Short Biography of Olney Hawkins

Olney Hawkins came to Ann Arbor in 1832 from Detroit where he had studied law with Judge Witherell. With the exception of a short residence in Chicago, Ill., he remained in Ann Arbor until his decease. Mr. Hawkins was a man of fine presence, being over six feet in height, straight and well built, dignified in his bearing. He was a gentleman of the old school, wore a ruffled shirt bosom and was always well dressed. He was a very successful trial lawyer, had a good knowledge of the law, and was especially skillful in the examination and cross-examination of witnesses. I have known him to try cases for two or three days in succession when there were no shorthand reporters and with taking a few notes he would never misstate the testimony of the witness. Mr. Hawkins was invariably kind and considerate to the younger members of the bar. He was very quick witted and ready at repartee. A learned opponent in an important trial used the old Latin quotation, "Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus." When Mr. Hawkins replied, he said, repeating the quotation, "I don't understand very well what all that means, but I can guess at a part of it. I suppose he means to say that a fellow who will lie in a uno, will lie in an omnibus. Now, I know that that is not true, for I have been riding in omnibuses all my life and never knew any one to lie in an omnibus any more readily than anywhere else, except the driver, and he is on the outside."

Source: "Historical Collections" ¹⁴⁸⁵