Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-17
a story for Lawyers.


1t is probable that every lawyer
the celebrated Luther Martin, of
Maryland. His great effort in the
case Of Aaron Burr, as well as his
display in the Senate of the United
States, will not be forgotten. Fri
fies in the history of genius are i'm
portant, as we hope to show in the
story.
Mr.. Martin was on his way to An
napolis, to attend the Supreme
Court of the State. A solitary pas
senger was in the stage with him;
and as the weather was extremely
cold the passengers soon resorted
to conversation to divert themselves
| from too much sensibility to the in
clement air. The young man knew
Martin by sight, and as he was also,
q LAWYER, the thread of talk soon
began to spin itself out of legal
matters.
MARTIN" said the young man, 81
am Just entering on my career as
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"
"WiH WHAT" exclaimed Martin.
"Why, sir, / will pay your expen-
ses, while you are at Annapolis"
Ozone. Stand to your bargain
now, and I'll furnish you with the
great secret of my success as n law
yer"
The young man assentcd.
Ill } T. 10
"The whole secret of my success is
contained in this one little maxim,
which early laid down to guide
me. If you follow it you cannot
fail to succeed. 1t is this: ALl1dys
be sure of your eUidence."
The listener was very attentive
smiled-threw himself back in a
philosophical posture, and gave his
brain to the analysis, with true law
yer patience "AlWays be sure of
your evidence"
1t was too cold a night for any
thing to be made pecuniarily out of
the old mans wisdom and so the
promising adept in Misunderstanding
| gave himself to stage dream, in
which he was knocking and push
! ing his way through the world by
the all powerful words, always
be sure of your evidence"
The morning came, and Mr.. Mar
tin, with his practical student, took
rooms at the best hotel in the city.
The only thing peculiar 10 the hotel,
in the eyes of the young man, was
that the wine bottles and the et Get
eraS OF fine living seemed to recall
| very wildly the maxim about the
evidence.
The young gentleman watched
Mr.. Martin. Wherever eating and
drinking were concerned he was, in
deed, q man to be watched, especi-
ally in the latter, as he was immod-
erately fond of the afteT-dinner, ar
ter-supper, aiter-eYerything luxury
of wine. A few days were suffici.
ent to show the incipient legalist
that he would have TO pay dearly
for his knowledge, as Mr.. Martin
seemed to make the most of his part
of the contract.
Lawyers, whether old or young
have certain legal rights, and so the
young man began to think of the
study of self-protection. II was
certainly solemn duty. 1t ran
through all creation. Common to
animals and men, it was a noble in.
stinct not to be disobeyed, particu
larly where the hotel bills of a law
yer is concerned. The subject
grew daily on the young man. Il
was all absorbing to the mind anC
pocket. A week elapsed and Mr.
Martin was ready to return to Bal
timore. So was the young man
but not in the same stage with hi
illustrious teacher.
Mr.. Martin approached the cOun
ter in the bar-room. The young
man was an anxious spectator nea
him.
'Mr. Clerk" said Mr.. Martin
"my young friend, Mr.. --, will
settle my bill, agreeable to the en-
gagement." The young man salt
nothing but looked everything
"He will attend to it, Mr.. Clerk, n
we have already had n definite un
derstanding on the subject. lie i
pledged, professionally pledged, t,
pay my BILL" he hurriedly repeated
"Where's your evidence" uske'
the young man, dcmurely. "Al
ways be sure of your evidence, MI
Martin. Can you prove your bar
gain?"
Mr.. Martin saw the snare, an,
pulling out his pocket-book, wit
great good humor told the youni
man
"You will do, sir, and get thro
the world with your profession
without advice from me-"