The Portland daily press., 1901-01-23
THE TABLES TURNED.
How One Lawyer Got the "Ha
Ha" From a Client.
The Case Certainly Looked Promis-
ing on the Surface, but There Were
Phases Ia II Calculated 90 shock
the Knight of the Green bag.

Phases In IL Calculated 60 shock
the Knight of the Green bag.
81 turned the tables on a shyster law
yer in rather an amusing fashion not
long ago." said a prominent railroad man,
"and, while | hadn't intended TO tell the
story, II is really too good to keep. The
shysters who make a speciality Of bring
ing damage actions against corporations
are the bugbear of the railroads.
Lately competition has become abso-
lutely ferocious among the damage case
shysters Of our section, and it has COM
PEELED them to resort to desperate expe-
dients. Incredible as II may seem. at
least half a dozen Of them are at present
advertising openly that they will pay
liberal fees TO anybody who win bring in
cases that promise good results A law
ing paying instead of demanding fee is
a startling reversal of the usual order of
things, and the first time | saw one Of the
ads | decided ont OF mere curiosity 10
pay the gentleman n visit and ascertain
some particulars MS 10 his little game.
81 don't care to locate him definitely, as
that would merely exploit his business,
and suffice II TO say he turned out TO be
very smooth looking middle aged indi-
vidual, nicely quartered In one of the
most respectable buildings in town. He
was surrounded by corps of clerks and
stenogra pliers, but he led me into a pri-
vate room, and proceeded TO tell him
cock and bull story about friend who
had been thrown off of one of our pas
senger trains because he presented a
scalper's ticket. Being posted in rail-
roading, | dare say | made my yarn
pretty circumstantial, and let him infer
that / was a small tradesman from the
other end of the city. He asked me a
number of shrewd questions and finally
said he would take the case.
up TO that moment" the railroad man
went on, II had no inclination of doing
more than find out his modus opcrandi,
but il suddenly occurred to mo to push
the hoax a little further. We'll, what do
get out of this myselfT | asked. i
will give you $40 cash. he replied, as
soon as | sign a contract with the client,
agreeing upon our mutual percentage Of
whatever is recovered, or | will give you
a 5 per cent interest in my fee he added,
whichever you prefer
al told him / would rather have the
cash and left. promising TO send around
my friend. My private clerk is naturally
n very solemn looking chap, and when
got back to the Office / told him he would
have to impcrsonate the suffering victim
OF a hcartless corporation. He didn't like
the idea and was fearful of getting into
some kind Of trouble. but | finally talked
him over and gave him thorough coach
ing in the story he was to tell. even got
an old scalper's ticket to give the nara
tive realism, and bright and early next
day we went around to the shyster's. He
received us cordially, and my man spun
his yarn a great deal better than l cx-
pected. He entered into the spirit Of the
role and looked the spirit OF virtuous in
dignation.
"'That's capital said the lawyer, and
il you do as well on the witness stand it
will add thousand to the verdict Don't
you think Your back was hurt a little,' be
added, when that brutal conductor put
you OFF the trainP
"My fake claimant said he wouldn't be
surprised If 1t was, and, to make long
story short, they signed a contract by
which the attorney was to defray all ex-
penses and get 60 per cent of the gross
amount secured and his client 30 per cent
After the document was duly completed
j reminded the shyster of my Zee. He
AOph blf lilAo Nht JUN IDUAb anu hAA4hNb
me two 50 bills.
II waited with some eagerness for the
next Development" said the railroad
man. "and sure enough on the second day
of our visit | received a letter from the
shyster himself. l can repeat it almost
verbatim from memory. 1t ran about like
this:
"'Dear Sir-Mr. - of this city has
{uct vIaonI In rov hords cioip, o., 10 M
ages against your road The facts of the
case are substantially as follows Here
came a brief recapitulation of the story
told in the office. with a few embellish
ments OF his own. You win perceive
from the statement the letter went on.
that my client has been outrageously
misused and has excellent ground for
action. | have made it rule, however
to avoid the expense and delay of lti-
CATION whenever the same is possible,
and as this case seems TO be perfectly
plain / feel confident that both justice
and expediency will suggest the adyisa-
bility of meeting me half way in some
anicable adjustment outside OF court. II
you are disposed TO take this view OF the
matter, ] will be pleased to confer with
your representative at any time and
place you may designate. Otherwise i
will be compelled to institute vigorous
proceedings. Begging the favor OF re-
ply at your earliest convenience, l am,
yours truly
II never sat down TO write letter with
more enthusiasm in my life" continued
the railroad man. ''and suppose my
style was whetted by some knowledge of
such individuals. Anyhow, this is what
j said:
"'Dear Sir-Rcplying TO your esteemed
favor of even date, would say that you
are quite an easy mark yourself for
gentleman in your interesting line of
business. | had the pleasure of intro
ducng 10 your attention the case TO
which you refer and have contributed
my $40 commission TO the fresh air fund.
] feel confident under the circumstances
that both justice and expediency will
suggest the adyisability Of SlyinS low"
but should you see fit TO can at tho oilios
] will certainly meet you half way and
do myself the honor OF kicking you down
stairs. am, yours chcerfully.'