The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-26
THE mAIDEH MIsER'S GOLD.
The Bone Of Contention that Lochy Ostrom Len
Behind Hsr-A whopping slice Wanted
by Lawysr-Twslvs Thousand
Dollars for Consultation Fees
Other Lawyers Sustaining
Him by Evidence.

almost every county on the Hudson river TO give
testimony relative to joan r. Ii. Taman's claim
against the estate OF Lochy OStrom, Poughkeepsies
deceased maiden mser. Mr. Tduman is promi.
nent lawyer or this city, and during Lochy Osroms
life time managed all her business Now that L0chy
Is dead he makes the extraordinary ca!m OF $4,000
against the estate for legal services rendered the
defunct mIscr. Precisely the grounds on which
that claim - based have already been given In test
mony before Calvin Frost, OF Peekskil the referee.
Several witnesses testified that Lochy visited Mr.
Tallman's Office daily for number OF years, remain
ing In consultation with him from fifteen minutes to
two hours five six times day to the exclusion OF
other clients Three OF Mr. Taiiman's clerks testi-
ned TO Lochys visits occurring daily through
period OF eight years. and at each time she de-
manded exclusive attention.
John Galrney testified To her visits to Tallman's
Office and also testified to conversation he one day
had with her. He asked her
WHY SHE DIDN'T GET MARRIED.
when she made good many excuses and told about
her sparkling days. She SAID she hadn't mucn
money. and no friends but MIR. Tallman ana Mr.
Wheeler, and what she had they would get after she
was dead. Mr.. Tallmans team took her out riding
once in while, perhaps once or twice week. Wit.
ness used to take her potatoes ana cabbage from
Mr.. Tallman's.
Walter Harrington, who has an office adjoining
Mr.. Tallman's testified that Lochy visited the lat
ter once or twice DAY; sometimes three times q
day; never content to have any one to DO her bust.
ness but Mr.. Taman; has known persons to wait
half an hour for her 10 get through.
All the above evidence was brought to establish
the fact that Lochy did encroach upon Mr.. Tall.
mans time daily for number OF years. and the EVIL
dence to-day was brought TO show what that time
was worth
WHAT ULSTER COUNTY THINKS.
Charles A. Fowler, Surrogate or Ulster county
testifed-Haye practsed law over seventeen years;
have read the minutes OF the testimony given in Mr.
Tallmans case before the referee; II the interstate
Office and occupied from fifteen minutes to two
hours time at each interview for six Years, those
services would be worth from five to ten dollars Tor
each consultation. and II they were of more than
usual importance two hours time would be worth
some weight would be given to the Importance OF
the case fair charge for unimp0rtan consultation
would depend upon the time cOnSumed; II two
hours then not less than ten dollars; perhaps
TEN DOLLARS AN HOUR,
however on an important consultation; If the de.
ceased's consultation was upon tn subject OF in.
vesting her money $4,000, would charge i've or
ten dollars each; two hours consultation on any
matter would be worth ten dollars; any cOnsulta-
ion, even II 1t does not consume I'VE minutes
is worth five dollars II 1t Is worth anything; there
are some consultations for which awyers do not
habltuay charger litigated cases are among thOse
have had the management OF estates worth $25 600
or npwa a Tor ever SIX years; nave never had
Mr.. John Thompson Qoquitur)-NobOdy else, I
guess except Mr.. Iallman
charge by the hour-at least respectable practi-
toner: never knew lawyer who did all the busi-
/ observed IN the Testimony that Locny Ostron,
never had any litigated business; speaking as
lawyer, AID showing what do OF the services rem
dered L0chy Ostr0m, may say that such services
not charged by the hour as q general thing, not
customarily; aave not estimated such services by
the hour; lawyers do not ordinarily charge In that
way.
WHAT cctUMBIA COUNTY THINKS.
Cornelius Esseletyn, OF Hudson, Columbia county
testied-Have been an attorney at law since 1855;
cannot diner materially from the last witness: con-
situations worth from five to ten dollars each:
there are charges lawyer can make under five dol.
lars; when prices get down to three dollars for con-
e IN ee Me to w
require other services outside Of the Office exapin-
ing records &c; therefore the party Ionning the
money imposes good deal OF responsibility upon
the attorney; If she goes to an attorneys office and
takes mp his time she ought to pay for it, II person
person takes the responsibility OF paying for it il
thought the person was good client and would fur
nlsh Uae considerable business i could
TOLERATE THE BORE
and charge for .the time; II Lochy Ostrom visited
Mr.. Talman and consumed his time. to the exclu.
sion OF other clients she should pay for it, 1t is
worth from $500 to $500 per year take care or an
estate worth s25,oOO wish 1t to be understood Ia
this that do not include the time occupied In daily
consultation at the office; an ignorant, misery
woman came to me over and over ana over again to
consult on one piece OF business all the time and
had the general management or her affairs, would
regard 1t as my right TO charge her from 1--WE to ten
money; firm, for this kind OF service, generally
send in bill once a year, not waiting six years:
some lawyers might let such bin run fifteen or
customary for LAWYERS to notify q client every time
they make charge against him.
WHAT ORANGE COUNTY THINKS.
Thomas George, OF Newburg, Orange county,
County Judge, testned-I think the CON
10 i've dollars per hour; vi" Il party had
$4,000 in my hands, which ] was managing,
! would allow reasonable amount OF consulta-
ton free OF charge; never did business that way;
It Is not customary in our county TO charge the
lender of money II there - nothing more than law
business connected with the loan; the drawing Of
the papers and seachng the records comes out Of
the borrower; II l had to pay the taxes and examine
the sufciency Of the security, should charge the
person loaning one per cent upon every loan made
during the year, If person calls on me upon bust.
after had already had reasonable consultation upon
the subject, would charge from three to five dollars
for each consultation; days work for a lawyer
give any opinions on the street; sometimes my bills
are less than three dollars.
WHAT A NEwBURG LAWYER SAYS. i
]. Haleck Brakes OF Newburg, was the next wit
ness. He testified to being lawyer since 1859; he
also believed III charging from three to five dollars
an hour in proportion 10 The time occupied for con-
sutaton; they were visits of friendship then No
charges for reasonable number OF visits make no
specific charge put charges en- nlasse; haven't
hardly kept an account within the past year; try
to charge all us nearly alike possible but gen
orally governed by the time consumed In cOnsulta-
ton; for taking care OF an estate charge one per
cent upon the principal and Disbursements; we do
business TOO cheap in Newburg | wouldn't give
over i've or SIX interviews III relation to the matter
without additional charge.
WHAT AN EX-CoNGREssMAN THINKS.
Charles l.. Beae testified to being lawyer since
1850; he had seen Lochy Ostrom In Mr. 1allnan's
office on two or three occasions, remaining in
other Office till sne lett; oil those occasions
she stayed hall an hour; she singuarv appear
ing woman, and asked who she was; should say
that each consultation she had with Mr.. Tallman
was worth from five to ten dollars: 1t would make
some difference as TO the punt OF business he
done for her, although should either
CHARGE HER FIVE DOLLARS OR NOTHING,
except for tlgated business have had considerable
experience IN loanlng money prior to 1865: II my
client should inquire about the loan, responsibility or
parties, character OF securities, &c should charge
hun five dollars IL the consultation occupied twenty
minutes; II the consultations repeated four or
five times week would charge the same ana SO
inform him; a fair charge for taking care Oh
$4,000 estate would be $500 per annum; within my
knowledge or my clienCage there are class OF per-
sons who visit my ONCE frequently ana ask aues-