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TJte Green Bag.
when the immolation was threatened, ' Lay not your hand upon him! '" In the celebrated Forrest divorce case he also figured conspicuously. In that case the cross-firing on the part of the litigants was kept up for several years, Forrest having set the ball in motion by an action for divorce; but his action finally resulted in Mrs. Forrest recovering judgment for her support from 1850 to 1860, which in the aggregate amounted to a large sum, — and thus, as it might well be said, " Birnam Wood had come to Dunsinane." In the sev eral appeals taken, Mr. Brady acted, and achieved therein a wide reputation. In December, 1868, although his health was considerably shattered, Mr. Brady, in the trial of Gen. George W. Cole for the mur der of Hon. L. Harris Hiscock, at Albany, won bountiful laurels for the graceful and masterful manner in which he defended the prisoner, and which doubtless was most potent in persuading and enabling the jury to bring in a verdict of acquittal, although in saying this it is not intended to detract one jot from the astuteness and eloquence displayed by the accomplished counsel who was asso ciated with him on that memorable occasion. The trial attracted quite as much attention, in pith and moment, as the Sickles-Key trial in Washington, years before. In his plea to the jury Mr. Brady graphically de scribed the heroic services rendered to the nation by the prisoner; that after being decorated with badges of honor for his patriotism and heroism, he turned his foot steps homeward to share his glories with her for whom he would have laid down his life : "but," exclaimed Mr. Brady, in deepest pathos, " what found he there? Alas! that hearthstone was desecrated; the spoiler had been there. Where joy and brightness had reigned luxuriantly, were sorrow and gloom. That beautiful fabric of domestic love and tranquillity was overwhelmed in ruin, and the ravens of despair were croaking and gloat ing over the dark desolation. Gentlemen, what is home without its jewels, what is
earth without its flowers, what is heaven without its stars? " He then made an appo site simile in referring to Caesar being struck down in the senate-chamber by his best friend: " He also experienced the pangs of knowing that it was his most trusted friend that struck him to the heart : ' Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquished him.'" While it is perhaps true that Mr. Brady had on some former trial, when in the prime of health, been more powerful and eloquent, — for his effort here disappointed some, — yet, considering the fact that his constitution was ' then much weakened, we may- justly accord a high encomium, believing that his influence over the jury was the result of a solemn pathos fortified with convincing logic. Mr. Brady was liberal to a fault. He was ever willing to defend the ignorant, the weak, the worthy, without money and without price, — and the field for such labor in a great metropolis is boundless, — so that years before and at his death full many a poor, unfortunate man and woman whom he had befriended pronounced him blessed, and fain would have laid upon his bier offerings of adoration. Whether prosecuting or de fending a case for pay or for charity, he was always faithful, — faithful to his abilities, to his client, and to himself. In a well-remembered case, while address ing the jury with unwonted vigor and much gesticulation, a dog, a fond companion of a juror, which had been lying in blissful secrecy under the juror's chair, becoming alarmed at the vehement outburst of elo quence, suddenly appeared and barked at the orator. Quick as a flash, Mr. Brady turned upon the canine intruder, and with fitting gesture exclaimed, — "' I am Sir Oracle, And when I ope my lips let no dog bark! '" It was supposed that this happy flight of fancy won the case for his client. If he had turned his attention to public
