The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-07-15
FORGOT "rHE OLD WOMAN"


for His Employers
A lawyer who halls from the Buck
eye state is responsible for this story:
Three years ago farmer and his
wife living near Alliance, o., while re-
turning from the town to their home
in two-horse wagon, had occasion to
cross the tracks of the Pennsylvania
railroad. A fast express came thunder
ing down upon them, and threw the
old people from the wagon, severely In
juring the woman, killing the two horses
and smashing the wagon into flinders.
Our lawyer friend, who represented
the railroad, knowing that their case
in the hands of good attorney would
result disastrously for his clients,
swooped down upon them for the pur-
pose of effecting a rapid settlement.
He found the old folks ''at hum" but
the wife was in bed. crippled, SO the
physician had said, for life. He asked
after their health, and found the old
gentleman talkative to prolixity. The
details of the accident were again
brought out, though the lawyer knew
them as accurately as the old fellow
himself. Gradually the skilled ques.
toner led up to proposition for a set
Element, and when the proper moment
had arrived, it came.
"And what do you estimate your
damages at, Mr.. W." he asked with
the most engaging smiles.
"Wall, reckon the wagon was wuth
nigh unto seventy-fve dollars"
"And the horses"
Ali !
for them"
"Now, Mr.. W, am prepared tc
settle for the damage. He pulled sheet
of foolscap and n fountain pen from
his pocket and began to write.
"Seventy-five dollars you say for the
wagon?" he repeated.
"Ye'd better make that one hundred
dollars. 1t was the best had"
| Certainly, certainly; and the horses
you said, were worth two hundred dol.
lars apiece?'
81 paid that fur them, but wouldn't
"a sold them fur less than two hundred
and seventy-five dollars EACH"
"Our company doesn't mind little
thing like that. We're perfectly willing
to accept your own valuation. Let.
see, that is total of six hundred anc
fifty dollars. All right, Mr.. w
here's your money, and this '(he picked
up the paper) will be my receipt il
full. Just sign here, please"
''Waal, waal," calculated the farmer
as pleased expression stole over hi.
face, ''you folks is onterprisin, to say
the least. There you are," and h,
wound up the last letter with flourish
"And," continued the attorney, s'a'
you are joint owners in this homestead
and property, I'll just ask your wife t,
put her name beneath it"
1t was soon done. The attorney pu
on his hat and coat, quaffed glass O
hard cider with his host and departed
Two weeks later another lawye
dropped in on the old folks He was
legal sharp from Canton.
II see you had an accident a few
weeks ago on the Pennsylvania, h
opened. "Of course you are going t,
sue the company for damages to you
property and wife?''
The old mans eyes glistened. IN.
wife?" he repeated.
eyes, she is damaged fifty thousant
dollars worth at least"
"B' gosh! Say, young man, jest talk
me out in the woodshed and hit me il
the neck. I've gone and done il
You've come toolate and I've made al
ass of myself. I was SO dern anxiou
to get the full vally O. them inferno
horses and that riclsety old dun-colore
wagon that clean forgot the oil
woman. We've both signed a receip
in full for all damages, and you've los
case. e."-Detroit Free Press.