Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-09-07

Can Cldlln, mercy II saving the life OF
such cherub is not enough Of reward
in itself, then hard is the heart that
Graves more And, with moistened
eyes, he told me that he had child of
his own at home-an only child of
very nearly the same age.
81 asked if he would tell me his
name. With smile, he answered that
his name did not matter-he was not
sure that he had a name. I then
asked him if he knew me. Henodded.
and said he thought I might be Mr..
burlington, Of Walbridge. When I
told him he was correct he said that he
must hurry home. And with that he
turned away. l was too deeply moved
to stop him, and when he had disap.
peared [ started to rejoin my wife with
a dawning impression that the man
might be slightly deranged. But my
darling was Safe-her broad, feecy
cloak had foated out and kept her
head above water-and / went on my
way rejoicing, resolved that the pre-
server Of my child should not be for
gotten.
81 will not tell you of the emotion
OF my wife when she held her child
once more in her arms. We reached
Shlreton before night, and found quar-
tiers at comfortable tavern.
'On the following day Laban Sar-
furt called upon me and was about to
spread his evidence for my inspection,
when / interrupted him. / told him I
could not accept his confidence until
had made up my mind to take his case
in hand. Something seemed to whis-
per that there was danger ahead. I
did not feel comfortable in that mans
presence. | felt as though he was try
ing to buy me. The court would sit
in four days. I told him / would give
him a final answer in two days from
that.
"That evening l made confidant
OF my wife, and asked her what [
should do. If [ take the case,' / said,
[ am sure of $4,000. 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 / called on the clergy
man 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 re-
suit of all he told me was summed I'D
in his closing sentence. Said he:
"'I am sure William Acton was
Philip Actions child-in fact, I know
it-and | am confident that Philip and
Betsey were married. The mother
died very soon after her child was born,
and we know that Philip ALWAYS
treated the boy as his legitimate child:
and that he loved him as such I can
confidently affirm
Son the following morning, after
breakfast, as [ sat by the window in
the bar-room, | saw coming from the
street the man who had saved nv
child. He was walking slowly, like
one in trouble. l 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 Sarfurt?'
q said | had heard.
"'I hope he may come out all right
the host added, but I am fearful. He
has got hard and heartless customer
to deal with.
81 shut my mouth and held my
peace until Laban Sarfurt called for
his final answer. I said to him:
''Mr. Sarfurt, have been consider
ing all this time whether I could I'M
dertake your case with a clear con-
science-Whether [ should be helping
the side of justice and right in helping
you. | had concluded that I could not
do SO before | had seen William Acton.
to know him by name. now know
him for a man who nobly risked his
own life to save the life of my child.
For that deed | will reward him if [
can. have not as yet accepted one
Of your private disclosures; I have
gained from you nothing which you
could wish to keep from the public. I
cannot take your case, but, [ tell you
frankly, that if you prosecute, l will
defend William Acton.
81 did not mind Sarfurt's wrath.
He raved and swore and stamped, and
then he went off and engaged two law
yers from Herkimer to take his case.
| called upon Acton and told him |
would defend him. if he would accept
my services, as [ had accepted his. He
took my hand and thanked me.
g have made great many pleas in
my life, but [ think | never made a
better one than [ made to that jury
on that occasion. They were out not
over five minutes. By their verdict
+ho 10 f,,J