The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-05

= u.r, uSse( ef Diaei.1Iailing--A
Quessssa g Rrefessisrak Courtesy.
sWsare in possession of the facts of .
case II which, oatsids the matter Of
tampsring with justice, orthe endeavor
to prevent the intsrposition of the lsy
for the punishment of crime, the ques-
ton of professional courtesy is involved'
We omit names and will be no more
particular at this time than 10 say that
the parties concerned reside in the city.
In August last young woman called
upon law firm and representing her
ease. to- than, desired to know what
was best TO b. done in the matter. She
charged The crimeiof adaltsry upon q
wealthy merchant, committed while
she was in his employ as 10 servant.
Whether she or the attorneys suggested
it, is o matter Of little consequence, hut
the fact is that "black-maiP arrange
ment was proposed, and the interview
coming to an end, the "client" was dis
missed with the request to call again,
when she would be informed as to what
progress had been made towards COM
pelling the victim to "come down hand
somely." 1t Unnecessary to state that the
"fee" agreed upon was to be fifty per
cent. of the amount of "hnsh money
realized. The result of the nsgotia-
tions was that the merchant was milk
ed" to the extent of eleven hundred dol
lars, of which he paid six hundred in
cash and gave his note for the remainder.
The client called, expressed her satisfac'
ttion ut the success met with, and &C
cepted the amount of cash received ~
the reward Of crime in which she
was, so to speak, particeps crimini', hel
councillors retaining the note for five
hundred dollars, thus generously % al
lowing her fifty dollars more than had
been stipulated. subsequently she
again called upon her attorneys and, in
fluenced perhaps by the belief that they
had retained" larger share OF the
plumber than was reasonable, wanted
more money. Persons who meet with
success under such circumstances are
likely to become rapaciOus and impor'
tune in their demands, particularly
! where their customer "bleeds Well
! The attorneys were satisfied with theiI
share in the proceeding, and declined
interfering further. But the matter
does not end here. The woman, who 1t
seems was o minor at the time OF the
transaction, sought other counsel, and
stating her case, suit has been, or il
about to be, brought against the law
firm above referred to, for the recovery
of four hundred dollars, OF, in Other
words, to make them disgorge that
amount, Oh the plea that they secured
the one thousand one hundred dollars
without extraordinary or unusual diff.
Guilty, and that one hundred dollars
would have been ample compensation
for the services performed. And here,
if at all. is where the question of pro-
fessional courtesy comes in. As law
yers are not generally limited in fixing
value upon their services, making
their charges in accordance with the
magnitude of the cause, or the amount
involved, it may not be considered
professional" to interfere rs in the in
stance in hand. We will not argue,
much less decide the question, but leave
the reader to judge Of the merits of the
transaction, all the facts considered,
and determine whether or not it was q
first class case of BLACK mailing."-
Pittsbarg Dispatch.