The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-05-16
MY FIRST CLIENT.

Inc criminal calendar contained, IN the order
here mentioned, the following charges imam
slaugh burglary, forgery, Tlot and several
minor misunderstanding, batteries, petit larce-
MES, and the like. OF course the principal in
terest attached to the accusations OF the great
est magnitude, the first two but as neither of
these were ready for tria, the curious spectators
were obliged to content themselves with for
gerry.
The People against j ohm Smith, continued
the Judge, reading from the calendar.
The People are ready, replied che District
Attorney.
Is the prisoner in courts?
He is
Then arraign him.
A young man of about two and twenty years
of age, Of medium size, slight in person, with
fair complexion, light hair, blue eyes, soft white
hands, and stylishly dressed, rose to his feet,
and instantly became the centre Of observation.
|. Have you counsel :? inquired the Court
1 have not replied the prisoner.
You should have COUNSEL continued the
Court.
The prisoner made no reply, but seemed to be
absorbed in meditation. The truth is, he knew
not what to answer.
You had better select some member of the
bar to conduct the defence, suggested the Judge.
1t would avail nothing, replied the youth,
with an air of dependency.
1t would insure you fair trial. returned
the Court.
i shall expect that at your hands, in any
event. said the prisoner But if the eviden ce
taken before the committing magistrate is to be
reproduced upon this trial. the ablest counsel
in this city could not secure my acquittal
If there be sufficient reason, it may be exclu-
died. said the Court.
But there is not, replied the youth, frankly.
1t is every word true
Then you wish to plead guilty. said the
Judge. 81 .
Obi no, sir, exclaimed the young man, ear
nestly. 1t would lessen my punishment, per-
baps, but | would not stain my soul with false
hood, If l knew it would secure my liberty. /
am innocent
The Judge seemed good deal perplexe :
Perceiving his difficulty, the man uttered a
word of explanation: There was no intent to
do wrong
Here was language that indicated a greater
knowledge of law than usually falls to the lot Of
those who have not made it their study. Evi-
IDENTITY such was the thought uppermost in the
mind Of the Court at the moment. But he let it
pass without remark. Turning to the District
Attorney, he inquired: what are the facts Z
They are few, your honor' replied the pros
ecutor. The prisoner passed bank note in
payment of his hotel bill, and another in pur-
chase Of some goods, receiving change III both
instances, when he had small money Of quite q
sufficient amount to have covered both expend
lures. When arrested, several other bills Of
the same sort were also found in his possession.
These bills are all counterfeit.
l he Judge unused a moment, aud then said,
suddenly, what is your name" ...T
But the prisoner was not 10 be surprised into
Il discovery Of any fact pertaining to his past
history. Il am indicted by the name of John
Smith, he replied.
But who or what he was, or where from, or
whittier bound, none had been able TO ascertain
He seemed to be impressed with the idea that
he shold certainly be convicted, and his most
earnest desire was to conceal his identity.
AN the gentlemen within the bar, said the
Court, presently, are councillors at law, and
you may select from among them some one to
conduct your defence.
The prisoner cast his bright blue eyes around
the bar, letting them rest for a twinkling on
each member until they reached gray haired
old gentleman, Familiarity knawn as Father
Miles, who, years before had been an advocate
of distinction and even then was regarded as
the Nestor of the bar. Here they fingered for
moment with look Of INDIGESTION:
He then resumed his survey, glancing at each
face as he proceeded until his eyes fell upon Il
young man of brilliant appearance who has
since risen to high position, Here he paused
again, reflected and hestated.
An are alike strangers to me, he said, ad-
dressing the Court. We cannot always safe
ly judge from appearances. shall be CRATE
full if your honor viii assign me counsel
I observed Father Miles busily engaged in
writing something upon scrap ofpaper,w which
in his haste, he had torn from the fly Leaf OF a
volume at his elbow. Now, Father Miles had
been one of the examiners at the time my legal
requirements had been subjected to the inqulSl-
torial ordeal Of the Court, and intuitvely felt
as if that scrap ofpaper was intended to have
some connection with myself.
At the time of my examination be had asked
but one question 1t may net seem OF much I'M.
portance in testing the legal qualifications OF
an applicant for admission to the bar, yet can
truthfully assert from experience that it is an
essential requisite ofa successful practice;
What is the first duty of lawyer when
eli ent seeks his services I?
The question was put to the class, OF which,
as the members were arranged alphabetically
according to their names, but that time round
inversed in the order of interrogatory chanc-
ed to be the tail and the last to answer The
information was not found in any ofthe element
airy works read by the applicants, but belonged
rather to the unwritten law of practice, with
which they,had not then become acquainted. As
AaS 10 be expected, they successfully failed to
give satisfactory answer.
Fortunately it was otherwise with my If |
knew enough Of the previous life and actice
of the questioner to folm right conclusion as
to what he regarded as the first duty of a law
yer.
ITO receive fee,' replied.
Right, said the old gentleman with smile
Of satisfaction. You al qualified to practice
1t is no. easy to conjecture why, but this lit
tie incident came to my mind the moment
saw him scribbling on the scrap of paper, and l
thought oft af terwards when discovered the
purpose for which the writing was intended.
Having folded the paper over in the middle,
he wrote q word or two on the back of it and
handed it to the gentleman next him land he to
! the next, and so on until itreached the bench.
! l then perceived that it was addressed to the
Judge, who Opened it and glanced at the con
tents Whatever they were, it was evident
from what Immediately followed that they met
} his entire appreciation far smile passed over
his face, and he said, addressing me by name :;
Charles Carville, ] viii assign you as coun-
sci for the prisoner
Had bomb shell exploded in our midst,
, could not have been more suddenly surprised.
l started to my feet stared at the Judge for a
moment, and then resumed my seat completely
bewilderod.
drew long, deep breath to expel the in
voluntary emotion, which, if not absolutely
fear, was something SO near akin to it as scarce
ly to deserve another name And then / ad-
dressed the Court. If your honor please, /
began, but my voice sounded unnatural and
the words stuck in my throat.
The Judge looked down into my confused
countenance with q benign smile, and spoke to
me in tone Of encouragement, producing the
very effect he desired. Proceed Mr. Carville,
he said, laying aside his pen, with which he
; had been making memoranda on the calendar.
This IS very sudden, l stammered.
Surely he replied, but no more SO than it
would have been to another.
It is duty with which many present are
familiar returned.
And one you GU ght &c be able to discharge,
ne argued.
1t is entirely new to me- I insisted,
1t is once new to every one, he reioined
l was completely nonplussed.
E Besides, he continued, glancing at the scrap
E of paper which Father Miles had sent him. com
petent examiners have certified your ability, and
Is d.. l..