The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-11-04
pEcuLrARlTIEs OF A LAWYER.
Emory A. Storrs' First Fee .Eccentricitiea
of the Great Orator.

once heard Storrs tell of the first fee he
ever received. He was Just admitted to the
bar, and was in the Office of a prominent
lawyer of an interior city of Illinois
farmer who had COW killed by railway
train employed him to prosecute suit for
damages, and Storrs got a verdict for $75.
A few days after the farmer came in rubbing
his hands in great glee, and congratulated
Storrs on the eloquent speech he made to
the jury. The old critter wasn't worth
more than SIS" said the farmer, " and how
you got $50 for her is more than l can com.
prehend. 1t must have been that speech
of yours know it was that speech, and
I'll pay you literally, my boy Have you
collected the judgment? ?"
have" replied Storrs
Then Well settle; and I'll pay you lib
orally, too
storrs handed out SIS, saying, "There's
your share of it,"
How's that ?" asked tho astonished
farmer.
Well, you say your old COW was worth
only SIS, and you admit my speech was
worth $50. Amt you satisfied an
WAL, no." responded the farmer. 81
don't think it's quite honest
Then take that, you blank cormorant."
exclaimed Mr.. Storrs, throwing out another
fiye-Gollar bill.
Storrs was never dressy man, but had
passion for neckties, and seldom wore one
three or four times. Two of the leading
dealers in Chicago always notify him when
they receive fresh supply, so that he might
have his choice, and he usually bought them
by the dozen. When he has worn them a
few times he gave them 10 his lady friends
to cut up for crazy quilts. He was very
extravagant man, liberal 10 reckleisness
with his money, and, although he had an
income from his fees anywhere from $25,-
600 to $3.50, 600, he was always in debt, aud
seldom paid borrowed money. He had a
friend in Chicago. Samuel W. Allerton. a
millionaire pork packer and cattle king, ON
whom lie always drew when he got short of
funds, and Alleiton never failed to cash the
drafts. He was very fond of Storrs, and
often when he was taking trip 10 one of
his ranches in Texas or Colorado would ask
him to go along for company, usually pay
ing him for the time occupied in the trip
When Lord Coleridge was in this ooun-
Try, the Chicago Bar Association gave him
A banquet, and, as Storrs was not popular
in that organization, the committee ON
toasts left him off the programme. He felt
this rs a slight, as he was by far the most
eloquent post-prandial orator in Chicago,
and was accustomed to appear on all occa-
sions, ms Chauncey Depew is in New York.
He at once invited Lord Coleridge to pri-
vnte banquet, which outshone the public
one as the moon outshines the stars, and
among the guests was nearly every lawyer
of note in Chicago, except the committee
on programme, who were all prominent
men.
This banquet was levied on by the Sheriff.
II appears that tailor named Matthews had
bill against Storrs for several hundred
dollars and had got judgment against him.
The execution was placed in the hands of
the Sheriff, with instructions to levy on the
banquet just before the guests were seated.
The Sheriff, bearing IN old grudge, was
glad to lend his aid to the conspiracy, and
just as the guests were preparing to go to
the table the steward called out Mr.. Storrs
and made the painful disclosure that the
menu was in the hands of an officer, who
refused to let it be served until the judg-
ment was paid. Storrs' friend, Allerton,
happened to be present, and settled the af-
fair by signing check. -Boston Erchange