Lawyer / legislator
Joseph H. Choate
1832–1917 · United States
Lawyer. Acted for Luigi Palma di Cesnola; worked with Mr. Stickney.
Life and work
- 30 March 1880Spoke at the opening of the Metropolitan Museum's new building in Central Park; the opening was declared by President Hayes. Marangou calls him 'the young eloquent lawyer'.
New YorkMarangou 2000, p. 295
- 31 October 1883Named with Mr. Stickney as counsel for the defendant, L. P. Di Cesnola, in Feuardent's libel action before Judge Shipman in the US Circuit Court, New York; the plaintiff's side was Oudin and Oakley (attorneys) and F. C. Bangs (counsel). The trial began on 31 October 1883; the plaintiff claimed $25,000 (five counts of $5,000).
New YorkThe Feuardent-Cesnola Trial 1883, p. 23The Feuardent-Cesnola Trial (Editorial… 1883, p. 4a
- 1883–1884Led the museum's lawyers in the Feuardent libel action (nine and a half weeks, from the end of 1883 into early 1884, Judge Nathaniel Shipman); sat next to Cesnola, opposite Feuardent and Francis Bangs. Marangou has him tell Bangs, who asked to pick up a small stone dog from the Museum, 'Certainly, if you are strong enough', and has him sum up for the defence for nine hours: restoration took two weeks rather than two months, ridicule of Feuardent, and the trustees standing by Cesnola because he was the object of 'malignant persecution'. Bangs's summing-up took two days.
New YorkMarangou 2000, pp. 323
- 1883–1884Civil suitCounsel for Cesnola and the museum in the libel suit brought by Gaston Feuardent (US Circuit Court, New York, from 31 October 1883). Outcome per the Art Amateur: jury for the defendant on two of three counts, no agreement on the third; per Marangou: complete vindication of Cesnola.
The Feuardent-Cesnola Trial 1883, p. 23The End of the… 1884, p. 96Marangou 2000, pp. 323
- 1884Cesnola owed Choate $32,000 for the trial; the trustees, since the charges had also been against the museum, contributed $21,000. Cesnola confided to Hitchcock in 1884 that he did not know how he would meet the rest.
- by 1 March 1884Outcome. The Art Amateur (quoting no figure for the date) says the judge's charge ignored the archaeological questions and confined itself to libel; the jury found for the defendant on two of the three counts put to it and disagreed on the third (whether Cesnola's accusation about cartage charges and failure to sell the collection in London entitled Feuardent to damages). Marangou says instead that the jury rejected all Feuardent's accusations as malicious and without foundation after 28 hours.
Connections
3 peopleSales, gifts & bequests
- Agent for Luigi Palma di Cesnola1883–1884
Fieldwork & employment
- Employed by Luigi Palma di Cesnola1881–1884
Disputes & the law
- In litigation with Francis Bangs1883–1884
Colleagues & contacts
- Worked with Mr. Stickney1883–1884
Sources
- 1.A. G. Marangou (ed.) (2000). The Consul Luigi Palma di Cesnola 1832-1904: Life and Deeds.
- 2.“Joseph Hodges Choate”. Wikipedia. Online
- 3. (1883). “The Feuardent-Cesnola Trial”. The Art Amateur 10, 23-24. Online
- 4. (1884). “The End of the Feuardent-Cesnola Trial”. The Art Amateur 10, 96-97. Online
- 5. (1883). “The Feuardent-Cesnola Trial (Editorial Supplement)”. The Art Amateur 10, 4a-4b. Online