The Green Bag
448
Whenever preparing a case for trial or argument or a question for the pur pose of giving an opinion, no detail escapes his attention. He never ceases
sounding until he reaches the very bot tom of the question. His power of concentration
and
retentive
memory
enable him to grasp the facts and assim ilate them with remarkable ease. In the discussion of legal questions, the Judge will frequently say: “I decided
that point when I was on the bench," and send for the particular volume of his
Circuit Court Reports where the case
the slightest degree. His professional honor has never been measured by him
in dollars and cents. One of the interesting things about Judge Dillon is the respect he shows for the opinions of others. If a suggestion be made by the humblest clerk in his employ it will receive as careful attention and consideration as if made by the ablest lawyer. He is a man of great modesty and kindly disposition and a charming companion. His loyalty to and affection for friends are unbounded. He always has time to see his old contemporaries, and no one was ever turned away from his ofiice
was reported. All through his profes sional career he has devoted himself to his work as judge, author and lawyer with untiring industry. If he has an appoint ment for a conference on a particular day that requires preparation in advance and if time does not permit him to make the necessary study during office
minutes to see personally any old friend or contemporary of his western life who
hours he will take the papers home with
calls to pay his respects, and then with
him and come to the conference pre
his characteristic hospitality insist upon his friend making him a visit at his home Judge Dillon has a beautiful home in There the “Bernardsville in the houseregion" planned in NewJersey by his 18
pared to discuss all the points involved. It is said that during his early career on the bench he devoted so much time at home to his legal work that his wife felt he did not give enough attention to
with the statement that the Judge Hl5 engaged and cannot see you.” But he will interrupt the most important con ference and excuse himself for a few
mented wife, a woman of great talent and
social affairs, and she said to him one
beauty of character, he spends the sum
day,
mer months with his children and grand children, entertaining his friends, and reading his favorite authors. He has
"Why do you work so hard?
Don't you think you ought to give more time to your family and friends?"
The Judge's reply was that he had a
a general library of about ten thousand volumes, and can tell in a moment
reputation to make. And years after wards when he had achieved fame as a great judge, author and lawyer en gaged in general practice his answer to the same question was, “I have a reputation to keep." And he has always guarded that reputation with most scrupulous care, giving to every subject most dili
Bailey v.
gent and careful attention, no matter
(113 N. Y. 93), in which he appeared
whether the fee be large or small.
for the property owners who brought an action to restrain the defendant from constructing a railway beneath certain streets of the city of New
fact,
the
question
In
of compensation
never influences his judgment or con scientious consideration of the case in
whether he has a particular book that may be mentioned and go to the spot in his library where it may be found. Judge Dillon has argued hundreds of important cases, among which may be
mentioned the following: Arcade
Railway
Astor and Company
