The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-09-07
THE RIGHT BOWER,

THE RIGHT BOWER.
IT 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 jurist was in communicative
mood.
"Young men," he said, "whatever
may be your strait, never take a case
before jury, or before any court, un-
less you have your right bower for a
lead"
If the reader s,Tmises from this that
the old Judge was fond of euchre, he
| will not have surmiSed amiss.
The young men looked at him in
quiringly.
81 mean," he added, "that you
shall never advocate cause into the
work of which you cannot enter with
a clear conscience. You shall never
accept client whose cause you do not
believe to be just"
"Can that rule always be adhered
TOP asked one of the listeners.
1T can," answered burlington, en-
phatically. at is a lawyers firm
rock of foundation, and the only sure
point of departure to the respect and
confidence of his fellows
"Have you always followed that
rule, Judge?'
81 was never tempted from it but
once" he replied. 81 will tell you
the story, if you would like to hear it. y
OF course they would like to; and,
having laid aside his pipe, the old man
began:
zone day was waited upon by a
man who gave his name as Leban Sar-
furt. He was of middle-age, we'll
dressed. and at first sight appeared to
be gentleman; but the illusion was
dispelled when approaching business.
He was hard and unfeeling, and natur
ally villain. Success in speculation
had saved him from becoming thief
or highwayman. l heard of him as a
heavy dealer in the up-river lands.
He asked me if l was willing to under
take job which would call me to
Shireton. / told him l was 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"
81 told him if he would explain to
me the case l might be better able to
give him an answer. He bit an enOr-
nous quid of tobacco from black
plug, and having got it into shape be
tween his jaws he went on with his
story.
"The case is one of ejectment. An
elderly man named Philip Acton, had
died leaving a valuable estate. There
was nearly 1000 acres of land, with
opportunities for developing i'm
mense water power; and ere many
years that land would be worth more
than S1,0O0,000. AT present upon the
estate, and claiming it as son of the
deceased, was man calling himself
William Acton"
But" said Sarfurt, che is not a
| legitimate heir at all. His mother
was Betsy Totwood, at one time a girl
in Acton's employ. Acton, l know,
was never married. He brought the
boy up and educated him, and now the
fellow thinks he will step into his pro-
tector's shoes. / can prove that am
the only living relative of Philip Ac-
ton. He was my uncle-my mother
brother-and, to lawyer as smart as
you, there can be no difficulty in prov
ing my title. l can bring the witnesses
to your hand.' .rr,.a .... d
''He told me he would give me five
hundred dollars if I would undertake
the case, and an additional thousand
if 1 gained it. That was big fee-far
more than | had then made in all my
pleading. 1t was tempting. And yet
| saw that it was not yet perfectly
clear-not entirely honest. 1t was not
improbable that Philip Acton had mar,
ried Betsey Totwood, and that William
was his legitimate heir. 1t struck me
that Laban Sarfurt was villain, 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? If ac-
cepte1 a client, l must serve him.
had no business but to serve his in.
terest. l finally told Mr.. Sarfurt thai
| would think the matter over.
should probably have business il
Shireton during the session of the
court, and | would call on him thers
and examine more fully. / could moi
take his retainer until ! had further
light
"But," said he, twill you promise
not to take up for the other side?'
II told him / would do nothing
without further consultation will
him."
| Because" he added, eff you ar
for me am sure to win. Acton can