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 JOHN J. CRITTENDEN His cordial manner throughout the trial is most gratefully remembered by me, and at its close he asked me to take a walk with him. During the walk he took a slight review of the trial, complimented me upon my course during its progress and the ability he was pleased to think I had manifested, and in conclusion, grasping my hand with warmth, he said, ' Allow me to congratulate and encourage you on the course of life you have adopted. I assure you that the highest honors of the prpfession are within your grasp, and with per severance you may expect to attain them.' Those words from Mr. Crittenden would have gratified the pride of any young lawyer and given him new strength for the struggle of his profession. I can truly say they have been of the greatest value to me through life. When I came to Washington to take part in the defense of President Johnson, ' the associations of the Senate Chamber recalled the memory of your father's words and renewed my gratitude for his generous encouragement of my early hopes." Crittenden was appointed Attorney-Gen eral of the United States by Harrison, but as he was one of the foremost statesmen and politicians of his day it can hardly be told whether the appointment was a compli ment to his legal ability or a bid for his political influence. But nevertheless, after his resignation, he took part in many of the most important cas.es of the time, among them being the celebrated libel suit against Governor Thomas of Maryland, in which he was one of counsel for plaintiff. The case was eventually compromised. In the Supreme Court he appeared frequently and with great brilliancy and success. In a running debate with Crittenden in the Senate once Seward paid him the following compliment: "The honorable gentleman from Kentucky is the last man I would attempt to dis'parage as a lawyer. I con sider him at. the head of his profession." In 1854 he volunteered his services in

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the defense of Matt Ward, a son of one of his lifelong friends. This was one of the greatest and most intensely interesting murder trials ever held in the United States. The accused was a young married man, an author of some genius and a man of hitherto irreproachable reputation. The dead man, Mr. Butler, was a highly beloved and respected teacher of Louisville. He and Matt had been friends up until the very moment almost of the killing. Mr*. Butler had chastised a younger brother of Matt and in addition had called him a liar in the presence of the entire school. The next day Matt went to the school and demanded an explanation, which was refused. Matt then said, " Then, sir, I think that you are a scoundrel and a coward." Butler resented this warmly and being a much larger man than Ward soon forced him back against the wall with the evident intention of chastising him for the insult. At this juncture Ward drew a small pistol and fired, fatally wounding Butler. The testi mony of the school children was conflicting, but at best the case was very unfavorable to Ward. The prosecution was represented by Allen, Gibson, and Carpenter, the latter being a man of great but somber genius and a prosecutor of terrific power. The defense was conducted by Nat Wolfe, the great Louisville lawyer, Gov. John Helm, " Tom" Marshall, and Crittenden. What an array of genius! And what a demand for genius! Carpenter spoke eight hours for the prose cution, and it was mainly against his power ful plea that the thunders of the defense were aimed. When Carpenter had con cluded the audience felt that Ward's doom was sealed. Marshall followed and in thril ling words and with irresistible eloquence swept away the effect of Carpenter's speech and carried the audience with him. What a power has genius to calm or to sway the passions! Wolfe and Helm as well as Allen and Gibson made brilliant speeches. Crittenden's speech is the best he ever made. His powers of persuasion were never