Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-09-03

handsome dwellings, and keep home
for himself.
But a thunderbolt came crashing
upon the old farmers head. y man
came and claimed the whole place as his
own. He brought forward his deed,
made by former owner of the place, in
favor of his (the claimants) father. Mr..
Howe hurried away to his lawyer, who
was a candid, honest old man, and laid
the case before him. Upon sEarnlsng
| into the. matter it appeared that the
place had been actually sold, as stated,
and that said purchaser had never given
decd to any one else. 1t also appeared
that the man of whom Howe had bought,
twenty. five years before, had no legal
claim upon the land. The man who
formerly owned it left, at his death, in
care of brother, for his son, this bro
ther having been appointed guardian
of said SON. This son was at sea, and
there remained for SO long time, that
he was supposed to have died. Under
these circumstances the uncle and
guardian sold the estate in his own name,
pocketed the money and left. Howe
supposed the title was good, and took no
trouble about it further than have it
recorded. The man of whom he bought
had lived upon the place many years,
and he supposed, of course, that he was
the proper owner.
Thus all this appeared at the present
time The man who claimed the estate
was passed the middle age-over fifty,
ewhat-and his name was Benjamin
Grumley. Mr. Howe's lawyer saw him,
and examined his claim, and he could
see no way of avoiding it. After this,
the old attorney called upon his client
to report progress.
cts a hard case" he said. 81 don't
see how you can help losing your land. u
Losing ?' replied Howe, vacantly.
"Do you mean the whole? Must L
give up all p
Yes"
"AU, Mr.. Luton? Must all be
snatched from me p
"I don't see how you can help it, y
returned Luton. al have examined
into the business, and it is just as Mr..
Grumley has said. He went to sea
when he was twelve years old-forty
years ago-and sometime afterwards he
received letter stating that his father
was dead, and that his uncle had cen
appointed guardian over him, and l1ad
charge of his property. This place was
his, and is his now. 1t was only placed
in his uncle's hands in trust for him.
His father left it to him by will, and his
uncle could not sell it."
Still, Mr.. Howe could not believe it.
He had known the man of whom he
bought and he could not believe him a
villain. He thought there must be some
mistake, or some villainy elsewhere. AT
all events, he resolved to seek some
other counsel. He remembered his old
friend Warren. He was in the city
He might know something about it.
On the very next morning the old
man went into the city and hunted the
lawyer up. Mr.. Warren was glad tc
see him, and asked him to sit down
Howe did so, and then told his story
The lawyer listened very attentively
and seemed to be deeply interested
When his visitor had concluded he
asked
When you bought the place did no
Aaron Grumley assure you that he
} owned it, clear of all incumbrance 2
q Yes sir. He said it was his"
Did he say how he came by it p
No, sir. He only said he had i
from his brother, who died some years
before"
Did he at that time make any mon
ton Of his nephew-the son of his deao
brother?"
Yes-he said something. He sal,
Ben. Grumley was probably dead, an'
r that his fathers old partners had quit
sum of money for him if he shoul'
5 ever return. But | want you to tax
hold of this, sir, and help me out. If
, lose the case 1 shall have nothing t
: pay you with; but if l gain it cal
S pay you handso nelly"
t ssWell-I'I be frank with you" re
i piled Warren. ''I have neither tn
time nor the power to go into the sub
ject, for L see very plainly that ther
i has got to be good deal of search an
5 study. But l know a young lawye
s who can clear your claim if any on
= can.
:, "Who is he?
n ssIt is Mr.. Alberton."
a "O-I'ye heard of him. He's th
C one who gained the great corporatio
if case ?'
: eyes," said Warren. "He took up
y poor mans case against one of the wea
g thiest corporations in the State-again
o the corporation, and against three {
our smartest lawyers, and gained h
/. case, too. He will take hold for you,
d am sure; and if he does, you may fe
;e very safe.
d 'O-I hope you can get him. TIE
d him if he can gain my case, I'll pa
Ie him anything
l. Mr.. Warren promised to send tt
d young lawyer out the very next da
n and the old man went home very muc
Is relieved. If he could get Mr.. Alberto
Of to take hold he would feel secure, fl
n such man would not touch case
s. his success in which he did not fe
a quite confident. And yet Mr.. How
l. never once. dreamed that the young Law
st yer of whom he had heard so much WI
lie once his lazy, good-for- nothing aim
lie house boy. In fact, he had never DIVE
y upon the name of Alberton much. Z
ID had always called him BILL" and eve
p when thinking of him he never had Sor