Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-25
when INTERRUPTED him. told him I

when / interrupted him. told hin, I
could not accept his confidence until
had made up my mind to take his
case in hand. Something seemed to
whisper that there was danger ahead.
[ did not feel comfortable in that
mans presence. felt as though he
was trying to buy me. The court
would sit in four days. I told him |
would give him final answer in two
| days from that.
That evening I made con fidant of
my wife, and asked her what l should
do. off l take the case" l said, 81
am sure of $1,000" She babe me do
what was right. "God has been very
kind to us" she said, "let us look to
Him for guidance
| After this I called on the clergyman
of the place, whose son had been my
classmate in college, and whom [ had
once before visited. He received me
heartily and by and by asked him
about William Acton. The result of
all he told me is summed up in his
closing sentence. Said he: :" [ am
sure William Acton was Phillip Ac-
toms child-in fact, know it--and /
think the father and mother were mar
ried. Betsey died very soon after her
child was born, and we know that Phil
lip always treated the boy as g. legiti-
mate child; and that he loved him as
such can confidently affirm"
On the following morning, after
breakfast, as I sat by the window in
the bar-room, saw coming from the
street the man who had saved my
child. He was walking slowly, like
one In trouble. [ pointed him out to
my host, and asked him who he was.
"That is William Acton. Perhaps
you have heard of the trouble he is
likely to have with Laban SarfurtY
said / had heard.
| [ hope he may come out all right"
the host added; "but l am fearful. He
has got q hard and very heartless GUS
toner to deal with"
shut my mouth and held my peace
until Laban Sarfurt called for his final
answer: | said to him:
Mr.. Sarfurt, [ have been consider
| ing all this time whether I could un-
dertake your case with a clear con-
science-whether L should be helping
the side of justice and right in helping
you. l had concluded that could not
do SO before had seen w illiam Acton,
to know him by name. / now know
him for man who nobly risked his
own life to save the life of my child.
For that deed L will reward him if l
can. have not, as yet, accepted one
of your private disclosures; / have
gained from you nothing which you
could wish to keep from the public. 1
cannot take your case, Mr.. Sarsurt, but
[ tell you frankly, that if you prosecute,
[ will defend William Acton.
~ did not mind Sarfurts wrath. He
raved and swore, and stamped, and
theh he went off and engaged two
lawyers from Herkimer to take the
case. I called upon Acton, ant, told
him I would defend him if he would
accept my services, as had accepted
his He took my hand and thanked
me.
L have made great many speeches
n my life, but think never made a
better one than l made to the jury On
that occasion. They were not out
over five minutes. By their verdict
William Acton was the lawful posses
sor Of the estate his father had left
g From that day never hesitated to
refuse a case to which could not give
my heart. Such a stand on the part of
lawyer becomes known, and the pub
lie feels it; and what the public feels,
juries are sure to feel.
Concerning William Acton, / will
only add that he became my bosom
friend. He always felt that he owed
his title to his valuable property to
me; and knew that to him l was in
debted for the home that was mine for
thirty years. He was very delicate in
the gift of that piece of property He
decided it to my wife. The husband of
my Oldest daughter is his Oldest son"