LEANDER QUINT

 

Lawyer, came early to Sonora, and engaged in the practice of law as early as 1850.  A part of his business was in the Court” of Judge Barry, and this anecdote of the two is given on the authority of an eyewitness: Quint had a sin­gular habit of gesticulating with one of his hands, from which he had lost the three first fingers, the remaining thumb and the little finger being extended in a peculiar and disagreeable manner. On one occasion Barry had ruled against Quint, who exclaimed: “ Judge, I never did have any show in your Court!”  “No, damn you, sir,” replied Barry, ‘‘and you never shall have any!  When a man comes into Court and wiggles his fingers and rolls up his eyes as you do, he can’t have any show here.  In Texas, we had man-traps, sir, that cost thieves their fingers.  It looks damned suspicious, sir—it looks damned suspicious---but I hope it is all right!”

 

Mr. Quint was not utterly extinguished by this, but went on and became County Judge.  Following the example of others of his profession, he removed to San Francisco, gained a large practice and achieved honors. He was attorney for the defendant in the celebrated trial of Laura D. Fair for the murder of Crittenden---a fact that proves  his high standing at the Bar.

 

“A History of Tuolumne County, California” B.F. Alley, 1882. Pg. 371-372.

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton