Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-05-28
A Ready Lawyer.

|
A Ready Lawyer.
Mr.. Sergeant Vaughan, as barrister, oc
casionally performed some generous actions
Severaly years ago, while on his way to thu
Chemsforn assizes, he met with an intelli
gent and pleasant felow-traveller ON thu
coach. The sergeant, who was on such Oc
casion very fond of what he used to call {
little agreeable chat with any talkative per
son he chance to meet, soon drew his travel
ling companion iuto lively conversation with
him. Having always had sprinkling o
Yankee curiosity, he generally contrived tt
worm out, by process imperceptible to the
party himself what he wished to learn regar-
ding him. On the occasion alluded to Mr.
Vaughan was not long in ascertaining from
his companion, that he was also going te
Chelmsford assizes, which were to be held or
the following day. Gas juryman, nc
doubt ~ said Mr.. Vaughan, on learning the
fact ITSELF
"No, sir, not as juryman," said the 9th
| er.
"Oh, as witness, should have said"
"Not as witness, either wish it was as
| pleasant as that"
"Oh, l see how it is, you are the prosecu.
| tor in some case which is painful to your feel
ings. However, such things will happen )
there is no help for them"
You are still wrong in your conjecture,
sir; l am going to pay away some money
for relative who has case at the assizes "
All, that's it Very unpleasant, Ger.
tainly, to pay money!" observed the learned
sergeant.
cit is, indeed, for those have but little to
spare observed the other.
We'll, hope it is not to any serious
amount"
"Why the magnitude of the sum, you
know, depends on the resources of the party
who has to make the payment.
Very true certainly, very true" said
Mr.. Sergeant Vaughan.
"The sum of ;e1OO, which, to one of nv
deed"
"Oh, but perhaps you expect to be repaid
in some way or other again?'
IIlaI-s very ..,,oortain it depends en-
tlrely on whether my relative, who has just
takena public house there, succeeds in busi-
ness or not
"Well, it certainly is hard case," OBJ
served Mr.. Sergeant Vaughan, with a seri-
Gus and emphatic air.
/" Aye, you would say so if you only knew
the whole of it."
"Indeed are there any peculiar circum-
stances in the case 2''
There are, indeed" answered the other
with something between a sigh and a
grOan.
is the matter secret % answered Mr.
Sergeant Vaughn, his curiosity being wound
up to no ordinary pitch.
Not in tho looStD - cold tbo otbor I'll
tell you the story, if you don't think it tire
some."
81 am all anxiety to hear it," said the
learned gentleman
Well, then," said the other" "about six
London when on his way to Chelmsford, met
on the coach with two persons who were per-
feet strangers, soon entered into conversation
HE visit to Chelmsford, said that they were
also going there IN precisely similar er-
rand namely, to make some purchases of corn.
After some further conversation together, it
was suggested by one of the parties it would
come to an understanding together, as to what
under what particular circumstance these pur-
CIldSCS SlOulu DC Illduc lOl ltCy went
into the market ''slap dash," and without any
understanding together, thc result would be
that in SO small place as Chelmsford, they
would raise the prices whereas, by operating
slowly and in concert, that would be avoided
The second party pretended to approve high
ly of the suggestion, and further proposed, in
order to show that neither had the start of the
other, that they should deposit the amount of
s,,f DC &c &ho IL l..
lord of the principal in; taking care that they
did so in the presence of witnesses, and that
special instructions be given to the landlord
not to give up a farthing to either, until all
three returned together to receive the whole
adding that if he did he would be held res
| ponsible. The London merchant, knowing
the landlord of the inn to be man of un.
doubted respectability, at once assented tc
the proposal and each Of the three parties &C
cordingly, placed in his hands, under the
circumstances stated, $3.50, making ESQ ir
| all'
"Well," observed Sergeant Vaughan, 'well
you certainly do interest me in your singular
story. And what was the result ?"
Why this-that scarcely had the three
| parties left the inn a minute, when one of the
two strangers came running back, and sale
that on second thought they had all come
to the conclusion that it would be better tc
make their purchases as early in the day as
| possible, and that consequently the Other
| two had desired him to return and get the
| money!
And the landlord gave him the whole
sum at once?" interposed Mr.. Sergeant Vaug
han.
He did, indeed unfortunately for himsel
and me" answered the other.
And what followed ?; inquired the learn
cd gentleman eagerly.
"Why, the other stranger and the Londor
merchant returned in about an hour after, anC
demanded their money"
"When the landlord of course told them ht
had given it to the other"
He did,"
con which, suppose, they bring an &C
ton against the landlord ?''
Precisely so; and seeing that defence wa!
useless, inasmuch as he delivered up the mo
ney to one when his instructions were per.
emptory not to deliver it until all three were
present, my friend is to allow the action to q
undefended The money must be paid tn,
sharper-for both strangers, as the even
proved, were sharpers and also the Londor
merchant" s
And you really have made up your mint
to pay it ~
s" Oh, certainly, because there is no help fol
it."
I" am barrister, II am Mr. Sergean
Vaughan, and will defend the case for tn,
poor landlord gratuitiously."