Attorney-General Olney. are most highly appreciated, He always leads, but never drags his junior. Mr. Olney's practice has been of late years that of an adviser of great com mercial and corporate interests, and in the settlement of estates. Hence his appear ance in court is but seldom nowadays. But in his younger days he was an admirable trier of causes and a most forceful advocate. His simplicity of character and his hatred of shams led him to avoid all attempts at clap-trap oratory, but made his presentation of a case to the jury none the less convincing. And the oldermembers of the bar remember that Mr. Olney got from a jury one of the very few acquittals of the charge of murder in the first degree that is recorded in Suffolk County in the past fifty years. In his presentation to the court of a question of law, Mr. Olney is not excelled by any lawyer in New England. His logic is
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clean-cut; his diction is wonderfully pure; his rhetoric is always perfectly adapted to his subject; his power of condensation is remarkable; his delivery with a well-modu lated voice and clear enunciation is most convincing. His argument presents a view of the case that is a perfectly adjusted series of perspective. It is not to be wondered at that possess ing qualities such as are above described, Mr. Olney should have been offered more than once a place upon the Supreme Judicial Court. But he has rbvays declined the honor, preferring to remain at the bar. Nor is it risky to predict that he will make a most brilliant Attorney-General. As chief legal adviser to the federal government he is sure to be a safe counsellor and an able advocate. In the administration of the Department of Justice he will add to the laurels that he has won in his profession.
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