Thrifty Charlie carried this pocket address book, dated 1911, a giveaway from the Chickasha Abstract Co., to note down not just addresses, but expenses, money owed and paid, and other notes. The family archive has a series of these little books, each with remarkably small hand writing in them. He didn’t use the address pages to log his contacts alphabetically, but inserted notes among addresses and other jottings wherever he saw fit in the moment.
What jumped out to me was the page pictured below, which lists the noted liberal defense attorney, Clarence Darrow, who was most famous, later, for his work on the Scopes trial, defending Tennessee public school teacher John Scopes, who was prosecuted for teaching evolution in 1925.
The Clarence Darrow connection was a family story proved true. In his first paid job as an attorney for hire, Charlie joined the defense team for the McNamara brothers, accused of bombing the Los Angeles Times building in 1910. Because they were working men and labor organizers, the U.S. labor movement, convinced they were framed, paid for a vigorous defense, led by the already-famous Clarence Darrow.
Later stories said that, hearing Clarence Darrow was to lead the defense, Charlie went to Chicago to see Darrow and asked to be on the team. It’s not clear if he had any connection to Clarence, Darrow, before that, but he got the job. Maybe he was just that convincing.
One account noted, “During his connection with the case he received $20 a day, and later it caused the labor element to throw much legal business his way.” 1)November 23, 1930, The Daily Oklahoman
Like John Scopes, who was found guilty, the McNamara brothers were also found guilty. It didn’t seem to taint Darrow’s reputation, nor affect Charlie in any negative way.
This is one of a series of posts that explore the life of Charles D. Mahaffie, Sr. through family memories and items from a family archive. Charles was the author’s grandfather. He left a remarkable collection of papers, photos, and mementos which offer a lens through which to explore his life and legacies. For the full collection, click here.
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