West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-05-04
A MARRIAGE OF INCONVENIENCE.

whey trlsKett bore the title of
Rogues Attorney General" on the
Blackhaw circuit. His clients were prin-
cipally knaves and simpletons: the
former he helped to swindle, and the
latter he swindied. To which class
Almrl Bezel belonged we leave the reader
to Judge after hearing our story.
Mr.. Bezel did a thriving business "A a
Jeweler, till bad times came. and bills
came in faster than he was able to paw.
He hoped to pull through, if people
would only wait little; but bad times
are precisely those when people won't
wait.
In an evil hour he bethOught himself
of Wiley Griskett, and went TO him for
counsel.
Instead of advising frank disclosure
OF the debtors circumstances, as an
honest lawyer would have done. Mr..
Griskett set to work in his own peculiar
way.
What's the value of your stock and
assetsP" he inquired.
Thirty thousand dollars" Mr.. Bezel
answered.
And your debts amount to"
twenty-five thousand"
Make your notes for forty thousand. !"
Bezel opened his eyes.
That's good deal more than owe. !"
he answered; "besides the creditors
won't accept notes"
II don't say you should make them to
your creditors"
"To whom thenp'
"Shamboy a. Co"
But don't know them"
" No more do !, returned Griskett.
with a wink. "Make out the notes. and
then run away. AS attorney for Messrs.
Shamboy d Co., highly respectable
firm in n distant city "-here another
wink take out an attachment as
against an absconding debtor, cut ahead
OF every body, gobble up the whole
property, and privately remit YOU the
proceeds, retaining, of course, reason
able fee. 1t will give you breathing
time" the tempter whispered. "and'
once on your legs again, you will be
able TO pay all your honest debts"
Many q man has been led TO steal nv
the same delusive hope of one day max
ing restitution; but none the less was he
thief; and none the less was Zimri
Bezel swindlcr in consenting 10 follow
the advice Of Wiley Griskett
What race there was among the law
yers the day BezePs place was found
closed and the proprietor missing. Writs
came out as last as busy pens could draft
them; but that of Shamboy d. Co.
thanks to their attorneys vigilance, was
IN the sherifPs hands an hour before the
rest. 1t swept everything, of course. 10
the great disgust of those to whom there
was nothing left but to grumble.
But grumbling was of little use against
the notes for forty thousand dollars
bearing Iimri Beze's undisputed sigma,
ture, produced on behalf of Shambov &
Co, by Mr.. Wiley Griskett.
hr. Griskett pushed matters as ran
idly as legal forms would permit. Bezeps
effects were sold for about the sum nj
which he had valued them. Griskett
receipted for the amount i'm his clients
name, and pOcketed it with an inward
chuckle, while outwardly bemoaning
the large balance still left due TO Messrs
Shamboy d Co.
Within month came the news of
Iimri Beze's suicide. Day after dav
he had visited the post-ofFice of the
country village in which he had taken
refuge, to inquire for letters. None
came-nOne at least from WILEY Gris-
kett-and one day, on receiving the
usual answer, the poor dupe put a pistol
to his head and blew his brains out
Iimri BezcPs widow was an eccentric
little body, and honest to the core. She
felt keenly her husbands fight and
failure, and would have felt them still
more had she known what had passed
between him and Wiley Griskett.
One morning she walked over to the
office OF old lawyer Marfetch
Mr. Marfetch," began the widow
CO. you hold, believe, most Of the claims
against my late husband"
The lawyer bowed stfly. II was
sorry subject. lie had never quite Got
ten over being 50 far outgeneraled bv
Wiley Griskett.
Can ] trust you to keep a secret9o
the lady continued
A curious question to ask LAWYER. F."
replied Mr. Marfetch you may speak
without hesitation"
Could you manage to get all tho
claims under your control2" asked the
little woman.