Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-16
Lawyers FEE.
How An Attorney Had to Make a speeci
TO His Client to Get It.

to His Client to Get It.
| From the Atlanta Constitution.
"The hardest earned fee ever made -
remarked lawyer in the city court room
| few days ago, twas In n Justices court In
Atlanta. That was just after came here,
over ten years ago. The case was before
Judge Butt, when his Office was on Mitch
ell street, near the corner of Whitehall.
Surely lawyer mover worked harder Tor
u ten dollar fee than did in that case"
IL was during the recess for dinner. and
quite q number of lawyers had gathered
about one of the open windows TO enjoy
the breeze and to smoke their cigars. The
conversation tooki retrospective, remin-
iscent turn.
any client" continued tho lawyer, hi.
eyes twinkling at the recollection, twas
Gabe Turner. an old darkey. He was
charged with assault and battery. Gabe
was a big deacon in some church--Tye for
gotten the name--and was very much
worked up over the matter. II was really
a trivial case, and was inclined 10 believe
with Gabo that 1t was all a persecution, and
done at the instigaiion Of another deacon In
Gabos church.
"Well, the day came for the trial and the
court room was crowded. About half the
congregation had come to swear for Gabe
and the other half for tho other man. Two
thirds of the witnesses were women, and
they would just go back 10 the beginning -
you know what that means in negro
church quarrel and tell the whole story.
7" II was a rare old case.
Finally we agreed to submit the case
without any more evidence, and without
argument.
"Old Gabe was acquitted.
Next day, as no promised, Gabe came
to see me. The old darkcy was able to
pay, aud I knew him to be prompt in
meeting his debts. | relt a vague misgiy-
ing, though, as soon as | saw his face. lie
came to the point at once.
Well, boss, said Gabe, Il come to
pay you for my case.
"That soupded,all right, but Gabe look ed
skittish. ! noticed that, suppose, because
] needed the money so. | just had to
have It,
80 An if We kin agree old Gabe went
on, Eve got the money right here.
as Agree said |, didn't we make an
agreement to begin withP'
"' Dat 3 so,' admitted Gabe, but ] was
countin on "A speech in dat case. Dem
niggers ought certainly to been 'sposed.
De speech was de big part
" But l wasn't going to give up that ten
dollars If there was any way out Of 1t.
"'The charge was dismissed against YOU
Gahe, said !, and the other nigger paid
all The costs. What good could 1t do TO
make n specch2'
3 ".Twouldn' or done no good. De speech
was de big part OF me cause | wanted to
hear dem niggers 'sposed.
% tiabe, said ], finally, will you stick
To your contract, or will you not?'
"' I'll stick TO IL, said Gabe, 'ef you'll
make de speech.
" j had to have the ten dollars, and there
was only one way to get 1t. | shut the
doors and windows, and sat Gabe in one
corner of the room. Then took oil my
coat and made the speech of my life. |
understood, of course, that Gnbe didn't
caro- anything about the law. All he wanted
was To hear the other crowd 'sposed.'
" i spoke accordingly. l called the other
deacon a flop-earcd hound. "A chicken-thief,
and tho Lord only knows what not. Tho
witnesses on the other side were villains of
the deepest dye. They wero spots on the
earth and imps of pcrditon.
81 spoke for ten minutes, / suppose. Old
Gabe leaned back, and his black face was
radiant. AT the nop-earcd hound part old
Gabo's hands came together in n hallelujah
pat, and happiness came over him too
deep for words.
" GLORY said Gahc Oats right
81 wound up with a eulogy on the God
liness and honesty of my client, Gabriel.
"Well, gentlemen, got the ton dollars.
Gabc moved To Gwinnett county after that,
and twice since thon he has needed n law
yer. Both times he came To Atlanta after
me. can charge what please, and Gabc
pays II Cheeriully.n