The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-06-20
From the Atlantic Monthly for May.
The Plaintiff Nonsuited.
BY j. o. CULVER.

waiting for the jury to bring In their verde
1t was very uncomfortable, even to thos
inside the bar.
ave shall have to stay here ten hour
vet" said one of the lawyers. Suppose "
adjourn to the judges room, with the re
porters, and have some refreshments and
story" So we all rose, much to the sur
prise of the spectators, whose anxious eye
! followed us, and walked out of the Sitting
atmosphere into the library, where we mad
ourselves comfortable in the spacious chair
and sofas.
81 call on the COUNSEL who closed for TIN
Defense" said the first speaker, for
story"
Thus appealed to, the gentleman, an in
tellectual, keen. ey man, with kindly Elk
preston on his thoughtful face, dallied witt
a pencil on the table a moment and said
smiling: Gentlemen, how can you hope
for or expect good story from me, wher
you know that | am neither woman nor I
free thinker? However, my wife Is woman
fortunately, and will admit, in strict pro
fessional confidence. that she is pretty free
in expressing her thoughts on all subjects;
so perhaps you may see fit to waive these
primary objections, aud listen to me- Here
he looked at my pencil racing over the pa.
| per, and hesitated a moment; then sighed,
like one submitting to inevitable destiny,
and launched out as follows -
at is unnecessary, perhaps, for me to tell
any of my legal brothers here, that the sum
mer in Nausau street is hot; but may be
allowed to say, in passing, that If was very
hot in my office in Nassau street on one par
ticuIar August afternoon, a dozen years
since In fact, | was sitting very unpro-
fessionally in my shirt sleeves, when Mr..
Lockshaw-f of Phillips and Lockshaw,
came into the office, rather red, and much
excited
"'Mr. Riley said he, you must go to
Wisconsin tonight"
"'To night! Do you think | am a carrier
pigeon, MIR. Lockshaw? 1t will take thirty
hours at least, with the best possible appli-
ances of our fleet friend the steam horse
"'We have, he continued not needing
my remarks, fifteen thousand dollars due
US there from Wells &Co., and we learn from
private advices that they are going to sell
out, and run away to California Now what
can we do, except attach their property?'
Nothing, l replied, and you will be
very fortunate if you do that before they
assign
ellis finger trembIed al this suggestion,
as he moved it slowly over the map; and,
stopping suddenly be said; Here it is, ON
the Fox river, about days drive back
from Lake Michigan There is no town
marked on the map, but you can't miss it.
We will give you a thousand dollars extra,
besides your expenses and regular fee.
"'Well, Mr. Lockshaw, l suppose there
is no use in refusing, SO get your notes
ready, and I'll leave on the next train.
Gle had not been gone ten minutes when
up came Mr.. Wolfe,an old friend and client;
and, what was much more important to me,
the father of Fanny Wolfe who, according
to mutual agreemant, was to become Mrs
Riley two months from that date
"'Well, Riley, I'm glad to find You in,
said he, with something of the patronizing
air of prospective father-in-law, you must
go to Wisconsin for me.
"'Wiscousiu! What is the matter there,
sirY
"'A good deal, said he; fifteen thousand
dollars at least and hanging by single
thread too
Fifteen thousand dollars! Why, You
surprise me; though know there is great
deal of money hanging by single threads all
over the country What shape is it IMP
said l. who owes it to your
wells & Co, he replied why, what's
the matter, Riley? Are they friends Of
yours?'
''You will excuse me, gentlemen, for hav-
ing been so unprofessonal, on this occasion,
as to allow my face to betray my feelings"
said Riley to us, ''but | recovered immedi-
ately, and replied TO Wolfe that they v ere
not my friends, and asked him where Wells
& Co., lived.
"'About days drive back from Lake
Michigan, on the Fox river, said he and
you must attach their goods They have
large stock I'm told, some forty thousand
dollars worth
"' am very sorry, Mr., Wolfe that it so
happens said I, greatly perplexed at the
unpleasant position | was in, but cannot
so for you.
"'You must, said be positively; de-
pend on it. You are not going somewhere
else. are you?
"'No, not exactly, said I, anxiously, for
he was not man to be triAed with, and |
felt uneasy when l thought of Fanny. But
Pm going to be busy,-very busy,-in fact
entirely absorbed in case for another eli
ent.
" who is it?' said he You must put
BIN off. This is too Important, and must
be attended to. will give you twenty
five hundred dollars and your expenses, if
you'll 60
g But cannot attend to it, assure you
unless my other clients release me. l will
send them a note, and they can decide
while l am getting ready to go
so wrote a note to Phillips and Lock-
shaw, stating the case, and urging them to
unite with Mr.. Wolfe and let me collect on
account of both claims, as Mr.. Wolfe said
he understood there was forty thousand
dollars worth of goods in Wells & Co. s
store
"When had finished writing, the Grand
boy was gore. Here was dilemma, for
had no time to see my clients in person, and
Mr. Wolfe was pacing the room much ex-
cited He had long been my client, and
had made a thousand dollars from his bust
ness where | had a hundred dollars from
Phillips and Lockshaw; besides, was to be
one of bis family in two months; but had
been retained by the other parties, and pro-
fessional honor, of course, demanded my
| UTMOST e&STtiOuS III Lu6lT Dondll' against az
opponents whatsoever.
Well, said he, turning sharp on bis
heel, seeing me holding the note by one
corner how is it?
" Why, my boy is gone, and l cannot
get this delivered nor have l time to see
them, for must go off on the next train,
and need all my time to get ready in
You must employ some other lawyer thi
time
Here, said he, IN deliver the note
9 Ne, sir, said |, fearful of an interview
between him and Lockshaw; i wouIdn'
think of allowing you to do that
g Yes he insisted; pass it over, and Fl
deliver it. I'm good at skipping thes
streets. have done it ever since was bi;
enough to dodge an omnibus. Let me hav
, it. quick'