The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-07-16

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We have great respect for the legal pre-
fession, but lawyers like other men, some
times forget the good old maxim. that "hon
e-ty Is the best policy" The temptation
thrown in the way Of young lawyer i
swcrve from strict rcctitu,lc, are very great
and but few are able 60 resist them. Blu
we do not believe there is single branch q
human pursuit where unbcnding honesty i
20 sure II q temporal reward, - the practic,
II the law. lie who gains the reputation,
of laboring to promote strict justice between
man and man, Is sure of the confidence o
the community, and this confidence will nee.
essarily secure the best legal business. The
honest lawyer may not become rich at one,
hot ~ soon perhaps, as the knaye----but he
will succeed IN the end, and always with
his success there will I've the feeling of con-
scious rectitude, which IL itself i a price
lea fortune. We give short story below,
which will Illustrate the truth Of what We
have said
II II now five years since the widow
Styles called on me one morning before
breakfast, and asked me to recommend her
to some lawyer, as she Thought her friend
otubbs was less correct than he might be-
! asked her to step into the parlor, and
went mysclf 10 my breakfast and my WIFE,
whose advice | always asked upon such
points. We had known Mrs. Styles many
years her husband was great land owner
IN eoodly town Of the western country,
and with disintercsted love that deserved
somc better aim, ever pressed il upon his
heipinate, - the first rule If life, to get all
she could, and keep Ill she got lie died,
and Mrs Styles became 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
cup Of colSes upon my story, al fear the
old lady has some money getting claim in
view you know she has of late given all
her ah' ctions to getting more wealth. I
would therefore refer her 60 the most hon
81 ana conscicntica, lawyer In town. She
relies op your judgement, use II not for her
seeming but real good"
counted my legal acquaintance over be-
lore bit upon the one answering to the
tcr,n honest and conscientiou-,S in the
sense in which knew Ellen hal used them:
Ut length found him, and taking my hat,
walked to his Office.
We faand Mr.. Sawyer at his desk he
rose and gave Us chairs, and awaited Mrs.
Styles statement. But before 20 ON. on
thus point let me say few words of this
phcnolnenon--this imam with Lie head under
his len arm close TO his heart--tLi- honest
lawyer In tho broadcast, highest sense or the
term.
He was . man Of thirty five; he had
studied law because be liked the study, and
began che practice becausc he had 90 get
living and nCw be continued in the profcs.
sion IN spite Of lad opponents and bad courts
because he thought lie had done and might
yet do much good by his labors not alone
by saving the innocent and needy from the
strong and cruel, but preventing strife, nut
ting stop to knayi,h practices, and diss,,ad
ing men and women from unjust suit, and
passion rousing qurrcls. Mr.. Sawyer thought
Il was not only proper to refuse acting for
those whose claims be thought dishonest
hut he counted II also duty and privil.
eye, nay, Z mark N Cis4iss,sn character TO
ivy tdpursuadc them % forget such claims.
lie sought fame and practice .. u.,r.
whereby to sxsrs = ..,r., ;,,,,on me.ns
community; no thought lawyer bound
not to serve his client only, but his God and
his country, and he looked upon hun who,
i.I eain, Wgpld prosscute SHIT which he
InoaeAs untair, - traitor TO his cOuntrye
ana ~ religion, IN TACT, whatever he might
TO IN Intention In short, ~ Bill Blunt
said, Sawyer IL such hanged fooi as 10
think u IN attorneys business to help the
parson to make men good Christians"
And now We shall let Mrs Styles state
her business. X seems that her husband
had sold and conveyed several lots which
her father had left In trust Tor her, and in
such form that she, n,caning TO release her
fee IN the lots, bad in terms merely released
right u dOwry-these lots she understood
he cOuld get hack
Did YOU ever receive any money for
them said Mr.. Sawyer.
Certainly, Sis.'
Was IL ihir, full price r.
II was all we asked sir"
Did you sign the decd wiliingi, ~
"Of course DO you think Jared woui..
have driven me 70 il ~
Did you mean to convey a full title in
fee Mrs. Styles ~
Beyond doubt; but NJ We didn't they
tell me the land never passed.
"Suppose Mr. Styles, the money had
been paid before you had drawn the deed,
should you have thought II honest, after
getting tho money, To refuse 10 give the
deed n
"why, lawyer, that would have been
thicying right down"
well, Mrs. Styles, you have not vet riy-
en- tho deed, shall | draw one for you 10
-ign1m
"why, ble.. your soul, Squire, that ia
the deed you have in your hapd..
"Mrs. Styles if you had gwen the man
when he paid you the money Cor the lots, a
shcst II blank paper, and be had not looked
At II, would that have been decdT'
"Of course mott
But you mean to give full title in
l.e7'
"Yes."
Well, this 10 not such title any moro
than sheet Of blank paper; you have not
yet given TIE deed. Shall | draw a Quit
claim Cor you 20 Sign 2"
Mn. Styles locked at me and looked at
the window, looked very much puzzled and
smswhat abashsd. At last she said
!" But does not law say the land u mine,
Squire 2"
1--WE can't tell that" said Mr.. Sawyer,
till the ca~e Is tried. First, let us get
thins> straight, have the bargain complsfe,
Ard then, u yon please, we will 90 TO law
about it,
The widow ives hirly caught in the corn
sr AT length with gasp, she asked how
much hs would charge Cor : quit claim deed.
This charge, the attorney told her, the par
~ would willingly pay, he had no doubt,
and taking blank down, proceeded TO fili
It. BEFORE we loft, the bargain was COM
pletc, the deed was signed, witnessed and
acknowledged.
And pray" aid the widow, rs we walk
Cd homo, "what sort Of lawyer do you call
this man ! YEARLY believe be has cheated
ne out u oil thcm lot. have good mind
to 20 back and tear that deed all to tin-
ders."
assured her that bot only Was it too late,
bat also that abe had done the proper thing
unfler the circumstances, and advised her in
future TO employ no one but Mr.. Sawyer
Much 70 my surprise, she took my advice,
and that gentleman was henccfurtL her
counsellor and solicitor