Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-25
THE RIGHT BOWER.

It WAS Judge Lurlington's own ex-
preston.
Half 3 dozen lawyers, fresh from
their studies, and just admitted to the
bar, were listening to his advice. The
cid jurist had bottle of wine at his
elbow, and was In communicative
mood
"Young men," he said, whatever
May be your strait, never take a case
before d jury Or before q court, I'M
less you have your right bower for a
lead"
If the reader surmises from this that
the old Judge was fond of euchre, he
will not have surmised amiss.
The young men looked at him in
auiringly.
81 mean," he added, "that you
shall never advocate cause into the
work of which you cannot enter with
clear conscience. You shall never
accept a client whose cause you do not
believe to be just"
Can that rule always be adhered
tor" asked one of the listeners.
at can," answered burlington, en-
phatically. at 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, Judge?"
"I was never tempted from it but
snce," he replied; :" [ will tell you the
story # you would like to hear it"
Of course they would like to; and,
havina aid aside his pipe, the old man
began:
One Gay was waited on by man
who gave his name as Laban Sarfurt.
He was Of middle-age, well dressed, and
at first sight appeared to be gentle
mar but the illusion was dispelled when
approaching business. He was hard
and unfeeling, and mutually a william.
Success il speculation had saved him
from becoming thief or highway
man. [ heard of him as heavy dealer
In up-river lands. He asked me if
was willing to undertake a Job which
would call me to Snireton. told him
wss open to anything legitimate, that
would pay.
"Mr. burlington" said he, tapping
me with coarse familiarity upon the
arm. 81 want to secure your services;
you must not be engaged On the other
side
/ told him if he would explain to me
the case might be better able to give
him an answer. He bit an enormous
quid of tobacco from black plug, and
having got it into shape between his
jaws, he went on with his story:
s'The ease is one of ejectment. An
elderly man named Philip Acton, had
died leaving valuable estate. There
were nearly 1000 acres of land, with
opport unities for developing immense
water power, and ere many years that
would be worth more than a million
dollars. At present upon the estate,
and claiming it as q son of the deceased
was a man calling himself William Ac-
ten"
"But, said Sarfurt, ''he is not legit-
innate child at all. His mother was
Betsy Totwood, at one time girl in
Actions employ. Acton, I know, was
never married. He brought the boy up
and educated him, and now the fellow
hi nks he will step into his protectors
shoes. can prove that am the only
living relative of Philip Acton. He
was my uncle-ny mothers brother
and, to lawyer as smart as you, there
san be no difficulty in proving my title.
/ can bring the witnesses to your hand. !"
He told me that he would give me
500 if would undertake the case, and
in additional thousand if I gained.
That was big fee--far more than I
I'D then made in all my practice. 1t
was tempting. And yet l saw at it
was not yet perfectly clear-not entire
ly honest. The probability was that
his William Acton was Philips child;