time to this Mr.. Gray has
occupied a prominent place in his profess
sion. lie has been regarded as the pos
SCISSOR of one of the finest legal minds
in the state. He has been known to say
that lawyers and judges might disagree
as to facts and Interpretation of law. but
the making of a clerical error or mistake
in practice was inexcusable He has teen
attorney for thirty-threc years for a local
bank, and this client declares that Mr..
Gray never had been mistaken in his ad-
Vice as TO legal status or had made a
mistake In procedure. Failing voice and
advanced years, added to by the impor-
tunities of his daughters, Mrs. Jones of
Sioux Falls and Mrs. w. A. Robertson
of Plattsmouth, Neb.. at last persuaded
him to retire, although he did 1t with
great reluctance. When he left here a
considerable delegation of the local bar
went to the station to say farewell He
was accompanied by his son-in-law, At
torney w. A. Robertson of Plattsmouth
When Mr.. Gray was district attorney
his district comprised the entire state OF
Nebraska, with the exception of Omaha.
He has related in bar meetings several
interesting experiences. His first case
was TO prosecute a man for cutting tim
Der. The case was clear and convic-
ton seemed absolutely sure. Still the
verdict was mot guilty" Mr.. Gray
later asked one of the Jurymen about it
and was dumfounded by the reply: Why,
everybody cuts timber. Every 1uryman
in that case does the same thing The
only time a man is prosecuted for 1t is
when some one is venting a spite
Long Trip to Omaha.
In taking the trip from Idaho to Omaha
Mr.. Gray went by boat down the Column
bia river to the coast. thence by ship to
Panama, crossed the itshmus on the rail-
road. sailed for New York and was able
TO reach Omaha by rail. He was born in
Homesdale. Pa, January 80, 1887, and is
therefore just past his seventy eighth
birthday. He was city attorney of Ere
mont one term beginning in 1901 1t is
said that never were the city ordinances
enforced with such strictness as under
the Gray administration. His sudden de-
termination to leave Fremont was a great
surprise to his wide circle of acquaint-
ances, and especially the members of the
bar, who hold him and his abilities in the
highest esteem.