The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-12
CURIOUS LAWYER FEES.
CounseIors Net Always Paid in Cash
for Services.
From the Milwaukee sentincl.)


Sometimes there are fabulously large
fees paid to attorneys for services which
seem trifiing in comparison, but it is only
sometimes, not always, that such fees are
paid. The boy who is educated for the
law, who thinks that within year after
he hangs out his shingle' he will have a
practice which will ensure him COM
petence, will find that he is up against"
an entirely different proposition when he
enters on his chosen career. Even the old
lawyers do not always get cash fees, and
the stories of queer fees that have been
paid to Milwaukee lawyers alone would
fill a volume. Burglars loot, farm pro-
duce, labor of all descriptions, almost
everything imaginable. would appear on
the list.
The story of fee told by one young
lawyer is one of the kind where a lawyer
does not like TO have his name mentioned,
but it probably wasn't HIS fault A WISH
tor was in the bachelors den of the
young lawyer, when he noticed an en-
graved spoon, hanging by a ribbon among
some photographs, as though 1t might be
q relic of some sentimental collegian' 8
love affair.
THAT spoon is fee for clearing a client
one time said the owner of the decora-
tion. I had that given to me after
defended old Bill Bradley. the burglar
when | was practicing up North. -
said Judge W. H Halsey. II had a fee in
kind that ! appreciated as much l
have $500 fees at other times. | had de-
Tended an old farmer in small suit,
though uld not expect 10 get any pay
from him. The suit was decided in our
favor and the old farmer and his wife
went home.
Some months afterward the two came
into my office with package and bundle
tied up in a handkerchief The package
was roll of butter, the handkerchief
bundle was hazel nuts. and from the old
farmers pocket came two big rosy
checked apples. That butter, apples, and
nuts fee was as satisfactory to me as any
] ever received.
For ten years have never paid 10 have
an umbrella mended' said one lawyer.
THE rich landlord of the story book
style wanted the store the old crippled
umbrella man was using for shop, and
started to force the old fellow out I
fixed him so nice that he was allowed 10
stay. and ever since that | have taken my
rain shields to him for free mending.
That was all the fee | received for that
case, too"
Il had the secrets of my own lodge Of
fered me payment for a service said
one attorney who belongs to several secret
orders. II was sitting in my office one day
when "A well dressed woman came in and
wanted advice. Her husband, to whom
she was but recently married, was mem
Der of a secret society.
II think it's perfectly horrid of him.
too she said. to have secrets and not to
tell them TO me. When he married me ne
said he would share everything with me.
and the first thing / ask, almost, he won't
do. Can't you make him.
Il asked her to what lodge he belonged
which l myself was member. Then she
went on:
81 tell you what If you will make him
tell them TO me | will tell them to you to
pay you for making him do what | want
That's fair isn't III l should think you
would like TO know things. Need them In
your business. you know.
81 didn't accept that fee