Temple Houston
Encyclopedia
Temple Lea Houston was the last-born child of Texas Revolutionary Sam Houston
.
After traveling and working in the East, Houston returned to Texas in 1877, and graduated from Baylor University
with honors in 1880.
In 1882, Houston was appointed as the district attorney of 35th Judicial District of Texas, which then covered a large part of the Texas Panhandle
. Houston was considered by many to be one of the country's most brilliant trial lawyers and was noted for his flamboyant and unorthodox dress and behavior. Houston was well educated and spoke French
and Spanish
fluently as well as seven Indian languages. In 1888, Houston gave the dedicating address for the opening of the Texas Capitol.
After serving in the Texas State Senate, Houston in 1894 moved his law practice to Woodward
in western Oklahoma
and became involved in the movement for Oklahoma statehood. Houston was equally known as a dead-shot gunfighter.
Once a judge persuaded Houston to represent a penniless horse thief and Houston promised, "I'll provide the unfortunate gentleman the best defense I can." Houston asked the judge for a private office in which he could confer with his client. Sometime later, a court official decided to check on Houston and the horsethief. He found Houston sitting alone in the room with the window wide open. Houston smiled and remarked, "I gave him the best advice I could."
Another remark for which he is famous is "Your honor, the prosecutor is the first man that I've ever seen that can strut while sitting down."
In 1899, Houston delivered the Soiled Dove Plea on behalf of a hopelessly guilty prostitute, Minnie Stacey, in a trial in Woodward, Oklahoma
. That plea is considered by many attorneys to be an example of a perfect closing argument.
In another trial, Houston was defending a man accused of murder following a gunfight. He picked up the man's pistols and suddenly discharged both cylinders into the courthouse ceiling. The jury panicked and fled outside. When asked why he had done this, Houston replied he was attempting to prove his client's fear of the victim's "incredible speed" of gunfire. He then successfully argued for a mistrial, since the jury had not been sequestered.
Houston died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of only forty-five. He is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Woodward. One of the most elaborate floral arrangements at his funeral was from Minnie Stacey.
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
.
After traveling and working in the East, Houston returned to Texas in 1877, and graduated from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
with honors in 1880.
In 1882, Houston was appointed as the district attorney of 35th Judicial District of Texas, which then covered a large part of the Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
. Houston was considered by many to be one of the country's most brilliant trial lawyers and was noted for his flamboyant and unorthodox dress and behavior. Houston was well educated and spoke French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
fluently as well as seven Indian languages. In 1888, Houston gave the dedicating address for the opening of the Texas Capitol.
After serving in the Texas State Senate, Houston in 1894 moved his law practice to Woodward
Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census....
in western Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and became involved in the movement for Oklahoma statehood. Houston was equally known as a dead-shot gunfighter.
Once a judge persuaded Houston to represent a penniless horse thief and Houston promised, "I'll provide the unfortunate gentleman the best defense I can." Houston asked the judge for a private office in which he could confer with his client. Sometime later, a court official decided to check on Houston and the horsethief. He found Houston sitting alone in the room with the window wide open. Houston smiled and remarked, "I gave him the best advice I could."
Another remark for which he is famous is "Your honor, the prosecutor is the first man that I've ever seen that can strut while sitting down."
In 1899, Houston delivered the Soiled Dove Plea on behalf of a hopelessly guilty prostitute, Minnie Stacey, in a trial in Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census....
. That plea is considered by many attorneys to be an example of a perfect closing argument.
In another trial, Houston was defending a man accused of murder following a gunfight. He picked up the man's pistols and suddenly discharged both cylinders into the courthouse ceiling. The jury panicked and fled outside. When asked why he had done this, Houston replied he was attempting to prove his client's fear of the victim's "incredible speed" of gunfire. He then successfully argued for a mistrial, since the jury had not been sequestered.
Houston died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of only forty-five. He is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Woodward. One of the most elaborate floral arrangements at his funeral was from Minnie Stacey.
Portrayals
- The main character of Edna FerberEdna FerberEdna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big , Show Boat , and Giant .-Early years:Ferber was born August 15, 1885, in Kalamazoo, Michigan,...
's 1929 novel CimarronCimarronCimarron is the title of a novel published by popular historical fiction author Edna Ferber in 1929. The book was adapted into a critically acclaimed film in 1931 through RKO Pictures. In 1960, the story was again adapted for the screen to meager success by MGM...
was modeled after Temple Houston (film version came in 1931 and 1960) - He was played by Bill WilliamsBill Williams (actor)Bill Williams was an American television and film actor. He is best known for his starring role in the early 1950 television show The Adventures of Kit Carson.-Career:...
in the 1960 film Oklahoma Territory, written by Orville H. Hampton and directed by Edward L. Cahn- - A television series entitled Temple HoustonTemple Houston (TV series)Temple Houston is a 1963–64 NBC television series which has been called "the first attempt . . . to produce an hour-long Western series with the main character being an attorney in the formal sense." It was the only show Jack Webb sold to a network during his ten months as the head of production at...
was co-produced by the actor Jeffrey HunterJeffrey HunterJeffrey Hunter was an American film and television actor. His most famous roles are as Jesus in the film King of Kings, as Martin Pawley in The Searchers, and as Capt...
in 1963–1964-