THE 'BAR' OF CHARITON (Part 4)

ATEN, THRELKELD, KRIDELBAUGH, BARTHOLOMEW

Posted By: David (email)
Date: 12/13/2004 at 15:21:33

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

'THE BAR OF CHARITON'

As They Appear in Court in the Interest of Justice.

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J.D. THRELKELD always strikes the key note when he appears in court. He
tells the jury that the greatest privilege on earth is the right of trial by
a jury of one's peers. It is almost worth committing a misdemeanor to
properly appreciate the privilege -- though he wouldn't advise it -- merely
an illustration between the ages when might made right and the present age
of equity and justice -- it being impossible for highly cultured juries to
render other than just verdicts. He is not picturesque in his presentation
of a cause -- nor poetic, but he gets there with both mind and voice. He
neither soars like the eagle nor feels his way on doubtful ground. He
speaks with confidence and closes with a peoriation -- and while he feels
pretty sanguine of results he takes the precaution to whisper into the ear
of his client to "be prepared for the worst for there is no way of telling
what a jury will do." This is a guarantee of his honesty.

J.A. KRIDELBAUGH looks like Daniel Webster when he stands before the box and
begins to unravel his case. JOE is one among the most eloquent pleaders
before the Chariton bar. He is brilliant in expression and flow of language
elegant. His habit of gesticulation is to join his hands in front and then
swing his arms apart until he develops the climax. He is one who can create
sobbing juries and then dispel their grief with word pictures and transport
them to the joyous realm where eternal justice reigns. He is inclined
toward the dramatic but keeps his most important thoughts well to the front
and convinces the jury that realism is the contention after all.

L.B. BARTHOLOMEW has rare tact in presenting a case to the jury. He first
attempts to convince the twelve unbiased minds of his thorough knowledge of
the law; second, of his perfect understanding of the case and then he moves
forward like Wellington at Waterloo. He talks and makes motions at the same
time, thus appearing to the senses of hearing and seeing. This is what he
calls driving the nail home and then clinching it. He is mild in his
manners and does not hurry over the ground. He blazes the trail first and
then goes over the route afterwards and cuts out the underbrush. In this way
he gets the jury to see clearly and never fails in landing the verdict when
the jurors don't get contrary or believe too much of what the other fellows
said. He never quotes Shakespeare to a jury.

To Be Continued . . .A.K. ATEN.
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November 17, 2004
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