Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/398

 372 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY sirj.H.Symon budding hiwver was not destined to remain lon^^ in the capital of the South-P^ast. In 1868 he made the acquaintance of the present Chief Justice, then a rising junior, on the occasion of two visits which that gentleman paid on circuit to Mount Gambier — particularly oiT the second of these, when Sir J. H. Symon, as a young law student, " devilled " for Mr. Way, who was leading Counsel for the Caroline farmers in the cases against the late Sir V. J. T. Clarke. This experience of the quality of the law student led, in June, 1870, to the transfer of his articles to Mr. Way. whose then firm was Way & Brook, and Sir Josiah took the position of managing clerk. The senior member of this house of lawyers was already in large practice, but it was some years later before he was raised to the Chief Justiceship of South Australia. Under such a congenial environment Sir J. H. Symon zealously mastered his profession and successfully passed his examinations, which were conducted by Mr. R. I. Stow, Q.C., Mr. R. Inofleijv, O.C, and the Master, Mr. W. Hinde, all since dead. He was admitted to practice at the South Australian Bar on November 21, 1871. In August, 1872, Mr. Brook died. His place in the firm was offered to and accepted by Sir Josiah, who thus at the early age of 26 became junior partner with Mr. Way in what was then one of the leading legal practices in South Australia. The new firm was known as Way & Symon. It did not take the latter long to prove himself a lawyer of learning and resource and also of forensic skill, l)ut his partnership with Mr. Way lasted little more than three years. In January, 1876, Sir Josiah left to take a holiday trip to England, but in March, 1876, the late Chief Justice, .Sir Richard Hanson, died, and in the same month Mr. Way, who was then Attorney-General, became Chief Justice, and Sir Josiah had to cut his trip short at Point de Galle, and return to Adelaide to assume, at the age of 29, the entire responsibility of the business. He took Mr. J. W. Bakewell into partnership, under the style of Symon & Bakewell. Since then other changes have taken place in the noted firm. First his brother, William Symon, entered the partnership, and subsequent reconstructions took place, but throughout all changes Sir J. H. Symon has remained and is now the head of this firm, whose professional history goes back nearly 50 years. Sir J. H. Symon had no sooner assumed the headshi|) of the firm in succession to Mr. Way than he was retained in many notable legal cases, and he conducted them in such a manner as to establish his reputation as a leading member of the South Australian Bar. The expectations of prominent lawyers of the day were fulfilled, and early in i88r — at the age of 34— he took silk and was gazetted Queen's Counsel, a dignity which he had earned in many a brilliantly fought case. -Since that period Sir Josiah has been constantly increasing his early fame, and in the Supreme Court he has not an equal in South Australia, and, if authorities in other colonies are to be believed, he is perhaps the chief in Australia. In the matter of .seniority .Sir John Downer, O.C, is the father of the local Bar, but in forensic skill and legal genius .Sir J. H. .Symon stands above the ex-Premier. His speeches before the Court exhibit a remarkable control of attractive language, and his arguments are marshalled so clearly as to illumine the understanding of the most unintelligent jury. Many are the poli.shed, witty, and brilliant speeches he has delivered on such occasions. As a cross-examiner he has provided most interesting exhibitions ot keenness and judgment. His repartee delights the audience at court, and his ingenuity and generalship with