The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-06-03
The Advocates Right Bower

puJUng u G!Enl DOWcr III uCn COn
nectiOn.
1t was Judge Lurlingtou's own ex-
| preston.
Half dozen young lawyers, fresh
| from their studies, and just admitted tr
| the bar, were listening to his advice,
The old iurist had bottle of wine at
his elbow, and was in communica-
| tive mood
" Young men," he said, whatever
may be your strait, never take n case
before a jury, or before any court, I'M
less You have your right bower for a
head"
If the reader surmisps from this that
the old judge was fond of euchre, he
will not have surmised amiNs.
The young men looked at him in
quiringy.
" mean" he added that you shall
never advocate a cause into the work OF
which you cannot enter with II clear
conscience You shall never accept II
client whose cause you do not believe
to be just -
" Can that rule be always adhered
to asked one Of the listeners.
" 1t can, " answered burlington EN-
phaticaIIy. 1t is a lawyers tirm rock
of lcundaton, and the only sure point
Of departure TO the respect and conf =
dcnce of his fellows"
Have YOU always followed that
rule, Judge ?"
" was never tempted from it but
once" he replied. ! will tell you the
story, if you would like to hear 1t.
OF course they would like to and
having laid aside his pipe. the old man
commenced
" One dRy | was waited upon by
man who gave his name as Laban Sar-
furt. lie was of middle a4e, well dress
ed and at first sight appeared to be n
gpntlemau but the illusion was dis
PEELED when approaching business. He
was hard and unteeIing. and naturally
villain. Success in speculation had
saved him from being thiet or high
wayman. | heard of him as heavy
deIpr in the up-river land. lie asked
me if | was willing to undertake jOh
which would call me to Shiret0n. |
told him ! was open TO anything legit-
mate which would pay"
" Mr.. burlington" ." said he, tapping
me with coarse familiarity upon the
arm, " want to secure your services.
You must not be engaged on the other
side"
" told him if he would eHpiain the
case | might be better able to give him
an answer" He bit an enormous quid
ut tobacco from black plug, and, haV.
ing got 1t into shape between his jaws,
he went on with his story.
"lhe case was one OF eirctmpnt. An
elderly man named Philip Acton, had
died, leaving IA valuable estate There
was nearly thousand acres of land,
with opportunities for developing i'm
mrnse watrr-power, and ere many
years the land would be worth more
than million dollars. At present
upon the estate, and claiming it as son
of the deceased, was a man calling him
self William Acton"
" But" said Sarfurt, :" he is not le-
gitimate child at oil. His mother was
Betsy Totwood, at one time a girl in
Acton's employ. Action | know was
never married He brought the boy up
and educated him, and now the
fellow thinks he will step into his
protectors shoes. l can prove that
am the only living relative of Philip
Acton He was my uncle my mother S
brother and, to.a lawyer as smart as
you, there can he no difficulty in prov
ing my title | can bring the witness
to your hand.
@ He told me he would give me five
hundred dollars if | would undertake
the case, aud an additional thousand if
| gained This was big flee-far
more than | had then made in all my
pleadings. 1t was tempting. Aud yet
| saw that it was not yet peri ectly clear
not entirely honest. The probability
was that this William Acton was Phil
lips child and it was not impossible
that Philip had married Betsy TOtwood.
1t struck me that Laban Sarfurt was
villain, and that he fancied that he had
young Acton so far in his power that
he could eject him from the title. But
what had | particularly to do with
that II l accepted client, | must
serve him. / had no business but to
serve his interest. | finally told Mr..
Sarfurt that would think the matter
over, should probably have business
in Shireton during the session of the
court, and would call on him there
and examine more fully. / could not
take his retainer until | had further
light"
. But" said he, will you promise
not to take up for the other side 2"
81 told him ! would do nothing with
out further consultation with him."
" Because" he added, " if you are
for me am sure to win. Action can't
find lawyer that can hold candle to
you. | know them all"
. No matter whether | believed him
or not i did not feel battered.
Two weeks later received letter
from Sarturt, promising me five thou
sand dollars if ] won.
Tl~ five thousand dollars was
strong argument Was not law really
a game of chance, in which the stron-
gest hand and longest purse must win ?
/ told myself yes. Yes-and sat
down and wrote a reply, saying that
would take the case. But | did not
mail it at once. That night | put it
under my pillow, and slept over 1t and
on the efOlluWiupfmOIAinp | threw il in