“The trial of Baker for the murder of Poole furnished a notable instance of Mr. Brady’s intrepidity in behalf of a client.  It was at the height of the ‘Know-Nothing’ excitement, and Poole, after receiving the fatal bullet, having exclaimed, ‘I die an American,’ succeeded in causing himself to be regarded as a martyr to the cause.  Lingering for days with—­as the post-mortem proved—­a bullet deeply imbedded in his heart, the interest and excitement became intense; and on the day of his funeral twenty thousand men walked in solemn procession behind the coffin of the martyred ‘rough.’  In such a state of public feeling, Baker was put on trial for his life.  At the opening of the charge by the judge, aroused by its tenor, Mr. Brady seized a pen and commenced writing rapidly, indignation showing itself in his set lips and frowning brow.  The moment the judge ceased he was on his feet, and began:  ’You have charged the jury thus and thus.  I protest against your so stating it.’  The judge said he would listen to the objections after the jury had retired.  ‘No!’ exclaimed the indignant orator, ’I choose that the jury should hear those objections;’ and, defying interference, he poured forth impetuously forty-five separate and formal objections, couching them all emphatically in words of personal protest to the judge.  The force of the judge’s charge on that jury was pretty effectually broken.  The indignation of the advocate at this time was real, not simulated; and he, at least, of the New York bar dared to defy and to denounce injustice, even when clad in ermine.

“Another instance of his intrepidity before a judge was in the Busteed case.  The judge had threatened to convict him for contempt.  Busteed had apologized, and Brady also, with his matchless grace and courtesy, had tendered Busteed’s apology; but the judge still said that he should send him to prison.  ‘You will, will you?’ said Brady; ’I say you will not.’  And, citing authority after authority against his power to do so, he dared him to thus stretch his prerogative.  The judge thought best to excuse Mr. Busteed.”

Perhaps one of the best instances of his moral courage to be found was his conduct with reference to the late Edwin M. Stanton.  He was associated with Mr. Stan ton in the Sickles trial, and conceived a warm personal attachment to him.  Mr. Brady remained a Democrat to the last, and was an active member of Tammany Hall.  Upon one occasion, during a meeting of the Tammany Committee, when the name of Stanton was received with hisses and yells of objurgation, Brady rose, and facing the crowd told them “that he knew they hated Edwin M. Stanton, but he, a Democrat, knew him, and held him in his heart of hearts.”  It was a bold declaration, considering the time and place, even for one so highly esteemed as James T. Brady.