Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-09-01
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 10 some
lawyer, as she thought her friend Stubs was
less correct than he might be. | asked her
to step into the parlor, and went myself to
my breakfast and my wife, whose advice L
always asked on such points. We had known
Mrs. Stiles many years her husband was a
great land owner in a goodly town Of the
western country, and with a 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 alms-giving, but also
more 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,
al fear the old lady has some money getting
claim in view you know she has Of late
given 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, nor for
her seeming but her real good"
! counted my legal acquaintances over
twice over, before | hit on one answering to
the terms " honest and conscientious" in the
sense which | knew Ellen used them at
length l found him, and taking my hat, walk
ed 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 a few words OF this pheno-
menon; this man with his head under his
left arm close to his heart-this honest law
yer, in the broadcast, highest sense of the
term. He was a man of thirty-five /; he had
studied law because he liked The study, and
began the practice because he had to get a
living and now he continued in the sEofes-
sion, in spite of bad opponents and bad courts
because he thought he had done, and might
yet do, much good by his labors not alone
saving the innocent and needy from the strong
and cruel, but preventing strife. putting a
stop TO half knavish practices, aud dissuading
men and women from unjust suits, and pas
sion-rousing q~uarrels. Mr.. Sawyer thought
it not only proper for him 10 refuse acting for
those whose claims he thought dishonest,
but he counted it also a duty and a privilege,
nay a mere Christian character TO strive to
persuade 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 a lawyer
bound to serve, not his client only, but his
God and country, and looked on him, who
for gain would prosecute a suit which he
thought unfair, as a traitor TO his country,
and his religion, in act, whatever he might
be in intention. In short, as Bill Blunt once
said, "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 dower-these lots she understood she could
get back.
"Did you ever receive the money for
them :" asked Mr.. Sawyer.
"Certainly, sir"
Wa it a fair, full price for the land "
at was all we asked, SIR"
"Did you sign the deed willingly
"Of course, do you think Jared would
have me driven to do it!"
Ibid you mean to convey 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 hat
-, been paid before you had drawn the deed
! should you have thought it honest, after get
. ting the money to refuse to give the deed 7 ,
= Why, lawyer, that would have beef
thieving, right down."
swell, Mrs. Stiles, you have not vet Civ
en- the deed, shall | draw one for you I
n sign!"
why, bless your soul, Sawyer, thai i
n the deed you have got in your hand"
e "Mrs. Stiles, if you had given the man
when he paid you the money for the lots,
sheet Of blank paper, and he had not locke
at it. would that have been a deed :"
"Of course not"
but you meant to give a full title in fee
he "Well, this is not such a title any mol
IN than a sheet of blank paper; you have NJ
n yet given the deed. Shall | draw a gu
OF claim for you to sign!"
ie Mrs. Stiles looked at me, and looked
" the window, looked very much puzzled, al
:. somewhat abashed. At last she said, - b
III don't the law say the land is mine, Squire ;
" ave can't tell that" said Mr.. Sawye
NJ /" till the cause is tried. First, let us @
.. things straight, and have the bargain col
NJ Plete, and then, if you please, we will 60
~ law about it,"
The widow was fairly caught in the CT