Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-04-09
A Good story for Lawyers.

1t is probable that every lawyer of any note
has heard of the celebrated Luther Martin, Of
Maryland. His great effort in the case of Aaron
Burr, as well as his displays in the Senate OF
the United States, will never be forgotten
TrIhes in the history of genius are important, al
we hopd to show in the story.
| Mr.. Martin was on his way to Annapolis to at.
tend the Supreme court of the State. A solitary
passenger was in the coach with him, and as the
weather was extremely cold, the passengers
soon resorted to conversation to divert them.
selves from too much sensibilty to the inclem.
ent weather. The young man knew Martin by
sight, and as he was also a lawyer, the thread
of talk soon began to spin itself out of legal mat
| ters.
"Mr. Martini" said the young man, 81 am
just entering on my career as a lawyer; can
you tell me the secret of your great success
| If, sir, you will give me from your experience
the key to distinction at the bar, will"
"Will whatT' exclaimed Martin.
"Why, sir, will pay your expenses while
you are at Annapolis"
"Done. Stand to yonr bargain now, and I'll
furnish you with the secret of my great success
as a lawyer"
The young man assented.
every well, :" said Mr.. Martin. "The whole
secret of my success is contained in one little
maxim, which laid down early to guide me.
If you follow it, you cannot fail to succeed. Ii
The listener was very attentive, smiled, threw
himself in a very philosophical position, and
gave his mind to the analysis, with true lawyer
patience of " always Oe sure of your evidence.
1t was too cold night for anything to be
made pecuniurily ont of the old mans wisdom
and so the promising adept in maxim learning
gave himself to stage dreams, in which he was
knocking and pushing his way through the
world by the all-powerful words, "always be
sure of your evidence -
The morning came, and Mr.. Martin, with his
student, took rooms at the best hotel ia the city
The only thing peculiar to the hotel, in the eyes
of the young man, was that the wine bottles and
the ct ceteras of fine living seemed to recall very
vividly the maxim about evidence.
| The young man watched Mr.. Martin. Wher-
ever eating and drinking concerned he was
! indeed man to be watched, especially the lat
ter, as he was immoderately fond of the after
dinner, the after-supper, the after-everythng
luxury of wine A few days were sufficient tr
show the incipient legalist that he would have
to pay dearly for his knowledge, as Mr.. Martin
seemed resolved to make the most of his con
| ract.
Lawyers whether young or old, have lega
rights, and so the young man began to think o
the study of self-protection. 1t was certainly
solemn duty. 1t ran through the whole crea
ton. Common to animals and men. 1t wa
not an instinct to be disobeyed, particularly
where the motel DlllS o. u lawyer were concerned
The subject daily grew on the young man. i
was all absorbing to the mind and pocket. A
week elapsed and Mr.. Martin was ready to re
turn to Baltimore.
So was the young man, but not in the sam
stage with his llustrious teacher.
Mr.. Martin approached the counter in the bar
room. The young man was an anxious specta
| tor near him.
"Mr Clerk" said Mr.. Martin, tiny yount
friend, Mr.. -, will settle my bill, agreeable u
a previous engagement"
The young man said nothing but looked every
thing.
g He will attend to it, Mr.. Clerk, as we hav
already had definite understanding on the sub
ject. He is pledged, professionally pledged t.
pay my bill he hurriedly repeated.
Where is your evidence 2" asked the younl
man.
"Evidence P' sneered Martin.
ayes, sir, said the young man, demurely
" Always be sure of your evidence, Mr.. Martin
Can you prove the bargain p
Mr. Martin saw the snare and pulled out hi
pocketbook, paid the bill, and with great gooC
humor assured the young man You will do
sir, and get through the world with your pro
fession, without advice from me-"