Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-07-02

No lawyer likes going into court with
thoroughly bad case, yet how can he
help it sometimes?
| should have more patience with
the question. DO you ever think it
right to defend a man whom you be-
ieve to be guilty. were it less frequent
ly put by people who spend six days of
the week seeking to get the upper hand
of their neighbors, and the seventh try
ing to circumvent their Maker. To the
honest inquirer, [ commend the answer
DR.. Johnson once gave to Boswell, Sir,
the law is not the judge fE
Was it my place wnen George Gil
bert's little care-worn wife came with
tears glistening in her eyes to beseech
me to do what l could for her impris-
oned husband, virtually to turn nv
back and leave her tired, troubled heart
to break Or not as it might. I was nei-
Their a priest nor a Levite to find a
ready excuse for passing by on the 9TH
er side. Yet what could / do? George
Gilbert had been sent on collecting
tour, and had gambled away money
received for his employers. 1t was
plain case of ENLIGHTENMENT, and the
penalty was term of years in the state
prison.
I'm sure he never meant to be dis
honest pleaded the loyal little woman,
'he was tempted by crafty and design
ing man, but instead of running away,
as others would have done, he came
back and confessed his fault, offering
to let his whole salary so toward max
ing up the lost money till every cent
was paid. Mr.. Meek, the junior part
ner, was willing to be merclful, but Mr..
Mangle, the head of the house, who
just returned then after a years ab-
sence, insisted that the law should take
its course
gave her what poor consolation I
could, for lawyers, like doctors, must
keep their patients courage up at
times.
In the first place, I'll see Messrs.
Mangle & Meek l said. Mr.. Mangle
may be brought to hear reason, after
all-if he can only be made to see his
interest in it,
The pale, respondent face cheered
up a little. My words seemed to have
inspired a sort of underlined hope that
was far from feeling myself.
Mr.. Mangle received me with stony
politeness.
Young man. his manner said, don't
waste time in appeals to sentiment;
you won't if you'll only look at me-
[ took the hint and came at once to
business, repeated Gilbert's offer, and
put it as strong as possible that more
was to be gained by leniency than
harshness-all of which Mr.. Mangle
listened to with conscientious scowl.
| cannot be party to compromising
a felony he answered with solemn
information.
Nor have I asked you replied,
not little nettled; L have merely
mentioned plan OF paying back your
own, leaving it 10 your generosity to
press or not to press this prosecution
temptuous rejoinder anybody but a
lawyer, with his head full of quibs and
quiblets, could see that. Besides, there
is something rather cool in the proposal
to retain your friend IN our employ
under pretense OF working out the
money he has stolen, with the oppor.
tunity of flching twice as much IN the
meantime.
felt my temper rising, and not car
ing to imperll my clients interest by an
outright quarrel, [ took hasty leave.
Had [ been in the prisoners place on
the morning fixed for the trial, [ could
hardly have assembled the court house
steps with more reluctance than die.
And when entered the court room, and
found Gilbert and his wife already there,
and noted the hopeful look with which
the latter greeted my coming, my heart
sickened at the thought Of the bitter
disappointm ent coming.
A Jury was Immediately empaneled
and the case opened by the district at
torney.
Mr.. Meek was the first witness. The
nervous, hesitating manner in which he
gave his evidence would have greatly
damaged its effect had it not evidently
arisen from a disposition to do the pris-
oner as little hurt as possible. But no
softening could break the terrible force
Of facts he was compelled to relate.
In his partners absence he had en-
ployed George Gilbert as clerk; had
found him competent and trustworthy:
had sent him on trip to 10 AXE collec-
tons; after RENTING g considerable
sum, he was induced by respectable
looking gentleman, with whom he had
casually fallen in, to join a social game
of cards: at first they played for amuse-