THAW'S LEADING COUNSEL.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 237, 11 April 1907, Page 4

THAW'S LEADING COUNSEL.

Mir Delpine Michael Delmas, who leads the counsel for the defence in the Thaw murder trial, is (says. M.A. P.), a small, slight man, of decidedly intellectual features. It is notr long ago, a California^ friend tells us, that he was what is known in America as "a one-horse lawyer," the meaning of which needs no explanation. For many years he practised in a small way as one or the junior members of a law firm in the little town of San Fran. Later, he moved to San Francisco, and set up in practice there. He gradually took up the defence of criminals and flagrant offenders against domestic morality, and his sensational firework style of defence succeeded in so many won verdicts that he became in time famous. He is also a very fine speaker. The first case to make him talked about was one where a young man named Peter White was accused of murdering his beet friend, one Henry Wilkins. The evidence was all circumstantial, of the clearest sort-, and everybody thought it useles to go on with the defence. But when bis turn came, Delmas desired the crier to call as a witness Henry Wilkins. "What I The murdered man?" exclaimed the Judge. "The alleged murdered man," replied Delmas; "the jury must decide that, your Honour." "All right, call your witness," said the Judge, and three times the crier's voice at N the door echoed through the corridor — "Henry Wilkins, come into court!" without receiving any response. "No answer," he reported. "Call again," requested Delmas. This was done even a third time, with the same result, by which time the dramatic effect of the scene on the jury, as well as on the crowded Court, became intense. The stillness of the Court was oppressive as Delmas turned to the jury and said : # — "Gentlemen, the one man whose voice could have proved the innocence of the prisoner is now beyond the hearing of this assemblage. He could tell you, were he here, that his dearest friend was not his assassin. Could he respond to our Call, he would be here, standing before you at this moment. Alas I that cannot be. Remember, gentlemen of the jury, he is our only witness, and his lips are sealed. He has ' responded to' a higher call than ours, and the unfortunate prisoner at the bar has no one else to tell us all that he is ( the victim of . as foul a concatenation of concocted circumstances as the mind of man could conceive. Are you going to leave this innocent man to be done to death, merely because his only witness has passed beyond earthly reach ? No ! Rather will you make the twelve witnesses yourself in his behalf. You will take the place of that absent friend whose voice is still, and by your just and righteous, your human verdict t supply the missing evidence which will send this man free, to mix with his fellows once more. Gentlemen, in all confidence, I leave the case with you." It was one of the clearest cases q£ premeditated murder, but the jury were so hypnotised by the dramatic scene that in ten minutes they returned a verdict of "Not Guilty." much to the surprise of everybody not present at the closing scene.