Autobiography of Charles Clinton Nourse: Prepared for use of Members of the FamilyNourse, Charles Clinton
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Autobiography of Charles Clinton Nourse: Prepared for use of Members of the Family
Nourse, Charles Clinton
Iowa -- Politics and government; Lawyers -- Iowa -- Biography; Nourse, Charles Clinton, 1829-
After all the evidence had been put in, both upon the part of the
prosecution and the defense, there remained one important question for
us to decide--as to whether or not we would put Mr. Brown upon the
stand as a witness in his own case. The only thing we had to fear from
our client as a witness was his sensitiveness and pride and his
determination to resent any insult or imputation against his honesty
and integrity in office. We knew he had some enemies in the senate who
were at the same time his judges and were to vote upon the question of
his guilt, and these senators had the right to ask him any questions
upon cross-examination they might see proper. It would not do for his
counsel to object to the relevancy or propriety of any questions that
might be asked, as it might appear if we did so that we had something
to hide or from which to shield our client. We had a long conference
with Mr. Brown before we decided what course to pursue upon this
question of making him a witness. He continued to vow to us that he
would not consent to submit to any insulting interrogatories, no matter
from whom they came, and that he would talk back if any such were
propounded. I finally had a private conference with Mr. Brown and urged
upon him the absolute necessity that if he went upon the stand as a
witness, of being perfectly cool and dispassionate and not manifesting
any passion or resentment toward any of the senators who might question
him. After a long conference upon this point, he finally promised me
that he would do his best to suppress his indignation and his feelings,
and would quietly answer any questions that might be asked him. The
next day we put Mr. Brown upon the stand as a witness, and to his
credit it may be said that he behaved himself most admirably, and won
the respect and esteem of the senate by his dignified and courteous
behavior.
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