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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1925)
Judge Julius S. Cooley, “Most Misunderstood Man in Omaha,” Holds No Bitterness for Shabby Tricks Fate Has Played on Him Police Court Lawyer, Butt of Many Jokes, Finds Pride in Achievements of Relatives and Classmates; Has Satis lied Hope of Being “Lawyer of Working Man.*’ By A. R. GROH. This is a biography of Julius S. Cooley, one of the best known and least-understood men in Omaha. For years the jest of the thoughtless, butt of many a joke, the “judge” goes his quiet way, wrapped in illuminated memories of the grand days when youth and ambition and ideals were his. No doubt his memory paints these pictures in extraor dinary hues and adds many high lights. For the “judge” holds a quiet pride in such periods as the time when he was associated for five years with John M. Thurston, gen eral attorney for the Union Pacific and United States senator.” Tears come to his eyes and flow down his swollen i cheeks as he tells of the romantic meeting with his sweet heart in New' York, their later separation and their final marriage. Now he is 63. His clothing is old and usually badly soiled. His body carries some unwholesome fat. His step k is slow. He picks up a precarious living at the South Omaha I * police court, and lives alone in a room over a store at 2715 r Q street, across the street from the Armour packing plant. But the soul of the judge is unconquered. He still wears the jaunty velour hat. Still, in his buttonhols, is the flower, usually faded. Still he gives out cigars to those he f meets. (Very bad cigars, we can testify, but that doesn’t matter). The Cynic’* Tear. Such a view of Mr. Cooley Is not shared by hardened policemen and court attaches and cynical police re porters. They have been, for years accustomed to Judge the lonely and unkempt habitue of the courts by appearances only. Xo sympathetic soul has looked farther. They play Innumerable Jokes upon him. They even tell of alleged sharp practices. Infirmities may have caused the “judge” to do some things which, to eyes already prejudiced, may not ^ , ■ MMMMmtVT . . -- have seemed correct. He was accused | several times and finally he departed I Badly from the shining halls of Cen * trnl police court, where only the strict ly upright and pure In heart are per muted to be. I talked to Mr. Cooley for more I than two hours, one afternoon recent ly. In the deserted South Omaha po l'ce court. In that time not one "swear word" passed his lips. Every I thing he said could have lieen said f and said profitably In the family [ circle. h Gentle of Voice. || Sneaking in a low. gentle, cultured voice, the judge recalled the days of Aib. ^ inns ago. And if somet'mcs he seemed P to "paint the lily," his conversation displayed only admiration for the coed and beautiful and noble things of life. The dilapidation and neglect of his physical appearance does not extend to Ills heart and mind. No sense of failure, no railing against fate, no dissatisfaction with things as they are. "I would do It all over again ’ as T have done." he said in reply to a question, "When I came to Omaha, 40 years ago. I determined to be the lawyer of the working man, the downtrodden and the op ' press»d and I have kept that faith In spite of all.” Tears Course His Cheeks. I Ills voice broke and two tears broke from his puffy eyes and coursed down the cheeks lie tried to cover his emotion With a little laugh. "Of course, I was often Imposed on. I am too tender hearted. Time i and time again I defended men who had no money. They would ask me 1o collect at some given time later. When I would call, the wife would i tell me her husband was out hunt ' lng work and they had no food or fuel. And I would give them my last 35 bill. I don't like to men tion a thing like that. I don't want to boast.” Julius s. Cooley was born on a farm Bear the village of Pavilion, Kala run zoo county, Michigan, March 31, 1861. Of Puritan Klonri. “On both sides of the house my people have been In the I'nlted States for 300 years," he said. "We are Puritans. My father, Griffith Ste phens Cooley, and my mother, Julia Cooley, were remarkable. I was ) named for my uncle, Col. Julius IJlly He .was chosen by General Sherman to command the forces that went ahead to reconnolter and forage on the march to the sea. He was am bushed by Wade Hampton's cavalry, Ibut he fought his way out.” Cooley’s delight in the success and distinction of his relatives and all ADVERTISEMENT. && Our book, “Cancer, Its Proper Treatment ! and Cura,** mailed Free upon application. This book, containing 216 pages. 