Prominent Lawyer & Prosecutor. Lyman was a graduate of the Yale Law School, later becoming the Assistant District Attorney of Pennsylvania. Over his lengthy career, he established a very distinguished reputation in both private and public practices. Thus, when Major Marcus Reno, 7th U.S. Cavalry, had requested a Court of Inquiry concerning his tarnished reputation regarding his conduct at the Battle of Little Big Horn (widely known as "Custer's Last Stand") of June 25-26, 1876. Major Reno knew he needed a legal "Big Gun" to defend him from the ever-increasing accusations of cowardice leveled against him and to exonerate his name, once and for all. The official inquiry, at the request of Major Reno himself, was convened by order of the President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, on January 13, 1879, at the prestigious Palmer House in Chicago. Lyman's legal counterpart at the inquiry was U.S. Army Lt. Jesse M. Lee, serving as Judge Advocate and presenting the case. The case lasted a staggering 26 days, and in the end, Lyman was successful in obtaining a favorable verdict for his client, which in part read: "...there was nothing in his conduct which requires animadversion." Since Major Reno was now legally no longer a historical scapegoat for the military and/or some historians, the verdict allowed an undefined general opinion to shift blame back onto the deceased LtCol. George A. Custer. The case propelled Lyman into the national spotlight, further adding to his success. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania law firm Lymon co-founded in 1871 evolved into Nauman, Smith, Shissler, and Hall and is now the oldest law firm in continuous existence in the city today.
Prominent Lawyer & Prosecutor. Lyman was a graduate of the Yale Law School, later becoming the Assistant District Attorney of Pennsylvania. Over his lengthy career, he established a very distinguished reputation in both private and public practices. Thus, when Major Marcus Reno, 7th U.S. Cavalry, had requested a Court of Inquiry concerning his tarnished reputation regarding his conduct at the Battle of Little Big Horn (widely known as "Custer's Last Stand") of June 25-26, 1876. Major Reno knew he needed a legal "Big Gun" to defend him from the ever-increasing accusations of cowardice leveled against him and to exonerate his name, once and for all. The official inquiry, at the request of Major Reno himself, was convened by order of the President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, on January 13, 1879, at the prestigious Palmer House in Chicago. Lyman's legal counterpart at the inquiry was U.S. Army Lt. Jesse M. Lee, serving as Judge Advocate and presenting the case. The case lasted a staggering 26 days, and in the end, Lyman was successful in obtaining a favorable verdict for his client, which in part read: "...there was nothing in his conduct which requires animadversion." Since Major Reno was now legally no longer a historical scapegoat for the military and/or some historians, the verdict allowed an undefined general opinion to shift blame back onto the deceased LtCol. George A. Custer. The case propelled Lyman into the national spotlight, further adding to his success. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania law firm Lymon co-founded in 1871 evolved into Nauman, Smith, Shissler, and Hall and is now the oldest law firm in continuous existence in the city today.
Bio by: Jay Lance
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