South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-06-23

I ~ may US 2SRcO Wnob We mean Oy
putting right bower in such con.
nection.
1t was Judge Lurlington's own ex-
preston.
Half dozen young lawyers, fresh
from their studies. and just admitted to
the bar, were listening 10 his advice
The old jurist had . bottle Of wine at
his elbow, and was in communicative
mood.
! Young men," he said, whatever may
be your strait, never take case before
jury, or before any court, unless you
have your right bower for q head"
! III the reader surmises from this that
the old Judge was fond OF euchre, he
will not have surmised amiss.
The young men looked ut him inquir.
ingly.
Il mean," he added, .'that you shall
never advocate cause into the work OF
which you cannot enter with clear con.
science. You shall never accept eli.
ent whose cause you do not believe TO
be just"
Can that rule always be adhercd9
asked one Of the listeners.
ut can," answered darlington en-
phatically. ut is lawyers firm rock
of foundation, and the only sure point
Of departure to the respect and conf
dence OF his fellows"
"Have you always followed that rule,
judgee
IL was never tempted from it but
once" he replied. II will tell you the
story, if you would like to hear it,
OF course they would like to; and
having laid aside his pipe, the old man
commenced
Zone day 1 was waited upon by
man who gave his name as Laban Sa
furt. lie was Of middle age, well-dress.
ed, and At first sight appeared to be a
gentleman but the illusion was dispcll.
ed when approaching business. He was
hard and unfeeling, and naturally n vii.
lain. Success in speculation had saved
him from being thief or highwayman.
heard Of him as heavy dealer in up
river land. lie asked me if was will
ing to undertake job that would take
me to Shireton. told him was open
to anything legitimate that would pay"
MIR. Lurlington," said he, tapping
me with coarse familiarity upon the
arm, II want to secure your services.
You must not be engaged on the other
side"
Il told him If he would explain the
case might be better able to give him
an answer"
lie bit an enormous quid Of tobacco
from black plug, and. having got it
into shape between his jaws, he went on
with his story.
THE case was one Of ejectment. An
elderly man named Philip Acton. had
died, leaving valuable estate. There
was nearly thousand acres Of land,
with opportunities for developing i'm.
mense water.power. and ere many years
that land would be worth more than
million dollars. At present upon the
estate, and claiming it as son OF the de-
ceased, was man calling himself vii.
liam Acton.
But" said Sarfurt. "he is not lecit-
innate child at all. His mother was Bet
sy Totwood, ut one time agirl in Acton's
employ. Acton | know never married.
He brought the boy and educated him.
and now the fellow thinks he will stcp
that / am the only living relative of
Philip Acton. He was my uncle-my
mothers brother-and, to a LAWYER as
smart rs you, there can be no difficulty
in proving my title. 1 can bring the
witness TO your hand.
"lIe told me he would give me five
hundred dollars if / would undertake
the case, aud an additional thousand if
| gained. This was n big fee-far more
than / had then made in all nv plead.
ing. IL was tempting. And yet saw
that IL was not yet perfectly clear-not
entirely honest. The probability was
that this William Acton was Philips
child; and it was not impossible that
Philip had married Betsy Totwood. II
struck me that Laban Sarfurt was n vii.
lain, and that he fancied 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? III nc
copied client, I must serve him. I
had no business but TO serve his inter
est. finally told Mr.. Sarfurt that I
would think the matter over, / should
probably have business in Shireton dur.
ing the session Of the court, and would
all on him there and examine more
iniy. could not take his retainer TN.
I'll had further light"
Bn'" said he, will you promise not
20 TAKE W for the other side?"
toid Inn would do nothing with.
OUT further Consulting with him"
because &c added, III You are for
me l am sure TO win. Acton can't find
lawyer that can hold candle to YOU.
| know them all"
NO matter whether believed him or
'ot-I did not feel fiattered.
Two weeks later / received n letter
sano!S ariurt. promising me five thou. /.
'""..T2llars If won.
oronmsive thousand dollars is strong
80 ohan"o Was not law really n game /.
ana Iarooy9 which the strongest hand
""u go Nurse would win? told I
80 ronl, es-and I sat down and
he c.so R11,aying that would take
That night put - NO "Is mar u at once;
slept over IL; a, "oer my pillow and
on Tho lnllnpuannr