The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-06-21
THE RIGHT ROVER.

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.
"Young men," he said, whatever
m v be your strait, never take case be-
70, Jury, unless you have the right
hover for lead"
II the reader surmises from this that
the old Judge was fond of euchre he will
not have surmiscd amiss.
The young men looked at him inquir-
ingly.
"I mean," he added, "that you shall
never advocate a cause into the work of
which you can not enter with clear
conscience. You should never accept a
client whose cause you do not believe to
be just"
"Can that rule always be adhered to-"
asked one of the listeners.
at can," answered burlington en-
phatically. cts 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,
Judgep
al was never tempted from it but
once" he replied; al will tell you the
story, il you would like to hear il"
OF course they would like to; and
having laid aside his pipe the old man
began:
"One day 1 was waited upon by a
man who gave his name as Leban Sar-
furt. He was Of middle age, well dressed,
and at first sight appeared to be gentle
man; but the illusion was dispelled
when approaching business. He was
hard and unfeeling, and naturally 9
villain. Success in speculation had saved
him from becoming thief or highway
man. / heard of him as heavy dealer
in the upriver lands. He asked me if ]
was willing to undertake a job which
would call me to Shireton. told him
was opened to anything legitimate that
would pay.
"'Mr. Burlington said he, tapping
me with coarse familiarity upon tn.
arm, 'Iwant to secure your services
you must not be engaged on the othel
side.'
81 told him If he would explain t.
me the case / might be better able t,
give him an answer. He took an enor
nous quid of tobacco from a blacl
plug, and having got it into shape be
tween his jaws, he went on with hi
story.
1.-THE case was one of ejectment. Al
elderly man, named Philip Acton, ha
died, leaving a large estate. There wa
nearly a thousand acres of land, wit
opportunities for developing immens
water power, and ere many years tina
land would be worth more than mi
lion dollars. At present upon the e
tate, and claiming it as a son of the d,
ceased, was man calling himself Wi
liam Acton.
"'But,' said Sarfurt, 'he is not
legitimate child at all. His mother W,
Betsy Totwood, at one time a girl
Acton's employ. Acton, / know, W.
never married. He brought the boy u
and educated him, and now the fello
thinks he will step into his protector
shoes. l can prove that am the on
living relative of Philip Acton. He W
my uncle (my mothers brether), and,
lawyer as smart as you, there can be
difficulty in proving my title. 1 C,
bring the witnesses to your hand
HE told me he would give me q
hundred dollars if would undertake Il
case and an additional thousand if
gained. That was a big fee-far mo
than / had then made in all NV plea
ing. 1t was tempting. And vet l ss
that 1t was not yet perfectly clear-n
entirely honest. The probability was tb
this William Acton was Philips chill,
and it was not impossible that Philip h
married Betsy Totwood. 1t struck !,
that Laban Sarfurt was villain, a
that he fancied that he had young Act
so far in his power that he could Ell,
him from the title. But what hac
particularly to do with that? If /
cepted client, must serve him. /
no business but to serve his interest.
finally told Mr.. Sarfurt that wo,