with a dignity, ability and impartiality which added a new distinction to his illustrious name, rendered an elaborate opinion on the motion before the court, deciding that no collateral or indirect evidence could be of fered before "the overt act "was proved, "because," said the Chief Justice, " such testimony, being in its nature merely cor roborative, and incompetent to prove the overt act in itself, is irrelevant until there be proof of the overt act by two witnesses." The case was submitted to the jury, who retired, and in a few minutes they returned with a verdict of " not guilty." Aaron Burr was acquitted of the crime of treason, but he left the court room a ruined man, bank rupt in fame, fortune and friends. With two indictments of murder pending,— one in New York, the other in New Jersey; with his occupation as a lawyer gone; with his beautiful estate, Richmond Hill, in New York, sold for debt at much less than its real value; with the administration news papers denouncing him without mercy, and the opposition giving him but a lukewarm support, he was driven from his home and country with the mark of Cain upon his brow. After an exile of four years, Burr returned to the United States in 1812, landing in Bos ton, where he remained incognito ten days or two weeks, waiting word from his de voted friend, Swartwout, as to whether it would be safe for him to go to New York. Finding that he could return without danger of molestation, he went to New York, and after remaining concealed about a month, he announced through the press that " Aaron Burr had returned to the city and had re sumed the practice of the law at 23 Nassau street." The announcement thrilled the city, and before Burr retired that night five hundred gentlemen called upon him. The first feeling in New York was that he had
been treated with unjust severity, and there seemed to be an intention to bury the past. His capital was ten dollars, his office was in the home of a lady who had been his friend through all his troubles. A small tin sign bearing his name was nailed up in front of his house, and within two weeks after the announcement of his return had been made, he received in fees two thousand dollars. Judge John Greenwood, who was a clerk and student in Burr's office for six years, (1814-1820), in his interesting reminis cences speaks of Burr's manner in court: "He was somewhat reserved, although never submissive; he used no unnecessary words, but would present at once the main point of his case, and as his preparation was thor ough, he was usually successful. If he thought his dignity assailed in any way, his rebuke was withering in the cutting sarcasm of the few biting words, and the lightning glance of his terrible eyes which few could withstand. I may say in this connection, that his self-possession under the most trying cir cumstances was wonderful, and he probably never knew what it was to fear a human be ing. His manners were cordial and his car riage graceful, and he had a winning smile in moments of pleasant intercourse which seemed almost to charm you. His heart was not in the profession of the law, but he was, however, a good lawyer, and well versed in civil, common and international law; ac quainted generally with the reports of adju dicated cases, and in preparing important cases, usually traced up the law to its an cient sources." One of the most important cases that he conducted after his return from Europe, was a suit in chancery, the celebrated "Medcef Eden case " An outline of this remarkable case will show Burr's cleverness as a lawyer in a suit which was deemed absolutely hope less. Medcef Eden was a wealthy New