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No onset. > Jf It f*ures your prostate glsnd trouble, i you ran rspay the favor by telling your friends—if not. the Ions Is mine Simply a,,.nit me your name and prove that you ran feel io yesrs younger and be fid of Bfos'ste it rouble. I, It. WALKER, 2.1H0 fialeway Station, City. Mo. 1 I fel - - those with whom he has come In con tact is a marked characteristic, evi dent throughout his narration. There were eight children. Four of his sisters and a brother are still living. Distinguished Family. "My brother, Asher, lives on a farm, north of Lincoln,” he said. "My oldest sister, Mrs. Oeorge K. Sayles, resides at Cedar Creek, Neb., and her son is county clerk of Cass county. 1 The next slater, Mrs. C. H. T'inkham, lived at South Bend for years. Her son. John, started the first hoy's newspaper in the united States and her only daughter married a man who was once mayor of Berlin. "My sister, Mrs. Marlon Keifer of Oakland, Cal., has a wonderful family. Her daughter was chosen as the best singer on the Pacific coast and sent to a competition In the east. She passed through here with her mother. Her son. Donald, who is a close friend of Hiram Johnson and Herbert Hoover, went to France and entered the French army before we got Into the great war. Her other two sons were lieu tenants in the navy. "My brother, Thomas M. Cooley, named after his uncle, who was chief Justice of the supreme court of Michigan and dean of the law school at Ann Arbor, lost his life I trying to save a young woman at Coronado Beach, Cal. Arriving In Nebraska. "Anna, one of my twin slstera, died In childhood. The other is Mrs. Agnes L. Moore of Llncol/l.” The Cooleys emigrated to Nebraska In 1S66, corning by rail to Council Bluffs and then taking a boat to Plattsmouth. Twelve miles west of there they settled on a homestead. On the way out they saw three men, hanging from the limb of a tree. A rudely-lettered sign on the tree said: r Beware. Anyone that steal* a poor lioiheatender’s horses steals * lie living of him and his family. v___/ Julius was a studious boy. He studied while he herded cattle on the plains when he was only 10 or 12 years old. "One day I and my dog were herd ing the cattle when a man drove up In a buggy and asked me what I was reading. 1 think It was Macauley's History of Kngland. The man was St. A. D. Balcombe and I asked him to go with me to the house for dinner. Offer of an Education. "When we got there the girls were playing ami singing and he was charmed. He proposed to take me with him to Plattmnotith and let me go to school, but I said I couldn't ac cept such a generosity. Hater, of course, I went to school In Platts mouth before entering the state uni versity. "I was at the university with such men ns John Hartman, later general counsel for the Oreut Northern rail n.ad; lir. B. It. Davis, now an ami nent surgeon In Omaha; Npva Z Snell, later a Judge; Lincoln JYfigt, recently appointed a district Judge; Dave Mercer, Ister a congressman, and Charles Magoon, later governor of Cuba. He and I were great friends." Teachee School. After threo years at the state uni versity during which he studied law In a law office, he found It necessary to help tils folks on the farm. He taught school at flreenwood, Kagle and Cedar Creek, keeping up law studies with the object of practicing In Omaha. During this time, he said he tutored Tom S. Allen, who became Hnlted States district attorney st Omaha a few years ago and Is tot'ther In-law of W. .1. llryan. *1 could have gone Into corporation i«w. 1 hud offers when 1 came to Omaha," he said. "But I was deter mined in defend the poor man Of course, 1 got trimmed sometimes Once a large amount of money was offered me to drop a claim I was fighting for a man against a railroad In St. Louis. I declined it. "Forty-one years I have been In po lice court work. I have defended more laboring men, union men, poor people than all the other lawyers put together. I’ve got thousands of them out and saved their jobs for them, good, hard-working, honest men they were.’’ Helping the I’oor. "You've probably contributed to help the unfortunate at times?’’ "Oh, thousands of times." Cooley’s voice trembled and tears came to his .1 -- eyes. "When the poor fellows came In to the police station on cold nights to get a place to sleep. Especially the old ones, I would greet them with a pardon me sir.' using that polite form so they wouldn't think I was looking down on them as charity receivers. "1 retail one old man who had only one eye. He accepted my invitation and I took him to the Millard where I ordered a porterhouse steak for him. He told me he knew where he could get a position If he had his eye fixed up, I gladly gave him $5 with which he got a glass eye. Some four months later a man greeted me, an elderly, prosperous-looking man. I didn't know him but he quickly Introduced himself. He had me as his guest to dinner and Insisted thnt I take fin In payment for the >'• I had loaned hint.” riomnnoe cnntp also Into hl« life. As he tells it now, the path of love did not run smoothly. It was while he was on a business trip to New York City that lie met her in the Peter Cooper Institute. "I saw this beautiful girl of only 17, painting, every stroke so grate ful." he said, tears starting again from his eyes. "I obtained an In troduction. I mPt her and a girl friend and I Invited them and her chaperone to dine. They accepted and we went to the opera after ward. Before I left New York we were engaged. Her name was Katherine Mcltowell Sutton. But the girl's mother Intercepted their letters, he said. She didn’t ap prove of him because he had no money. The young couple drifted apart and she married a man named Carlisle. Marriage. “Years liter," he said, “T met her little daughter here in Omaha and she said 'Mamma wants to see you.' I went and we were reunited and were married In ]90f). "A few years ago my wife Inherit ed a large estate from a maiden aunt. She and our daughter, Juanita I.eanore, are In Hollywood, Cal., settling it up. Our daughter is 15 now and a banner student. I had everything for her here, Shetland pany, white mice, birds. My wife Is still a fine painter. Her picture, 'Mayor Dahlman anti the Home Folks Welcoming \V. J. Bryan at New York,’ was exhibited In many places '* Even Ihe boutonnler the "Judge" wears Invariably, has Its little roman tic touch, ns he tells It. “One day a Mrs. Swanson called me Into her florist shop." he said. "She told nte she wanted to give me a flow er to wear In my buttonhole. She pinned one on and when I wanted to pay her she said, ‘No, I won't take afty When I was a little girl 1 was gazing Into a store window where some sleds were displayed anil you came along and stopped and asked me whether 1 had a sled and I said no, hut I wished very much that I had. You went In and bought one and gave It to me and I want to give you a flower every day If you will cTone In for It.* "You see," said Mr. Cooley feeling ly, "bread cast upon the waters ru turns afler many days " Alibi-user's Judgment. "I believe Mr. Cooley whs never properly appreciated," said Fred All beuser, former-oily prosecutor. "He has always been tho soul of gener osity and unselfishness, pouring out bis money among tho police officers and court nllarhea and others He was always too generous for hlf own good. “I remember once he hail a on so for some out-of-town people. They bail engaged him on his reputation, hav Ing seen his name In the papers. When they got to police court some one told them lie wasn't a good enough lawyer. They came to ms. 1 learned the nature of the rase end know that Conley could handle It as well es anyone. I told them en "When ha got hie fee, which was a very good one, he went out and hough! oimntltlee of cigars, candy, apples, oranges and rnme In and dis tributed them. Policemen, reporters, everybody had pneke(|| foil of i-lgare I "1 Oldped that soi*.. uf those who XKnatr&MmamttFxsx**:* . . ...... . ■.. . — -* took must of his cigars were the least appreciative In what they said about him. A Wedding Present. When I was about to get married I sent Invitations to many people and I Included Judge Cooley because I al ways had a kindly feeling toward him. “I'll never forget the afternoon of my marriage, shortly before the cere mony, here came Judge Cooley with a package. “ 'Fred,' he said, In his courtly way, 'I want to wish you the best of everything In the state of matri mony upon which you are entering. I wanted to get you something nice hul I found T had only 75 cents, so I just got you these cherries. They aren't worth much but they express the feelings I have for you.’ “They were nice red cherries and 1 was deeply touched by the kindly spirit of the ‘judge.’ ” We left the deserted police court. Dusk was gathering. “Tharvk you Very much for com ing to see me,’’ said Mr. Cooley. “1 am going home now." Slowly he walked westward on O street to his lonely room amid the nnsn ^ t imine and odors of the packing hoimo i'trlct. there to be alone with his memories. A bloi k away he stopped and bought an armful of newspapers from a ragged newsboy. Dr. B. L. Wi If>11 r to Speak to Doii£laB County Doctors Dr. Rav Lyman Wilbur, president of Leland Stanford university, will deliver a lecture on public health at a public meeting to be held by the Omaha Douglas County Medical so ciety at the Technical High school auditorium, Friday evening, March 13. Dr. Wilbur formerly was president of the American Medical association. An Underwood Rental Typewriter always stands ready for your sudden need—a rush of business, accumulated personal corre spondence urging reply, or a flood of school work — what ever the exigency may be, the UNDERWOOD answers the demands LEGIBLY, ACCU RATELY, SPEEDILY. UNDERWOODS for every pur pose for rent at moderate r,.