Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-06-06

lawyer had tangled several time
tion over certain testimony which
he said had nothing to do with
the charge, and on the further
ground that there was no eompe-
tent connection with the murder
Now, the courtroom was quiet
tense but quiet
MCGEE sat at a table facing the
witness stand. He was waiting
for The next witness for the state
70 appear He remembered how It
wns when he first came 10 st
Paul In 1889. That was 10 years
age he thought He had come from
Chicago where he had been ad
mitted TO the bar Ia 1855
For three years he had practiced
under the tutolage Of Edward II
Morris one OF Chiragos best
criminal lawyers.
He remembered how William Il.
Morris Eds brother in Mlnueap-
oils and + II Lylea had influ-
cnCed him 70 come here. He re-
membered the day. IL was the
nth Of June, 1852. He had come
up alone TO st Paul with letters
OF recommendation from Morris
and other reputable lawyers Of
Chicago,
a white lawyer, II C. Stone, to
whom he had a letter gave him
q cordial welcome 70 the city
Stone went with him to the State
Supreme Court in the capitol
building that afternoon and made
the motions for his admission TO
the bar, which was Immediately
granted
Before returning 10 Chicago 10
arrange for moving his family to
So Paul, he had rented an office
In Union Block opposite the new
courthouse, and Mr. and Mrs, J.
X Hilyard had graciously offered
to share their home with him and
his family uutn he could afford
one OF his own
Matte hts wife, was immensely
fond Of the Hiiyards She was an
accomplished musician and shared
with them the music they loved
But the man who most impressed
him was Thomas Lylcs who had
come 20 ST. Paul In 1874 with
no money and no prospects
Tom was barber and rented
space for q shop In the old Amer
team House on the corner of 4th
and Wabasha Streets During the
boom" times that followed. he
moved his shop to 20 t. fth Street
and in addition 20 barbcung be.
gan 90 sell real estate. lie also be-.
came The first Negro undertaken,
arranging with tistoc ara VOID
undertakers 20 act as their agent
for securing and handling Negro
funerals Yes Tom had had = hard
beginning as most Negroes Of his
generation but he had beer sue
cessfEil Ia spite o. II and was con
sidered the wcsdthiest Negro In
ST. Paul
Tom was active In politics and
u was his political geninS that
heGhse especially liked Al
though never candidate for
effirr himself. Tom LyIe~ had
aided other colorod nen. through
his Influence.
II had started IN 1879 wher
MAJOR John Beeht was elected
sheriff II Ramsey County BY
majority ~ Iss votes Thda waa
just the number % enforced VOTES
e. mat time and aariuw Betbts
tern -oJored mea were appointed
jurors m 1881 I. VI Thomas was
ths first Negro yalicenasu appoint.
"a and IN 1886 . coloyed FIRE com
pauy u-aa formed
Ire soft Din Ia tha courtroom
STOPPED abruptly a witnsss FOE
the prosecution was being nrorn-
IN answer 70 qgsstsous h. safe
inst hs nausg was z C;sabust is
Hvet IN 81 Pagl ard was haak
GyiYpr
4 knew psfer RAverfy he ~
PAIRED HIS business waa svNelai
policeman "a Eas, IN street !
sass htu en- ths a.grninE q tire gra
~ May @w him ami offscsr
r'xIcssa sgrneaheTc about Iohus
street Dr Moore ard wsat 10
stairs ard wse- ! carse so-rn trey
were eoth e5wnsta1rs Thrn We
want 70 fhs farnh~r nffgea mean
officer F-aslsasa Rsversy ard niy-
saif We weat in fhers % tsse-