The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-05-27

1t is now Eve wears since the wild
ow Stiles called on me one morning
before breakfast, and asked me t,
recommend her to some lawyer, y:
she thought her friend Stubs was
less correct than he might be. ! ask,
ed her to step into the parlor, and
went myself to my breakfast and my
wife, whose advice always asked OF
such points. We had known Mrs
Stiles many years: her husband wa.
a great land holder in goodly towr
OF the western country, and with q
disinterested love, that deserved some
better aim, ever impressed it on his
helpmate as the first rule of life, to
get all she could, and keep all she
got. He died, and Mrs. Stiles became
more and more religious and almsgiv-
ing, but also more and more fond OF
wealth, and sensible of the admirable
advice which her husband had given
her.
| stated the facts to my wife, and
waited her opinion. "Well, Williams .
said she, after drinking cup Of coffee
upon my story, 81 fear the old lady
has some money getting scheme in
view; you know she has of late given
all her affections to getting more
wealth. | would therefore recon
mend to her to the most honest and
conscientious lawyer in town, and not
to the most acute and thorough one.
She relies on your judgment; use it,
not for her seeming but her real
good.'
counted my legal acquaintances
over-twice over, before hit the one
answering to the terms ''honest and
Conscientious in the sense which |
knew Ellen used them; at length
found him, and taking my hat walked
with the widow to his office.
We found Mr.. Sawyer at his desk;
he rose and gave US chairs, and await
ed Mrs. Stiles statement. But be-
fore ! GO on, at this point let me say
a few words of this phenomenon; this
man with his head under his left arm
close TO his heart-this honest lawyer,
in the broadcast, highest sense of the
term. He was man of thirty five:
he had studied law because he liked
the study, and began the practice be-
cause he had to get a living; and now
he continued in the profession, in
spite of bad opponents and bad courts
because he though he had done,
and might yet do much good by his
labors; not alone by saving the inno-
cent and needy from the strong and
cruel, but preventing strife, putting a
stop to half knayish practices, aud
dissuading men and women from un-
just suits, and passion-rousing quar-
rels. Mr.. Sawyer thought it not only
proper for him to refuse acting for
those whose claims he thought dis
honest, but he counted it also duty
and a privilege, nay mere Christian
character to strive to persuade them
to forget such claims. He sought
fame and extensive practice as
means whereby to exert moral in
fluence over the community: he
thought lawyer bound 10 serve, not
his client only, but his God and coun-
try, and looked on him, who for gain
would prosecute suit which he
thought unfair. as a traitor to his
country, and his religion,in act,what-
ever he might be in intention. In
short, as Bill Blunt said, "Sawyer is
such hanged fool as to think it an
attorneys business to help the parson
to make men good Christians.
And now we shall let Mrs. Stiles
state her business. 1t seemed that
her husband had sold and conveyed
several lots, which ner father had left
in trust for her, and in such form that
she, meaning to release her fee in the
lots, had, in term, merely released
right of dower-these lots she under
stood she could get back.
"Did you ever receive the money
for ,hem?" SAID Mr.. Sawyer.
"Certalnly, sir.
"Was it fair, full price for the
land:"
s'It was all we asked, sir"
"Did you sign the deed willingly:'
"Of course, do you think Jared
would have driven me to do it::'
"Did you mean to convey full ii
tie in fee, Mrs. Sitles':'
"Beyond doubt; but as we didn't,
they tell me the land never passed"
"suppose, Mrs. Stiles, the money
had been paid before you had drawn
the deed, should you have thought it
honest, after getting the money, to
refuse to give the deed?"
"Of course not
"But you meant to give full title
in fee!'
eyes"
"Well, this is not such title any
more than sheet Of blank paper;
you have not yet given the deed.
Shall / draw quit-claim for you to
sign?"
Mrs. Stiles looked at me, and
looked at the window, seemed very
much puzzled, and somewhat ahashed.
At last she said, "But don't the law
say the land is mine, Squirrel"
ave can't tell that" said Mr..
Sawyer, "till the case is tried. First,
let US get things straight, and have
the bargain complete, and then, if
you please, we will 60 to law about
it."
The widow was fairly caught in
the corner. AT length, with gasp,
she asked how much he would charge
for quit-claim deed; this charge,
the attorney told her, the other party
would willingly pay, he had no doubt,
and taking down blank proceeded
to fill it. Before we left, the bargain
was complete, the deed was signed,
witnessed and acknowledged.
"And pray" said the widow, as
we walked home, "what sort of a
lawyer do you call this man: |
verify believe that he has cheated me
out Of all my lots; have great
mind to go back and tear that deed
all to flinders"
assured her that not only was it