Anonymous

Name: Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote
Author: Anonymous

Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

Summary

“Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote”, published in 1903, is a work by Anonymous. It explores elements such as Wellman, lawyer and witness.

Quotes from Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (Anonymous)

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ There is no short cut, no royal road to proficiency in the art of advocacy and cross-examination, Mr. Wellman declares.
It is experience alone that brings success. Cross-examination is generally considered to be the most difficult branch of the multifarious duties of the lawyer it requires the greatest ingenuity, a habit of logical thought, clearness of perception, infinite patience and self-contol, power to read, men's minds intuitively, to judge of their character by their faces, and to read their motives. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ Whatever benefit younger attorneys and law-students may derive from Mr. Wellman's advice and counsel depends upon the application of it. The author makes it very clear that what is good, cross-examination in one case is dangerous tactics in another. The cross-examiner must not fuss with his notes, but must watch every move of his witness as a prizefighter watches his opponent, sparring guardedly for an opening, landing a telling blow at the first opportunity and making every hit tell. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ He believes in the maxim of the late Sir Charles Russell, whom he considers altogether the most successful cross-examiner of modern times: "Go straight at the witness and at the point; throw your cards on the table; mere finesse juries do not appreciate."
Mr. Wellman confesses that he does not intend to arrogate to himself any superior knowledge upon the subject of cross-examination excepting in so far as it may have been gleaned from actual experience of twenty-five years court practice, in which he examined and cross-examined about 15,000 witnesses drawn from all classes of the community. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ It requires ability to act with force and precision, a master knowledge of the subject matter itself, extreme caution, and, above all, the instinct to discover the weak point in the witness under examination. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ If the counsel's manner is courteous and conciliatory the witness will soon loose all fear.
The sympathies of the jury are invariably on the side of the witness. They are quick to resent any discourtesy toward him. They are willing to admit his mistakes, if you can make them apparent, but they are slow to believe him guilty of perjury.
A good advocate should be a good actor.
↑ THE ART OF CROSS-EXAMINATION. By Francis L. Wellman of the New York Bar. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ Wellman's opinion that "one has but to frequent the courts to become convinced that so long as the ten thousand members of the New York County bar will avail themselves of their privilege to appear in court and try their own clients' cases, the great majority of the trials will be poorly conducted and much valuable time wasted." A lawyer experienced in the trials of causes will not require, at the utmost, more than one-quarter of the time taken by the most learned inexperienced lawyer in developing his case. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ When the public realizes [says the author] that a good trail lawyer is the outcome, one might say, of generations of witnesses; when clients fully appreciate the danger they run in intrusting their litigations to so-called office lawyers with little or not experience in court, they will insist upon their briefs being intrusted to those who make a specialty of court practice. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ The text is written in a chatty, narrative style and abounds with anecdotes about great men whose battles in court are so familiar to the present generation, that it is entertaining to a degree, even to men who know nothing about law. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Anonymous, Cross-Examination.; Francis L. Wellman's Interesting New Book of Advice and Anecdote (1903)

“ To such an extent is this change taking place, he says, that in some localities the more important commercial cases never reach a court decision. Merchants prefer to compromise their difficulties or write off their losses rather than enter into dormant litigation caused by overcrowded calendars ”

Anonymous

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