Beach not only succeeded in procuring the accjuittal of his clients, but also laid the foundation for the proceedings which ended in the discontinuance of the sy.stem of substituting military inquisitions for authorized civil courts. His argument was listened to by Senators and Representatives and his skillful conduct of the case made him the recipient of many enthusiastic manifestations of approbation.
In 1868 he obtained the acquittal before the courts of impeachment of canal commissioner Robert C. Dorn.
During his residence in Troy he was frequently tendered the nomination to a judgeship, but declined the honor. The title of judge, however, was commonly prefixed to his name.
In 1871 he removed to New York, where he commanded at once a large practice, and was pitted in the legal arena against the foremost lawyers of the city. He took the place of Charles A. Rapallo, now a justice of the New York Court of Appeals, in the firm of Rapallo, Daly & Brown. Afterwards on the withdrawal of Mr. Daly, the firm became Beach & Brown. Their office was in the Herald building. Mr. Beach became engaged in a number of noteworthy cases. In the action brought by the Erie Railway Company against Wm. H. Vanderbilt, popularly known as the five million dollar suit, Messrs. Beach and Rapallo were retained by Mr. Vanderbilt, . and succeeded in obtaining a verdict in his favor. In the celebrated suit of Bowen vs. Chase, which involved the title to the valuable real estate left by Madame Jumel, Mr. Beach appeared for the plaintiff' and was opposed by Charles O'Connor. The trial lasted for over a month, and resulted in the disagreement of the jury.