Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-12

the dINciOuS Ucduts VI us uiStIeSS W d.
only equaled by her extravaganza. He
also had fondness for associating with
younger men than himself and had got
into a particularly fast set of young
lords and army men. At his club he had
lost large sums at baccarat and loo, and,
in an unhappy hour for himself and his,
he stopped from his high position and
miserable to think of-committed a
crime, this in the expectation that he
would relieve himself from some of the
more crushing obligations he had heaped
upon himself, either through the extrav
ngant vaSaries Of his imperious mis-
tress or by his own rashness in trying
his luck among q lot of titled sharpers.
He had among his clients one fast, even
madly extravaganza youth, heir OF
historic name and Of a lordly estate. To
supply his extravaganza "my lord had
applied to the money lenders-those
sharks that in London, as elsewhere, fat
ten on such game. These gentry were
eager to lend the young blood money
upon what are known in English law
rs post obits, which loans in this par
ticular case carried the trifling interest
Of about 100 per cent per annum. James
was cognizant Of his friends excursions
among the money lenders, and no doubt
he thought the young spendthrift, when
he came into his fortune, would never
know within a good many thousands
how much he had borrowed nor even
the number of post obits he had given.
will just explain that 4 post obit is
form Of note or due bill given by the
heir of an estate CASUALLY of an entailed
estate), which natures the moment the
drawer of the document enters into that
estate. That is to say, the tender heart
ed son discounts his fathers death to
provide fuel to feed his flame. So Ed
win James, driven to his own destruc-
ton, stopped from his imperial position
into what one might call ankle depth Of
crime.
He made out two post obits for e5, 900,
wrote his clients name at the bottom
of each, gave them to the money lend
ers, who, never doubling that the prodi-
gal son had signed and given them to
his counsel, had made no question, but
gave James the money for them at once.
host, for this nineteenth century prodi-
gal was made of keener metal than he
Of the first. Strange to say, and utterly
unexpected as it was to all who knew
him and had looked upon his riotous
living, he kept his books straight and
knew to single guinea how much and
to whom he was owing
His discovery of the forgery was ac-
celebrated by the sudden and most unex-
pected death of his father, his return
home and stepping into his estate.
The various post obits were presented
and placed before him. He instantly
pronounced the two for $4,000 each to
be forgeries, and the crime was easily
laid at the door of the queens counsel
The heir Indignantly refused to condone
the offense, and revealing the fatal Sc
cret to a few within a month it was
known in every clubroom in London.
From there it got into the newspapers,
and they, under thinly disguised alias
of distinguished member of the bar, !"
gave more or less accurate details of the
damning truth. His former client even
tually said he would not prosecute the
forgery if the criminal left England; if
not, he would Immediately go before the
grand jury, procure an Indictment and
have this man, who had moved a prince
among men, arraigned in the dock Mt
the Old Bailey, there to plead and stand
trial like any common criminal.
And he fed. Of course, like all fugi-
tives from justice throughout the old
world. he looked to America for city
Of refuge, and here he came. Not to
keep my readers too long from the main
narrative, it will suffice to say that soon
after his arrival he applied for admis-
sion to the bar of New York. but first
he won to his cause the high souled
Richard O'Gorman, then q leader Of his
profession.
1t was for Edwin James lucky
stroke, for at this time O'Gorman was
| in the full possession of his magnificent
| powers. Few could resist his magic. His
great heart was stirred, ard he took NJ
| the cause of his friend as if he had beer
his brother. The English lawyers repu
tation was known to every member OF
the bar of New York, and there had
| p'tl SUN " sis "
| his admission, but when it became
known that their eloquent leader wa:
his champion many began to feel tina,
| perhaps after all 1.-The poor fellow ough,
to be given another chance" and wher
at the next meeting of the Bar associa
ton O'Gorman in set Grafton brought
all his splendid eloquence into play the
| cause was won.
Great hearted O'Gorman had helped
this lame dog over the stile, but the
| dogs heart was not in the right place
and, as my reader will see in the Sc
quel, he soon went lame again.
In the rear room of q somewhat lux
urious range of offices in building OF
Broadway facing the city hall fou
| men were engaged in discussing wha
was evidently an exciting topic. Tn
door Of the main Office bore the sign
Edwin James, Counselor at Law anc
Register In Bankruptcy. He was on
of the four. He had failed lamentabl.
in his efforts to secure a practice. Tn
effects of O'Gorman's eloquence had il
| the gray light of COMMONPLACE day fade,