branches of litigation. He has figured in almost every important case which has been before the courts during the last twenty years. The most celebrated of these is, perhaps, that of Ellen M. Colton vs. Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, and C. P. Huntington, in which Mr. Delmas, who had for associates ex-Chief Justice William T. Wallace, ex-Judge John A. Stanly, Hon. George R. B. Hayes and G. Frank Smith, was the senior counsel for the plaintiff. This case, if regard be had to the eminence of the counsel engaged, the standing of the litigants, the amount involved, the nature of the issues, and the duration of the trial, is, doubtless, the most important that has been tried in California in the last quarter of a century. The trial lasted eighteen months—from November, 1883, to May, 1885. The arguments alone consumed nearly five months. Mr. Delmas closed the case, answering Hall McAllister and J. P. Hoge, who had immediately preceded him.
Since he was elected District Attorney of Santa Clara County, in 1867, Mr. Delmas has never been a candidate for any office, having devoted himself entirely to the practice of his profession. He was, however, appointed a regent of the University of California by Governor Stoneman, in 1884, and served until 1892. While regent he was President of the day on the occasion of the inauguration of Hon. Horace Davis as President of the university, March 23, 1888, and delivered the address of welcome.
