The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-05-10
A Hard-Earned Fee.


city court room few DAYS ago,
twas In justice court in Atlanta.
! That was just after l 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 lawyer never
worked harder for $40 fee than |
did in that case"
1t was during the recess for dinner
and quite number of lawyers had
gathered about one of the open win
dows to enjoy the breeze and to
smoke their cigars. The conversation
took retrospective. reminiscent
turn.
my client" continued the lawyer
his eyes tWinkling at the recOllec-
ton, twas Gabe Turner, an old dar-
key. He Was charged with assault
and battery. Gabe WAS big deacon
in some church-I've forgotten the
name-and was very much worked
up oyer the matter. 1t was really a
trivial case, and | was inclined to be.
lieye with Gabe that it was all per-
secutiOn, and done at the inStigation
of another deacon in Gabe's church.
"WelI, 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 the other man. Two
thirds of the witnesses were women,
and they just would go back to the
beginning - you know what that
means in negro church quarrel
and tell the whole story.
ut was rare old case.
"Finally we agreed 10 submit the
case without any more evidence and
without argument.
"Old Ga6e was acquitted.
Next day, as he had promised,
Gabe came to see me. The old darkey
was able to pay, and | knew him to
be prompt in meeting his debts. l
felt a vague miSgiving, though, as
soon as l saw his face. He came to
the point at once.
"Well, boss,' said Gabe. 4 come
to pay YOU for my case.'
"That sounded al! right, but Gabe
lOOIya1 CIyitfiSb pntiooH that
suppose. because l needed the money
so. 1 just had to have it.
"An' if we kin agree old Gabe
went on. 1--we got de money right
here"
"'Agree.' said l. didn't we make
an agreement to begin with %
"'Dat So admitted Gabe. but /
was countin' on a speech in dat case.
Dem niggers ought 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 it.
"'The charge Is dismissed against
you. Gabe, said /, and the other ne.
gro paid all the costs. What good
could it do to make a speech. p
'Twouldn'er done no good. De
speech was de big part wild me, cause
I wanted to hear dem niggers 'spos-
ed.'
"'Gabe.' said I. finally, will you
stick to your contract or will you
nOt?'
"'I'll stick TO it, said Gabe, 'ef
you'll make de speech
IL had to have ten collars, and
there was only one way to get it.
shut the doors and windows, and sat
Gabe in one corner of the room.
Then l took off my coat and made
the speech of my life. 1 understood,
of course, that Gabe didn't care any
thing for the law. All he wanted TO
hear was the other crowd ''spOsed.'
~ spoke accordingly. I called the
other deacon f1op-eared hound, a
chicken-thief and the Lord only
knows what. The witnesses on the
other side were Williams of the deep
est dye. They were spots on the
earth and imps of perdition.
/ spoke for ten minutes. suppose.
Old Gabe leaned back. and his black
face was radiant. At the flop. cared
hound part old Gabe's hands came
together in a halIeluiah pat, and
happiness came oyer him too deep
for words.
"'Gloryv said Gabe, OATS right
II wound up with a eulUgy on the
goodness and honesty of my client,
Gabriel.
"WeH. Gentlemen, 1 got the $40.
Gabe moved to GWinnett county
after that, and twice since then he