The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-08-02
THE HONEST LAWYERS FEE

THE HONEST LAWYERS FEE.
1t is now five years since the widow Stiles
called on me one morning before breakfast
and asked me to recommend her to some
lawyer, as she thought her friend Stubs was
less correct than he might be. 1 asked her
to step into the parlor, and went myself to
my breakfast and my wife, whose advice I
always asked on such points. We had known
Mrs. Stiles many years; her husband was
great land owner in q goodly town of the
western country, and with disinterested
love, that deserved some better aim, ever
pressed it on his helpmate, as the first rule of
life, to get all she could, and keep all she got.
He died, and Mrs. Stiles became more and
more religious and a]ms-giying, but also moro
and more fond Of wealth, and sensible Of the
admirable advice which her husband had
given her.
stated the facts to my wife, and waited
her opinion. "Well, William" said she,
after drinking a cup of coffee upon my story,
C fear the old lady has some money-getting
claim in view; you know she has Of late Civ
en- all her affections to getting more wealth.
would therefore recommend her to the most
honest and conscientious lawyer in town, and
not to the most acute and thorough one.
She relies on your judgment; use it, not for
her seeming but her real good"
counted my legal acquaintance over
twice over, before hit on one answering to
the terms honest and conscientious" in the
sense which l knew Ellen used them; at
length l found him, and taking my hat,
walked with the widow to his office.
We found Mr.. Sawyer at his desk he rose
and gave us chairs and waited Mrs. Stiles
statement. But before 90 on in this point,
let me say few words of this phenomenon
this man with his head under his left arm
close to his heart-this honest lawyer, in the
broadcast, highest sense of the term. He was
man of thirty-fvc he had studied law be-
cause he liked the study, and began the prac-
he continued in the profession, in spite OF
thought he had done, and might yet do, much
good by his labors; not alone saving the in
nocent and needy from the strong and cruel,
but preventing strife, putting a stop to half
knavish practices, and dissuading men and
women from unjust suits, and passion-rousing
quarrels. Mr.. Sawyer thought it not only
proper for him to refuse acting for those
whose claims he thought dishonest, but he
counted it also a duty and privilege, nay
mere Christian character to strive to per-
Suade them to forget such claims. He
sought fame and extensive practice as a
means whereby to exert a moral influence
over the community; he thought lawyer
bound to serve, not his client only, but his
God and country, and looked on him, who
for gain would prosecute suit which he
thought unfair, as q traitor to his country,
and his religion, in act, whatever he might
be in intention. In short, as Bill Blunt
once said, L" Sawyer is such a hanged fool as
to think it an attorneys business to help the
parson to make men good christians"
And now we shall let Mrs. Stiles state her
business. 1t seems that her husband had
sold and conveyed several lots, which her
father had left in trust for her, and in such a
form that she, meaning to release her fee in
the lots, had, in term, merely released right
of dover - these9 lots she understood she
could get back.
them ?" said Mr.. Sawyer.
Certainly, sir"
"Was it fair, full price for the land ?"
1t was all we asked, sir"
"Did you sign the deed willingly?"
"Of course, do you think Jared would
have driven me to do it Z"
"Did you mean to convey a full title in fee,
Mrs. Stiles ?"
"Beyond doubt; but as we didn't, they
tell me the land never passed"
Suppose, Mrs. Stiles, the money had been
paid before you had drawn the deed, should
you have thought it honest, after getting the
money, to refuse to give the deed ?"
"Why, lawyer, that would have been
thieving, right down."
"Well, Mrs. Stiles, you have not yet given
the deed, shall draw one for you to sign ?"
"Why, bless your soul, Sawyer, that is the
deed you have got in your hand"
"Mrs. Stiles, if you had given the man,
when he paid you the money for the lots, 4
sheet of blank paper, and he had not looked
at it, would that have been deed ?"
"Of course not"
"But you meant to give full title in fee ?"
! eyes"
"Well, this is not such a title any more
than a sheet of blank paper; you have not
yet given the deed. Shall l draw quit
claim for you to sign ?"
Mrs Stiles looked at me, and looked at the
window, looked very much puzzled, and
somewhat abashed. AT last she said, &C But
don't the law say the land is mine, Squire? ?"
ave cant tell that" said Mr.. Sawyer,
"till the cause is tried. First, let us get
things straight, and have the bargain COM
plete, and then, if you please, we will 90 to
law about it."
The widow was fairly caught in the corner.
At length with gasp, she asked how much
he would charge for quit claim deed; this
charge, the attorney told her, the other
party would willingly pay, he had no doubt
and taking down blank proceeded to M ,. IT.
Before we left, the bargain was complete
the deed was signed, witnessed ana "c-
knowledged &C ,vo walked
Nh
non nome n.n WA w verify believe that he has
TINS tins ot man me- out Of all them lots; have q
mind to 90 back and tear that deed alt
IN finders" :. - Ia.