Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-06
William E. Leohy Dies;
Lowyer, Civic Leader
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could not be settled. highly
remunerative calling.
Eloquent Trial Lawyer
Trial lawyers have their fans
and he had many among his col
leagues. There might be only a
dozen persons in a courtroom
where he was counsel but when
the word went out that he was
about to sum up. the seats filled
mostly with lawyers-and soon
there was no standing room.
He was an eloquent pleader
AS a former associate put it:
He had a way-only an Irish
man could do it-of twisting the
melody of a phrase" He had a
tremendous power of persuasion
with juries. He would fit the
evidential facts into a pattern
that was an interesting and con-
vincing story-his story-of the
happenings that led to the trial
He was a short, broad-shoul-
dered man. His balding and
whitening crown made his blue
eyes the more noticeable.
Peculiar Work Schedule
His workday was peculiar. He
would arrive at his Office shortly
after 10; talk to everyone who
came to see him. then go to lunch
with friends. He would return
about 4, then drive his auto
mobile around town Ito get away
from the pressure"
He would get back to his Of
fee after S, refreshed and ready
to work. If case was under
preparation he was likely to stay
there until after midnight. He
took most Of his exercise pacing
the floor while discussing the
case with his associates. He had
an amazing memory. Much of
his extensive pleading was done
without reference to notes.
Mr.. Leahy would make the
most of motion for dismissal.
Many lawyers would make it a
perfunctory move for the record.
Such a motion is made at the
conclusion of the opposition's
case. The argument is that they
have failed to make case and
there is no use going on.
Argued Motion All Day
After the Government had
spent 81 days in court during
the war presenting evidence
against a businessman and an
Army officer charged with con-
spring to defraud the Govern
ment, Mr.. Leahy made his mo-
ton to dismiss.
He argued it before the judge
a full day His motion was de-
MED. He then let the issue go
to the jury entirely. on the Gov
ernment's case without calling a
witness or offering any evidence
in defense.
The Governments case largely
depended on checks for several
thousand dollars which the buSi-
nessman had sent the officer. Mr..
Leahy laid the checks on the rail
in front of the jury as If he were
going to explain them, then
talked on the testimony Of the
trial for three hours without
mentioning the checks. The
Government attorney sought to
reestablish their Importance in
bis closing, but the jury brought
In mot guilty" verdict.
Judge Drops Indictment
In 1850 the farmers milk
cooperative of this area and
most of the distributors were
indicted on charges of con-
spring to violate the anti
trust law. Mr.. Leahy. re-
tanned for the defense, tried to
take the burden entirely on his
own shoulders and spare the
courts months of tiresome testi-
mony and pleading.
He moved to dismiss the in
dictment before the trial and
asked that his argument on the
motion be heard. His argument,
before Judge Richmond B.
Keech, took two and a half days.
The Judge dismissed the indict-
ment. 1t might well have ended
there, but the Court of Appeals
ruled that Judge Keech's dis
missal was in error, revived the
indictment and ordered the
cases tried.
Convictions were finally OBJ
tanned against some of the de-
PENDANTS. The Importance Of
the alleged violations was indi-
Gated by the size of the fine,
$500. And those defendants who
appealed their convictions to
the Court of Appeals. got them
reversed.
Won Sc Million Case
Issues involving larger and
larger sums have been brought
to Mr. Leahy as his reputation
for winning cases in court grew.
His client. the National Chinese
government, was awarded a Sc
million judgment against Gen.
P. T. Nov. its agent in this
country who allegedly withheld
large sums entrusted to him. In
the Eleanor Patterson will case
Mr.. Leahy, who represented the