Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1890 — Reed Rubs the Wrong Way. [ARTICLE]

Reed Rubs the Wrong Way.

The two strongest men at the Portland bar at the time Reed was in active practice there were W. L. Putnam and A. A. Strout. The latter was a very artful and insinuating man. His great strength lay in his knack oif putting himself in pleasant relations with the jury. Before beginning the trial of a suit it was liis habit to bid a pleasant goodmorniDg to each of the jurors, and say a word to them that would impress them with the idea that he was deeply interested in their personal welfare. Reed being the exact opposite- of Strout in his habits and thoughts, it was perhaps but natural that they should be continuously employed on opposite sides of the case, and that rivalry should spring up between them, although they werei personally very good friends. It was very annoying, indeed, says a writer, for the oily Strout to hear Reed drawl out before the opening of a case: , “Well, your Honor, Brother Strout having finished his morning task of shaking hands with the jury, we may, I hope, with his permission, proceed with the business of the court.” On one occasion a very important • suit was being tried, in which Lawyers Reed and Strout were engaged on opposite sides. It was the case of Parker vs. The -Portland Publishing Company, and the plaintiff was suing for damages, haying met with an accident in their building, for which he held the company was responsible. The case attracted much interest, and while it was pending the sessions of the court werelargely attended. Strout represented the plaintiff and obtained a verdict. It was quite a victory, asd as he left the court-room he smiled rather patronizingly upon Reed. In passing out- of the car, Strout, in his soothing way, ran his hand over the head of the court reporter and smoothed down the hair that had been ruffled by his efforts to keep pace with the rapid tongue of Reed. When Strout sat down his legal rival walked coolly over and rubbed the reporter’s hair back '* into its original position, with a contemptuous smile that greatly amused the spectators. As one of the lawyers who witnessed the episode at the time said, “That act exemplifies in the fullest degree Reed’s character. He always rubs his antagonist or his antagonist’s friends the wrong way.”