Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-12-09

was Judge Lurlington's own ex-

1t was Judge Lurlington's own ex-
preston
Half dozen lawyers, fresh from their
studies. and just admitted to the bar,
were listening to his advice. The old
iurist had bottle of wine at his elbow,
and was in a communicative mood.
Young men," he said. ''whatever may
be your straight, never take case before
jury, or before any court, unless you
have your right bower tor lead
If the reader surmises from this that
the old Judge was fond OF euchre, he
will not have surmised amlss.
The young men looked at him inquir-
Fl mean,n he added, 'sthat you shall
never advocate cause in the work of
which you cannot enter with a clear con-
science. You should never accept a eli
ent whose cause you do not believe to be
just"
'.Can that rule always be adhered to ?"
asked one of the listeners.
1T can," answered burlington. emphat-
ically. Its Il lawyers firm rock OF foun-
dation, and the only sure point of de-
parture 10 the respect and confidence Of
his fellows
~Have you always followed that rule,
Judge?"
al was never tempted from it but once,"
he replied: Il will tell you the story, if
you would like to hear it."
Of course they would like to; and, hav
ing laid aside his pipe, the old man be-
gan:
sOne day / was waited upon by man
who gave his name as Laban Sarfurt. He
was OF middle age, we'll dressed, aud at
), srr1,f rod Ia no ~
but the illusion was dispelled when APP
preaching business. He was hard and
unfeeling. AMI naturally william. Sue
cess in speculation had saved him from
becoming a thief or highwayman. L
heard of him as a heavy dealer in the up
river lands. He asked me if l was will
ing to undertake Il job that would call
ne to Shireton. | told him l was open.
to anything legitimate that would pay.
Mr.. Lurlington,' said he, tapping me
with coarse familiarity upon the arm. Il
want to secure your services; you must
not be engaged on the other side.'
told him ii he would explain to me
the case, L might be better able to give
him an answer. He bit an enormous
quid of tobacco from a black plug and
having got it into shape between his
Jaws. he went on with his story.
The case was one of ejectment. An ell
derby man ramed Philip Acton had died,
leaving valuable estate. There were
nearly thousand acres of land, with op-
portunities for developing immense wa
ter power, and ere many years that land
would be worth million dollars. At
present upon the estate, and claiming it
as son of the deceased. was a man call
ing himself William Acton.
But said Sarfurt. he is not legiti-
mate child at all. His mother was Bet
sy Totwood, at one time in Actions en-
ploy. Acton, | know, was never mar
ried. He brought the boy up and edu-
Gated him, and now the fellow thinks
that he will step into his protectors shoes.
/ can prove that am the only living rel
ative of Philip Acton. He was nv uncle
(my mothers brOther), and, to a lawyer as
smart as you, there can be 40 difficulty
In proving my title. | can bring the
witnesses TO your hand III
He told me he would give me Eve
hundred dollars if L would undertake the
case and an additional thousand it / gain
al. That was a big fee-far more than
had then made iiLa my pleading. IL
was tempting. And vet saw that il
was not perfectly cle;tr-not entil civ hon
est. The probability was that this Will
liam Acton WAS Philips child; and it was
not impossible that Philip had married
Betsy TotwOod. 1t struck me that La
ban Sarlurt was villain, and that ne fam
cied that he had young Acton so far in
lis power that he could eject him from
the title. But what had particularly to
do with that? If | accept client,
must serve him. | had no business bni
TO serve his interests. | finally told Mr..
Sarturt that I would think the matter
over. should probably have business in
Shireton during the session of the court
and | would call on him then and exam
inc more fully. | could not take his re-
tainer until had further light.
But said he, will You promise not tC
take up for the other side?'
i told him would do nothing without
further consultation with him.
Because he added, If you are for me
am sure TO win. Acton can't find law
yer that can hold candle to you.
know them ALL
No matter whether | believed him Oh
not. | did not feel fiattered.
Two weeks later | received a slettel
from Sarfurt, promising me $4,000 if
won.
The $4,000 was strong argument
Was not law really game OF chance, IL
which the strongest hand and longes
purse must win? l told myself yes. Ye
and / sat down and wrote reply say
ing that L would take the case. But
did not mail it at once. That night pu
it under my pillow and slept over it. AM
on the following morning L threw it in
to the fire. would not make up m,
mind until had seen other parties--un
I'll had been out on the grounds. Ant
/ wrote TO Laban Sarfurt to wait.
Two weeks later | harnessed my hors,
TO the wagon and with my wife ant
child started for Shireton. L had beer
married two years, and our little babe.
girl, was year old. our pride. our pc
and darling. Shireton was distance q
about thirty miles. We had been hav
ing rainy weather for week or so, an,
it had cleared off now bright and beauti
full. We stopped and took our dinner a
a wayside inn, four miles beyond which
was a stream which must be forded. Tn
innkeeper told me the stream was some
what swollen from the late rains, bu
that If my horse was trusty there coul,
be no danger.
Arrived at the stream, the Wampatucl
river. found the water indeed risen an,
the current strong, but saw that other
had recently gone over, and | resolve,
to venture. Iknew my horse, and ha
faith in him. My wife was anxious, bu
obo frrofaI nav frrdn,pout third n