- s. Experts keep the machines in repair free. For information call im Underwood Typewriter Co., Inc 1721 DouKlft.i Htr< Pt, Jarkion 40*1. Arri'pt only grnulna "Phillip*." I hr original Milk of Mngnasla praai rlhad hy phyatrlnna for 50 ycmn aa an anta ilil. Imtntlvti, corrrrllva. .. luittlxH aim fal rant bottlaa. t'unUiin Un III loin- any ding Hot a. Dignified, Deliberative Omaha District Judge Once Aspired to Enter Big League Baseball; Now Law Umpire Charles A. Goss Recalls With Joy Home Run lie Knocked on College Team 40 Years Ago. By J. T. ARMSTRONG. There is dignity in every line of the broad, straight figure of Charles A. Goss, presiding Judge of the dis trict court. This dignity Is accentuated by heavy Iron-gray hair, a frock coat and gray ascot trouseys; and a de liberateness of speech and action. Few if any of the scores of attor neys who appear before Judge Got.) would guess that this man hears their cases and rules on them in such a grave, scholarly manner once had ambitions to set the world on fuu ifter the manner of 'Ttabe'' Ruth Here's file Truth. Rut here is the truth about Judge Goss; He was once the best hitter and the most clever shortstop on the Ml Union college baseball team. He had ambitions to play profes sional baseball, and on one occasion Ncame a hero by knocking a heme run In the Tri State league of Ohio, YVtsl Virginia and Pennsylvania. And he is still so greatly inter est1 u in baseball that he keeps n "belting average" which has nothing whatever to do with baseball, but •vh'ch tells how he's “hitting’ as a judg« In other words, Judge Goss keeps a record of how cases he decides which are carried to the supreme court are finally decided. Ho calls it Ms "twitting average" an.’ It is rau"h higher than any basebad ring ger could possibly hope to bosst. 14 Straight '‘Hits.’* Judge Goss’ record shows that he has made 14 straight "hits,’’ or, to be more lucid, it show's that the supreme court has held that in deciding the last 14 cases Judge Goss was entirely right. "I played four years with the Mount Union college team back In Alliance. O.,” related Judge Goss. "I was a fairly successful inftelder and 1 led the team In batting. If I do say it myself. That was 40 years ago. I wanted to play profession;. 1 baseball then, and study law in the w inter, hut my father decided it wasn't neces sary.” Hut, despite this parental objection to a great ambition. Judge Goss man aged to get into a few games after he was graduated from college. On one occasion he was drafted to aid the Alliance Tristate team at the last mlnu’e. The team was playing the rg~~ East Liverpool team, and Darrow, a big league pitcher, was pitching for East Liverpool. Darrow was a local boy and the pride of the village. This meant nothing to Judge floss, however, for the first time at bat he slammed Darrow'a offering far enough to run home for a tally. Now law Empire. Now Judge Goss has to contend himself vrith umpiring cases of law. and deddedlng them. He spends much time watching the boys play baseball on the local "sand lot" dia monds and in keeping his supreme court "batting average” up to date. Although it happened 40 years ago Judge (Joss admits that as he sits at the massive criminal bench in court room No. 1 and listens to unending testimony he can sometimes hear the cheers and applause which greeted that home run which beat East Liver pool ami won for his home town. Omaha I ni. Debaters to Meet Midland Team; The University rf Omaha debatej teams will get into action for the I first time this eeson against the Midland orators, March lb. Midland's negative team will de bate the Omaha affirmative team at j Jacobs hall in the afternoon. It will j be a no decision debate. The teams; will debate on the state inter col legiate question: "Resolved, that con-; gress should be empowered to annul! by a two-thirds vote those decisions of the supreme court which declare i acts of congress unconstitutional.” ' limer-ity Students to Tour Armour Plant The T'niversity of Omaha student body will visit the Armour Packing plant Monday, Tuesday and Wednes day of this week. Saturday Horning half of the freshman class, accompanied by Professors Gould, Johnson. Porter, Wright and Kuhn, made the tour, <ind in the afternoon the other half, with Professors Vartanian and Ilidg ley, toured the plant. Ever notice that thuee who hunt trouble usually find it. 332 Students Enrolled in Gymnasium Classes at Superior Schools I Superior, Neb. Feb. 2S.