The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-23

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articles on Robert II. Jackson. spokes-
man fer the Treasury Department on
the tax program against concentrated
wealth.
By Scripps-Hoirard Acvspgper Alliance
WASHINGTON. Aug. 23-Home-
town folk who have seen Robert H.
jackson in the smaller arena Of the
courts Of Cha ltauqua County, New
York, looked on recently through
the newspapers with complacency at
his vigorous, almost spectacular
prosecution OF one Of the world S
richest men in pushing the govern
ment's income tax case against An
drew w. Mellon.
Mr.. Jackson had been general
counsel 70 the Treasury Depart
ment's Internal Revenue Bureau
little more than a year-scldOm
heard OF publicly. scarcely known
TO the great public whose money he
was seeking TO harbor when he en-
gagged in this important contest.
Not Awed by Big Case
It was his biggest case, the bu-
Ieaus biggest case. He came to
grips una dashed with Mr.. MELONS
attorney. Frank J. Hogan, famous
for his success II helping rich men
involved in the law, and hardy and
picturesque were the clashes be
tween the great Mr.. Hogan and the
Young country lawyer
But in and around Mr.. JackSon's
home town Of jamestown. n. Y, the
smiling. proud watchers weren't
troubled about Mr.. Jackson not TAX
ine care Of himself.
They were reminded that he once
risked social Ostracism to help a
young stenographer. There had been
an operation and her eye was in
jured beyond any further help by
a bungling surgeon.
Mr.. jackson first heard Of the case
when a surgeon, talking with him
i'm a club they both belonged to.
told how it was his assistant, not
himself. as popularity supposed, who
had bhndered.
Severely Criticised
Ae counsel for the stenographer,
Mr.. Jackson took the witness chair
himself. and under oath repeated
this conversation. jamestown was
divided into two vociferous factions
He was criticised bitterly for violat-
ing what was considered a conf
dence between gentlemen. Practi-
cally the entire medical profession
lined up against him.
In a brilliant summation, coolly,
incisively. Mr.. Jackson ripped into
the accepted medical code Of ethics
which tacitly fOrbids one physician
to testify against another.
Gentlemen" he concluded, their
craftsmanship is even worse than
their surgery
The stenographer was awarded
$4,000.
Mr.. Jackson graduated in 1918
from Albany Law School, Union
University. and had been practicing
ONLY a short time when a citizen
was Jailed on Christmas Eve, at the
instigation of a respected, pompouS,
elderly lawyer.
Defied Critics
Mr.. Jackson brought action for
false arrest. Ponder what that
meant in a small community. A
young lawyer, his career ahead OF
him. went TO the defense of a lay
man. without place or power. and
opposed a fellow lawyer of influence.
The majority of the towns attor-
neys. feeling a dear old fellow OF
their own circle had been insulted
shockingly, arrayed themselves
across the court from Mr.. Jackson.
There was good deal of the
"fmpetuous yOungSter' type Of dia-
logue for several days, while Mr..
Jackson. adopting the eaSygOing at
titude which has since trapped
many unsuSpecting opponents into
the belief he is unprepared and FUR
thermore realize he must be
wrong. bided his time.
At the right moment he intro
duced a letter in which the lawyer
told a friend:
You will be pleased to know that
bv Christmas eve Mr.. So-and-So
will be safely lodged in jail
Wins as Trial Lawyer
Before going to Albany Law
School. Robert Jackson studied law
with the firm Of Dean. Mott & Arm
strong. in jamestown. In 1917, he
went to Buffalo. where he joined the
law firm of Norton, Penney & Kill
leen. He was trial counsel for the
firm. representing principally the
International Railway Co. His sue
cess in defeating claimants against
the company was startling.
He resigned after u months IN
Buffalo. giving as his only reason
his preference for a small town. and
he became a junior member of the
firm of Dean, Edison & Jackson, Of
jamestown.
Observation-Disclosures in the social
and legal careers of Robert III.