Evening star., 1937-03-28
SUNDAY c.,
YEARS TRANSFORM OLD BLOCK
Historic Unitarian Church, Where Lafayette Worspped Stood
on Police Court Se-Pioneer Lawyers of Capital
Occupied Offices Fifth Street,

HELEN, who had bought the property
from Mr. Burdine. Mr.. FAINT was a
native of Virginia, but spent much
of his life in Washington.
The Fifth street side of this block,
though strictly residential street
before the Civil War, has for many
years been given over to practicing
attorneys, who found this neighbor-
hood close to the courts, centrally
located and convenient for their
clients. However, conditions have
greatly changed in the last 20 years
and, as the business center of the city
has shifted, so have the lawyers.
Perhaps the pioneers Of the lawyers
on this side of the square were Thom-
as g. DoWney and William B. Webb,
who were practicing their profession
here in 1865. MI. Webb was a fore
most member of the bar and one of
and when the Metropolitan Police
Force came into being through the act
of Congress on August 6. 1861, he was
selected as its major and superintend-
ent, In after years he was appoint
ed Commissioner Of the District of
Columbia by the President. and served
as president of the board
In 1867, George F. Appelby and Will
liam E. Edmonston had their offices
in this block and by 1885, the list of
attorneys in this neighborhood had
greatly increased, for we find occupy
ing quarters at 406 Fifth street, Rob-
ert K. Elliott, William B. Webb, Henry
Randall Webb, and Leigh Robinson.
At 408 were William Stone Albert,
Charles A. Elliott, Charles R. New
man, Charles A. Pelham and Rutledge
Wilson, and at 4l0 were the Offices of
Joseph J. Darlington, recalled by
many as brilliant lawyer and one of
Washington's most delightful and pro-
gresslve citizens.
According to an early account, No.
406 Fifth street was built by Rev.
Father William Mathews of St. Pat
rick's Church, about l840 and was, in
1857, purchased by William j. Stone,
the engraver, for his son and NJ ne
sake. William J. Stone, jr., who made
1t his home. and where his widow,
Mary F. Stone, resided until 1879
Recently the writer had the pleas
ure of listening to his friend. F. Regis
Noel, eXtol the ability and fine quail
ties of Mr.. Darlington, in whose Office
Mr Noel undoubtedly learned more
than he did in law school. At least
the practical experience he gained
there proved of greater value in the
long run. Indeed, so familiar was Mr..
Noel with the life and character of
his former chief Id associate, that
when sketch of Mr.. Darlington was
needed for the Records of the Colum-
bia Historical Society, Mr. Noel was
requested to prepare it, and no one
could have done better.
JOSEPH JAMES DARLINGTON was
born on February 10, 1s49, at Due
West, Abbeville County, s. c., and died
in Washington, D. c., June "a, 1920.
Some time prior to 1874 to quote
Mr. Noel, Mr.. Darlington heard
course of lectures. on college pro-
gram somewhere in Georgia, on the
subject of law, given by a lecturer
from one of the Northern universities.
He made the acquaintance of the lee
turer copied his lectures and studied
them thoroughly. This event reused
his interest in the law and he deter
mined to switch from the teaching
profession. He had already acquired
a circle of influential friends, and he
came to the Capital during the Sum-
mer of 1874 with letter of introduc-
ton from Alexander H. Stephens. Vice
President of the Confederate States
of America, to the Hon. Richard T.
Merrick, who was then one of the two
acknowledged leaders of the District
Bar.
Mr.. Merrick was instantly i'm
pressed with the youth and gave him
a desk in the student room of his
Offices at No. 1906 F street In the
Fall of that year Mr.. Darlington
matriculated in the senior class at
Columbian Law School his prior clas-
slcal education, the course of law
lectures and other legal reading, and
his association with Mr.. Merrick
enabling him to get advanced rating.
Columbian Law School was then on
the side of the present Columbian
Building, on Fifth street, and Judge