—Superior erhools have been putting on an ex tensive program thle year along the line of athletics and physical educa tion. During the first semester. 120 boys and girls took part In the different branches of athletics, football, basket ball, volley ball, etc. Fourteen gym nasium classes are conducted end: week with 332 students enrolled. There Is also a girls hiking club ol 55 members. In the ward schools n program Is being conducted to Interest the pupils In various games and play ground work. The plan Is to reach the large group of students, rather than the development’ of a few In a special way. Physical education department of the Junior High school gave an ex hibition and program before a packed house at the Junior High school audi torium. One hundred and fifty pupils look part, all of the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. The program con sisted of tumbling, pyramid building, calisthenics, games, gymnastics, folk and schottlsche dancing, an athletic medley, boy scout work and singing. The exhibition was given under the direction of A. L,. Keester, physical director of the city schools. Doane College Notes. A reception was tendered President end Mr*. Dean by the college Monday eve ning In Gaylord hall. The rooms were beautifully decorated with roeea sent by the Omaha tru*tee*. A abort program wan given, three numbers by pupil* In the junior piano department, a reading by Miss Old* and two numbers by the Men * Olee club. The Y. M. C. A. elected the following officers Tuesday President. A. E. Nu <ju!st ; vice president. Kenneth McKpnzie; secretary, Raymond Aif; treasurer, Paul Taylor. Modern Language club will have an open meeting March 4 All other depart mental club* are Invited to attend. A French play will be given and aong* of different nation* sung. Sunday evening acrvlca at the First Congregational church will be held under the auspice* of the college Y. M C. A I)r Edwin B Dean, preaident. will de liver the sermon and the Donne Men* Glee club will wing two numbers. Men * Glee club membership 1* a* fol lows First tenor*. George Blakeley, I.ewiw Caine. Carl Kinney, Kenneth Mc Kenzie. Walter Spencer, second tenors. .Toe Bepnett, Haldean Brown. A Radford. Paul Taylor, Claude Welch; baritone* Albert Baldwin. Herbert Ambler. Lloyd <'lark, Frank Sanderson. Phil Taylor, basses, Dwight Aller. Wallace Bant* Glenn Jelinek. Andrew Nuqulnt; accom panists. Lumir Havllcek. Lloyd Clark. Rev Mr McKenzie gave an address at ' hapel Monday appropriate for Washing ton s birthday. The Men's Glee club of Doane will make a spring concert trip Into south west Nebraska during the spring vaca tion Glee club members who also play In the glee club orchestra, a feature of the concert*, are Haldean Brown. Paul Taylor. « laude Welch. Albert Baldwin Lloyd Clark Phil Taylor, Dwight Alier and Lumir Havllcek. Ray Nedrow has gone to Washington. D < where he will act aa private eecre tsry to Congressman Robert Simmons of the Sixth Nebraska district. Mr. Nedrow was employed In the Simmons law offi. e M Scottsbluff prior to the congressmnn * r.rst ele< tion and since that tlma hss een tracking law at Fremont. FOR FIFTY-SIX YEARS The name of Paxton & Gallagher has been closely identified with the growth and development of Omaha and its commercial territory. Paxton & Gallagher has grown with Omaha since 1870, when it first established itself at 12th and Farnam Streets. The firm soon outgrew its quarters and moved to the comer of loth and Farnam Streets and in 1881 the business was built on the present loca tion at 10th and Jones Streets. I The firm today occupies four modem buildings with a total floor space of approximately one-half mil lion square feet. It has established branches in five cities in Omaha’s trading territory and has grown into one of the leading wholesale grocery houses of the country. Butter-Nut, “The Coffee Delicious,” is roasted and packed by Paxton & Gallagher. This famous coffee has gained high favor with the dealers over the firm’s entire trading territory and has created a good will for Omaha and the business institutions of which it boasts. By serving three generations and beginning the fourth on a basis of superior food products, Paxton & Gallagher has caused thousands of people in thousands of towns to know Omaha as a city of prosperity and good business.