Smyrna times., 1923-08-08
STEPHEN c. BALDWIN, NOTED
BROOKLYN LAWYER, IS DEAD
WAS A NEPHEW OF MRS. JOHN H
HOFFECKER OF THIS TOWN
Won Fame Before Jury-He Received
Fee of S800,00O From William
Guggenheim for Days Work

Stephen C. Baldwin, noted Brook
lyn lawyer, who had acted as personal
counsel to the late Mayor Gaynor and
appeared in many important trials in
New York City, died Saturday, July
%, at the Carson C. Peck Memorial
Hospital. Mr.. Baldwin, who was SO
years old, suffered a general break
down six months ago and when his
condition did not improve he was re-
moved to the hospital. Mr.. Baldwin
was a nephew of Mrs. John, H. Hof-
fecker, of Smyrna, and known to sew
eral Smyrnians. Mr.. Baldwin was
born in Foochow, China, the son of
the Rev. DR.. Stephen L. Baldwin, a
Methodist missionary in China and
later Secretary of the Missionary So
ciety of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Under his fathers tuition
Mr.. Baldwin became proficient stu
dent of Latin classics before he was
II years old. He travelled around the
world twice before reaching his fif-
teenth birthday. He continued his
education in Europe and prepared for
Yale at the Boston Latin School, but
when he was ready for college he
abandoned the course to study law in
the Office of Judge Clinton G. Reyn-
olds. He later studied in the Office of
David Dudley Field, whom he assisted
in the preparation of the Civil Code.
In 1885, before he was of age and by
special order of the Supreme Court,
Mr.. Baldwin was admitted to the bar
and from the start established an en-
viable reputation as a jury lawyer.
In 1914, Mr.. Baldwin was appointed
by Governor Glynn to investigate Sing
Sing Prison and his report resulted in
the removal of Warden Mccormick
He had also served for two years as
Chairman of the Committee on Fit
ness and Character by appointment of
the Appellate Division of the Supreme
Court. Only a few appearances be-
fore jury were needed to convince
the legal profession that Mr.. Baldwin
was a great trial lawyer. When not
yet 30 years old he won a verdict OF
$4,000 for JEANNE Mitchell against
a street railway for a broken ankle
and he won it after a battle witt
Elihu Root and Francis L. Wellman
To skip a few years, in 1916 Baldwin
represented William Guggenheim il
his suit against the five Guggenhein
brothers for S1O,OOO,OOO. His re
Enumeration was SSOO,0O0, which
said to be the largest amount eve
paid an American lawyer for sevel
days work in a courtroom. And lik
: all great lawyers, Baldwin knew whe
| to retreat. Representing Mayor Gay
| lnor in the libel action for $4,000
| brought by Henry H. Curran, he ad
| vised the Mayor to apologize. TIL
| Mayor accepted the advice and the su
was withdrawn. The characteristic
| essential to success as a barriste
| were possessed by Mr.. Baldwin to a
exceptional degree. He was tall, we
| built, charming manners, quick of ey
and wit, resourceful, persistent.
all the delicate artistry involved
| the trying of cases he was an a.
| knowledged master. Mr.. Baldwin We
a member of many clubs and assOci;
| tions, among them the New YOl
! County Lawyers Association, Il
Brooklyn, New York State and Il
American Bar Association, the Anne
ican Geographical Society, the Ne
York State Historical Society, Il
Brooklyn Museum, the Society
Medical Jurisprudence, Manhasset B;
Yacht Club, Shelter Island Vac
Club, Shelter Island Country Gu
Great Neck Golf Club, Seaview &C
Club and the Italian Club of Ne
York. Mr.. Baldwin's home in BroO
lyn was 73 Remsen Street and he al
maintained a Summer home at Shelf
Island. He is survived by his vii
Mrs. Edith Harvey Finch Baldwi
/ and 4,ryo dauOhtars Mrs RTucp ID