Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-03-28
A Hard Earned Fee.

THE hardest earned fee i ever
made" remarked a lawyer in the city
court room few days ago, was in q
Justice court in Atlanta. That was
just after came here, over ten years
ago. The case was before Judge Butt,
when his office was on Mitchell street
near the corner OF Whitehall. Surely
a lawyer never worked harder for a
so fee than did in that case"
1t WAS during the recess for dinner
and quite a number OF lawyers had
gathered about one OF the open win
dows TO enjoy the breeze and 10
smoke their cigars. The converse
tion took retrospective, reminiscent
turn.
My client" continued the lawyer,
his eyes twinkling at the recollection
was Gabe Turner, an old darkey.
He was charged with assault and bat
terry. Gabe was big deacon in some
church-l've forgotten the name
and was very much worked up over
the matter. Ii was really trivial
case. and was inclined 10 believe
with Gabe that il was all persecu-
ton, and done at the instigation OF
another deacon in Gabe's church.
well, the day came for the trial
and the court t-room was crowded.
About half the congregation had
come TO swear for Gabe. and the other
half for the other man. Two-thirds
OF the witnesses were women, and
they just would so back to the be-
ginning-Sou know what that means
in negro church quarrel-and tell
the whole story.
1T 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 he had promised,
Gabe came to see me. The old dar'
key was able to pay, and i knew him
to be prompt in meeting his debts. |
felt vague misgiving. though, a.
soon as saw his face. He came To
the point at once.
well, boss, said Gabe, i come 10
pay you for my case.
That sounded all right, but Gabe
looked skittish. noticed that, sup
pose. because needed the money So
just had TO have il.
An if We kin agree, Gabe went
on, I've got the money right here
Agree, said |, 'didn't we make al
agreement TO begin withi'
dat so, admitted Gabe, butt was
countin' on Il speech In dat case.
Dem niggers ought certain To been
'sposed. DE speech was de big part
But | wasn't going to give up that
ten dollars II there was any way out
il.
The charge II dismissed against
you, Gabe, said |, and the other ne
gro paid all the costs. What good
could it do to make n speech 2
"Twouldn'er done no good. De
speech was de big part wild me cause
| wanted to hear deiu niggers 'sposed.
"'Gabe, said |, finally, will you stick
10 your contract or will you notr
IN stick to IL, said Gabe, 'ef you'll
make de speech.
Il had TO have ten dollars, and
there was only one way To get it.
shut the doors and windows, and sat
Gabe in one corner OF the room.
Then took of my coat and made
the speech Of my life. understood,
OF course, that Gabe didn't care any
thing about the law. All he wanted
was to hear the other crowd 'sposed.
II spoke accordingly. ] called the
other deacon flop-eared hound,
chicken thief and the Lord only
knows what not The witnesses on
the other side were villains OF the
deepest dye. They were pests on the
earth ana linps oil peruition.
II spoke Tor ten minutes, suppose.
Old Gabe leaned back, and his black
face was radiant. At the fop-eared
hound part old GaDe's hands came
together ia u ballelujah pat, and
happiness came over him too deep for
oIds.
"GloryV said Gabe, 'dat's right
Il wound up with a eulogy on god
illness and the honesty OF my CLIENT
Gabriel.
well, gentlemen, / got the 90.
Gabe moved to GwiDnett county after
that, and twice since he has needed a
lawyer. Both tiInes he came to At
lanta after me. can charge what
please, and Gabe pays 1t cbeerfuly."