The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-04-11


Since Montana became state, q
070 persons have been admitted to
practice law in Montana, in addition
to the half a thousand admitted while
Montana was a territory, according
to records of the state supreme court
Women have always been eligible
to the bar of the state, yet fewer
than Is have ayailed themselves OF
the privilege, judging from the
names inscribed on the great regis
ter. The records do not distinguish
as to sex but perusal of the more
than 1000 signatures revealed only
IA which could be recognized as rep
resenting the fairer sex.
The first name on the roll after
Montana became a state is That OF
John w. Cotter of Butte, admitted
November Is, 1889. Ella l..
Knowles was the first woman attor-
ney. She was then resident of Hell
ena, coming to that city in 1887. She
taught school for a year or two and
soon after taking the bar examina-
ton became a candidate for the Of
flee of attorney general on the peo-
pies party ticket. Being defeated by
the republican candidate, she took
defeat philosophically and married
him with the result that as Mrs. H. j.
Haskell she held the position of as
sistant district attorney for a brief
time. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Haskell
died within recent years, Mr.. Haskell
as late as 1921 being member OF
the house of the Montana assembly
from Glendive. Both before and
after her marriage Mrs. Haskell ap-
peared in cases before the state su-
preme court and was able to present
an able argument, according to an
old time jurist. She was graduated
from a seminary and normal school
in New Hampshire, from Bates col
lege, Maine, and practiced law in
New Hampshire before her advent
in Montana.
Few Disbarred
There have been remarkably few
disbarments in Montana, according to
the records of the court, a count
showing only "a disbarred in the 35
years of statehood. Death, retire
ment, and removal from the state,
however, have reduced the number
of active attorneys to 632, the num-
Der which paid the license fee of SIS
for last year. The number remain |
ing is not precise as there are a few |
who neglected to pay their fees for
1928. At least one young lawyer of
the state wrote in last year that he
had not earned So during the year.
At the present time, it is estimated, |
T. oh Of in Mon |
tana for every $50 population.
There is, at present, a charge of
$25 for taking the bar examination
which entities the applicant to sec
ond try if he fails the first time, pro-
viding the second attempt is made
within year. The records show
that one applicant has taken the ex-
animation eight times and failed each
time.
The record, in its black and white
unsentimental way, seems to show
that not. only have women made lit
tie Roadway in their invasion of
profession once thought to belong ex-
clusively to the male, but also that
it is long climb to the top of the
ladder of success in law and that the
top is reached only after the hair has
grayed and mature years have come.
The men of outstanding prominence
in the profession in Montana have al
most without exception practiced law
upward of 80 years. Three of the
five members of Montanas supreme
court were admitted to practice in
1S92-Justice Holloway, Justice
Stark and Justice Cooper-and the
three of them we're year behind
Chief Justice Galloway, who was adj
mitted in 1891. The "youngster"
on the bench is Judge Galen, who
has been practicing law "only" 26 I
years. having been admitted in 1897. +,
Early Lawyers Best
There were not such large classes
admitted in the early years of state
hood but what they lacked in num- /;
bers apparently was more than made
up in ability. In addition to the :
four members of the supreme court
who were admitted in 1891 or 1892
these two years can claim the follow
ing from among the prominent men,
bers of the profession in the Treasure
state: Governor Joseph NJ Dixon,
'92; U. S. Senator T. j. Walsh, 81;
Judge ]. E. Erickson, '92; Colonel
Robert G. Ingersoll, famous lecturer
and author, was admitted 'by cour-
tesy" Feb. 4, 1891.
Some of the other lawyers of prom
nence in the state were admitted
IS follows: Former Senator Henry L.
Myers, 'S3; Federal Judge George M.
8ourquin, "a; former Governor S.
Y. Stewart, '98; c. F. Kelley, presi-
lent Anaconda Copper Mining COM
,any, '98; Federal Judge Charles N.
Pray, '98; ]. Bruce Kremer, demo-
ratio national committeeman, 1901;
Tohn L. Slattery, U. S. district at
orney, 1904; U. S. Senator B. K.
November 8, 1905; We'll
ington d. Rankin, attorney general,
9O9..
There were approximately 500 at
orneys licensed and admitted to
ractice in the territory before Mon
ana became state and when Mon
ana was given its star in the flag
hose, or such as were still living
nd residents of the state, were pos
essed of the right to practice with
ut examination, re-admission or
Their ceremony.