The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-24
rp1cKs OF DLAoKMAlLERs.
LAWYERS Tell Stories OF Their Practice
While Waiting for Verdict.
Liam the f,licnnn MIL

while Waiting for Verdict.
From the Chicago Nail,
,.Tbis Brushinghaln case and the charges
-. b,ocknail that were flung back ana forth
+. - reniud me of some cases that have
f.llen under my own observation" sad one
~ the numerous attorneys Who SAT around
Az criminal court room the cthor day wait
W.; :n for the return of the jury who held in
their hands the fate of the Ilethod'st minis
- 81 have seen some queer instances of
70 hlackmailer's work." he won't on :
s.sorne pathetic and some humorous; some
s,,ccessful and some where the guilty princi-
DniS we're bafiled and foiled. One instance
yell remember. One afternoon, about tw 0
aors AGO. an old, well-known and highly
sasnected citizen of this city came to my
ofice. He is a real-estate agent, with an
Office on LaSalle street, aud the publication
of his name would startle some 'away-up'
social church circles. He came in rather
a;nIersy. but he knsw me well enough to
Jron in for chat, which be often did.
could tell from his troubled appearance, his
;ncoherency of language, and generally
hrokeu-up manner, that something was
wrong. and that he needed advice, which
Cor some reason he did not wish to ask.
Finally led the conversation up to his
changed appearance, and after little of the
soothing talk we lawyers know how to use, l
learned his story. Some two years before
a very COMEDY servant girl was employed in
the msus family, and had worked herself
into tie OLD geuUlelnan's good graces There
was nothing Of the adventures in her na-
ture. Il seemed to be one of those strange
cases where young and handsome woman
sntertaius real regard for a man old
enough to be her father. I he old gontlemans
wife was, and has been for years, an inva-
lid. and he was glad to find a congenial
shirt in the pleasant-fsced young servant
glrl. To make long story short, he estab-
ished his iilamorata in furnished rooms on
Green street, where he used to pass consid-
cradle time every day. Finally the girls
conscience, or some agency, awoke her to
a sense of the wrong she was committing
and she told her aged lover that their rela-
tons would have to stop. He was very
much affected by this announcement and
used all MS powers of pleading to try to
change her determination to break with
him. She was firm, however, and, telling
him that that musG be his last visit bade
him good-by. He went again to the house
few days later, but found that she had
zone and left no word of her whereabouts
Except that she was going to Wisconsin.
Some two months after Mr.. B.-that will do
TO olll him by, although his initial letter is
nearer the other end OF the aphabet-was
visited at his house one evening by a man
of urbane manners, suaVe in conversation
aid dignifiod in bearing. The stranger
opened his business by stating in the mildest
tone possible that he haG come on some
what disagreeable errand, but that it could
be easily settled, aud begged 10 assure Mr.
B. that ne would be put to no trouble. He
then inquired whether there had been en-
ployed in Mr.. B. s family young woman
named Emma. Being informed that there
had, he said:
"'Now, my dear Mr.. B., l know the
weakness of poor human nature. We all
are frail The best of us sometimes fail by the
wayside. | have not been without tempta-
ton myself so | can sympath!ze with YOU.
YOUR relations with Emma and it is from
her l come. A child has been born; she is
III trouble, and to you, as the author of her
fall, she sends for relief
"hr B. was thunderstruck. He had been
intimate with the girl, but he felt con, inced
that the story the man told was not true.
He told the fellow that he did not believe
the statement, but the latter's brow dark
ened as be said:
al know nothing of what she said to
YOU know her instructions to me, and il
you decline to take care of her quietly she
must seek to compel you in the courts to
bear the responsibility OF your acts. have
the honor TO be her attorney and he pre-
sented to the dumfounded b. a card on
which the latter could see Only the word
attorney the dread of exposure. disgrace,
ruin for himself and family, binding his
eyes so that had the sun suddenly shone
forth in the sky of that November night he
would not have noticed it.
"'Where is she'll will go and see her, and
do all can for her comfort, said B., finally,
tyhen he fOund his tongue
Il would advise you not to- said the at
torney. Her brother, at whose house she
is staying, does not know who is response
Bile for her disgrace He is moving heaven
and earth to learn, and swears TO wreak ven
geance on the head of the man who has dis
graced his sister
az must see her before I do anything
and learn why she deceived me as to her
condition. said Is.
"'She does not want to see you. Her
instructions TO me are imperative and unless
you consent to assist her and accept the op
portunity to do so without exposure, which
| now offer, ] am tomorrow to file this
paper in justice court and the attorney
who by this time had dropped much of his
suavity of manner, showed his now fright
ened victim a complaint charging B. with
illegitimate parentage.
What does she wantP he asked in de
spair.
"'Five hundred dollars down and 500 G
month
Poor B. groaned in despair.
az haven't got that much money in the
house, but will give you check
"No, sir; no check. Nothing but cash.
said the spider, VINO now had the poor fly
secure in the blacknailerS web.
What can | dor pleaded B. Il can't
get $500 at this time of night
I'm give you till II o'clock tomorrow
At that time will be at lunch at Kinsleys
You will come there, take a seat at the
same table with me, and quietly pass me
the money. On the 10Th day of eacf
month you will meet me at the same place
and bring me 500 month for Emma.
"B. agreed TO this-he could do nothing
else-and for almost two years he had paiC
tribute to the Nemesis of his sin. The los
of the money, for he wa not very wealthy
man, was embarrassing him, and the worri
ment and constant dread of exposure was
driving him into his grave. With tremb
ling voice and fearful eyes he told me his
sutferings, and begged me for advice and
assistance. | was puzzled. With a man
less sensitive to public gossip would have
made bold stroke andh ad the blackmaller
arrested on sight. In this case could not
do so. l suggested visit to Emma, and an
effort to induce her to agree to some less