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One of the Greatest Attorney’s During the Wild West
Defended Brigham Young & the Earp Brothers
FITCH, Thomas (1838-1923). Attorney, U.S. Congressman, elected to represent Nevada At-Large in the United States House of Representatives. He served in this capacity from 1869 to 1871. He was a stout Republican and campaigned for Abraham Lincoln. He developed a reputation as a capable lawyer and a terrific speaker and was nicknamed the “silver-tongued orator of the Pacific.“ He was one of three great orators who kept California loyal to the Union during the Civil War. He was living in Virginia City, Nevada where he edited the Virginia Daily Union and he became friends with Mark Twain. He also served as a Member of the California State Assembly for the 15th District in 1863, and a Delegate to the Nevada State Constitutional Convention in 1864. In 1871 and 1872 as an attorney he defended President Brigham Young of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other Mormon Church Leaders when Young and his denomination were prosecuted for polygamy. Sheriff John Behan of Tombstone, Arizona witnessed the gunfight at the OK Corral on October 25, 1881 and charged Doc Holliday and the Earp Brothers with murder. The historical highlight of Fitch’s career was his legal skills getting Doc Holliday and Virgil, Morgan and Wyatt Earp off of the murder charges they faced. A very scarce signature: “Thomas Fitch” which he adds in his hand “Nevada.” A choice and very scarce signature.....................SOLD
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