THE 'BAR' OF CHARITON (Part 5)

ATEN, STUART, ALEXANDER, STORIE, COPELAND, DEWEY, HICKMAN, LUSK, BRANNER, HURFORD

Posted By: David (email)
Date: 12/9/2004 at 12:55:56

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa
Thursday, February 7, 1907

'THE BAR OF CHARITON'

As They Appear in Court in the Interest of Justice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A.K. ATEN often speaks words of comfort to those who have been compelled to
leave their homes and firesides to serve in the cruel courts of their

country. He speaks well and gestures little. He calls the jury's attention
to the points in controversy and they behold it through the spy glass of his
eloquence -- although his is not the spread eagle kind of oratory -- but the
still, small voice kind which counts in the finale. He seldom stands on his
tip toes to emphasize his thoughts but square footed and alone -- and pleads
-- pathetically where pathos is applicable and with derisive vehemence when
needed. Sometimes he forgets to bow to the jury on retiring but that is a
small matter not fatal to the issue, providing the jury didn't notice the
omission.

CORY STUART has been addressing juries for a number of years and his manner
is that so essential to a good pleader. He is alert in his statements and
is careful not to convey a meaning opposite to that which he intends. He
doesn't get the stage fright and dismiss it with "there are many other
things which might be brought out but I will spare your feelings and not
trespass upon your time any longer." He long ago got over that habit. He
speaks plain and forcible and points with his thumb back over his left
shoulder to the law, without removing his eyes from the jury. A feat of
which few lawyers are capable. He never makes the same speech twice at the
same time or alludes to the opposing counsel as the "wind jammer from the
Tropic of Capricorn."

THEODORE STUART, JR. is a new man at the helm and recently made his debut in
court. He has not been long enough before the bar to delineate his
particular style of pleasing but will not fall into error's way in an
attempt to show the jury that he is much wiser than his elders. However,
his appearance was graceful and he presented what he had to offer in a
manner which presages a future.

G.W. ALEXANDER always addresses a jury with "neatness and dispatch."
Columns might be written but this tells it all. He appears on time, says
his say, and lets it be threshed out in the solitude of the jury room. He
was raised in the south and his harshest countenance are mellowed by his
soft accents of that clime.

E.H. STORIE is expecting to enter the general practice but at present has
little time to address juries as his office at the Seat of Justice in and
for Chariton keeps him occupied. Other lawyers of Chariton are J.C.
COPELAND, W.H. DEWEY, JAMES HICKMAN, H.D. COPELAND, W.B.E. LUSK, N.B.
BRANNER and J.R. HURFORD, but they are so busy keeping tabs on private
affairs that they have no time to appear in court and lecture to the twelve
in the legal institute of Lucas County where learned barristers meet and
Justice is vindicated, at least half of the time.

The End. . . .
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 18, 2004
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