AN EPISODE
On one occasion the venerable Judge Wylie refused a motion made by Mr. Ingersoll on the ground that he had already decided and denied it. "But your Honor twice ruled the other way." "Impossible!" said the Court. "I think the record will show," and the Colonel handed the book to the Judge, with page and lines indicated. The Court reddening replied: "Well, the fact that I ruled in defendants' favor ought to be satisfactory to them, and that I twice so ruled should not weaken the ruling nor lessen their satisfaction."
The triumphs he scored over opposing counsel in their many legal tilts, the heated and sometimes bitter attacks and retorts, -- never invited by Mr. Ingersoll, but out of which he emerged victorious, -- his uniform fairness and candor, the accuracy of his statements when challenged, showing his thorough command of every detail, and finally his matchless summing up, made their irresistible impression on court and jury alike, and in the teeth of popular opinion and clamor fomented and fed by false press reports, and against all the power, prestige and pursuit of two National Administrations, won the case. |
