The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-01-14
SeIefted EsceIIang.
TIE BARRTSTER.

/ REGRET to say that my story is of the
shop, SLOPPY! | use the word regret adj
Visedly, weighed down by the melancholy
reflection that somehow or other, when
ever | am called upon to make myself
agreeable and entertaining, | always fly to
professional sources for Inspiration. The
only excuse / can offer upon the present
occasion is that this particular railway,
conveying me as it does round circuit
twice q year, awakens many remini-
scensces, one of which, connected with
the Spring assizes at Reading some years
ago, comes back forcibly to my mind
1t was in the earlier days of nv Bar ca
reer, and briefs were far from being as
plentiful IS blackberFies in autumn-in
fact, L had begun seriously to contem-
plate pawning my wig and gown, and
emigrating with the proceeds to British
Columbia, or some equally distant and
desolate locality. Fortunately for me and
society generally, which sooner or later
must recognize my distinguished merits
by placing me on the woolsack, | aban-
doned the idea of british Columbia, and
went to Reading. A benefcent fate re-
warded me for my courage in the shape of
q big brief with small fee, to defend two
men for conspiring 10 cheat young gen.
tleman, with more money than brains, by
gambling with him and using loaded dice.
1t was case that had excited good deal
of interest in the neighboThOod, partly
from the very remarkable way In which
the cheat had been discovered by a
stranger who happened to be in the room
where the play was going on, and who,
suspecting that all was not right, had with
large carving fork pinned the hand of
one OF the consplrators to the table. I'm
derneath 1t, sure enough, were found the
loaded dice which he had manipulated
up and down his sleeve so skillfully that
the verdant youth found himself some
five hundred pounds to the bad. As
counsel for the defendants the aspect of
the case was far from inviting, and, as the
very berry solicitor who instructed me
observed, g 1t looked uncommon fishy"
In that remark entirely concurred, and
folded up the papers with hopeless sigh
cursing the ill-luck that always brought
me the deadest cases. In the present in
stance there was little for me to do but
TO sit by aud hold my tongue-a process,
by the way, anything but satisfactory to
one fond of hearing the sound Of his own
voice. Apart from professional regrets, /
could not help feeling that this precious
pair of rascals thoroughly deserved all
they were likely to get, and the longer
they were shut up the better for the COM
munity at large
TIE trial came on in due course, and the
two prisoners were placed at the bar AS
/ looked at them l was much struck by
their gentlemanly appearance and dress
but then | remembered that all that was
part of the stockton trade of persons OF
their class. and turning to my brief pre-
pared to do battle. AS this is but sub
sidiary portion of my story it is needless
for me TO linger over the details of the
trial. They say that lucky fate often
follows on the footsteps of rogues, and in
this Instance, by some objectionable care
lessness on the part of the constable, the
oaded dice which had been found under
the hand of one of the prisoners were not
forthcoming, and after great deal o.
wrangling with the counsel on the othel
side, the learned judge said that the prose
cution in not producing it had, IN hi:
opinion, failed to make out sufficient case
to go to the jury, and that he must there
fore direct verdict for the acquitNko
the prisoners. They were as much aston
lsEhed and overpowered as myself by the
unexpected turn things had taken, anc
with admirable CELEBRITY disappeared from
the dock.
Some four years afterward received s
very pressing invitation from my old e or
friend, Charlie Forester, asking me t.
run down to his place in Devonshire, and
spend few days there. Master Charlie
whose lines had fallen in exceedingly
pleasant nlaces. and who at twenty ont
had come into a very nice estate and some
five thousand pounds annually, after tan
talizing all the marriageable girls in the
county by refusing to go to the balls anG
croquet parties, with invitations for which
he was pertinaciously pestered from morn
ing till night, had finally taken himsel
abroad, nc one knew whittier, and there
remained between four and five years
When he returned home again he brought
g wife with nim, a proceeding on his par
which excited general discomfort and dis
appreciation But Charlie cared yer,
little what the county folks though
ABOUT him. He was passionately fond 0
ms wife, and consequently devoted t.
home, while he occupied his time !,
regulating the affairs of his estate an,
improving the breed of pigs. In shor,
he found within the limits of his nsr1
fence all the amusement and society he r.
quired His attachment for his wife ws
pot surprising for she was indeed mos