The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-03
BLIGHTED WITH 4 ASH or WIT.
How an I p-state Lawyer Of the Old school
Crushed n Tr OublcsOme ants c Onist.

NTusUtu " TT OuDltsOiit anu its
A group of lawyers in an uptown hote
the other evening were telling stories.
amusing anecdotes of their experiences at
the bar, when the conversation turned on
the subject OF the old-fashioned upstate
lawyer, a type. 1t was averred. that now IL
rapidly becoming extinct.
Il know an ideal specimen OF the good
old kind" said one Of those present. II
is living now mp in his old home in Madison
county, well on in years, but still hale and
hearty and still preserving the old tradi-
ions of tine bar even TO attire, his solemn
black clothing having become as much a
part of his identity as his grave face and
dignified bearing. A. L. Sheldon is his
name, and the memory Of his sarcastic
humor il destined TO live many years after
he has passed away.
Il remember an instance Of it which 1
myself happened to hear. OF course II is
quite impossible TO give a proper idea OF
the incident, for the reason that II IL impos-
sible to initiate the dry. solemn drawl with
which Mr.. Sheldon speaks. IL was a case
of settlement of a guardians account before
A. ID. Kennedy as Surrogate. The guardian
was seeking to charge the bondsmen OF a
deceased administrator Of the wards
mother with a very considerable amount OF
property which il was claimed was misap-
propriated. d. l.. Atkyns of Sherburne
now dead, and a young lawyer. represented
the bondsmen.
There had been a long trial and CON-
siderable heat was evol we'd a. counsel for
the bondsmen had attacked the guardian
on the delicate point of his ver2Sty. On
full day and a considerable partOf another
were occupied in the summing up, I he
young lawyer who with Mr.. Atkyns was
representing the bondsmen made an ar
gument about an hour long. The young
lawyer did not display any very great de-
gree Of asperity in his remarks. yet there
were some things he said which aroused
Mr.. Sheldon's venerable ire. For the
Young lawyer Mr.. Sheldon had a very
kindly feeling. but Atkyns and he were old
time antagonists who had fought many a
bitter duel Of words in the course of their
practice. SO when Mr.. Sheldon arose to re-
ply he applied the lash 10 Atkyns over ths
younger mans head.
"he said that he felt sorrow rather than
ange at the young lawyers hellish coaduct,
attributing the young mans ownfal
solely to the baneful influence Of Atkvns.
He went on at great length to tell the Sur
roga,e thai he had known the Young lawver
from his infancy and had known and
respected his father before him. H traced
the Young mans career up to date, told OF
his marriage and related how, only a short
time before, he had seen him on the street
leading by the hand his beautiful little
golden-haired girl and how the sight had
moved his. Sheldon, heart. Then in
vivid color he pointed the picture OF the
Young mans downfall resultant upon his
association with Atkyns whom he made
out to he more d~espicable in character
thanUriah Heep and aVerred in substance
that the spectacle Of a young man brought
low by such Affiliations was one OF the sor-
rows Of his life.
There wore no difficult questions Of law
In the case. but there were some sharp
issues Of fact. Now both Mr. Sheldon and
MIR. Atkyns. a. all who knew them were
aware, we're very astute lawyers, familiar
with the ancient writer's and the principles
and sources ~ the common law. In the
course Of his argument Mr.. Atkyns had.
upon some plain, simple legal proposition.
cited several English authorities and pre-
c.dents, dating back several centuries.
This was regarded by Mr. sheldon a. a
bumptious attempt on the part Of Mr..
Atkins a. display his erudition. and when
he came To reply on this particular point
he simply showed poor Atkyns under with
venerable authorities. He cited Coke ou
Iittleton and Blackstone and Mansfield
Eldon He quoted the French code.
the Justinian code and the Mosaic Law.
He talked In English. German, French,
| attn and Gr,ek And. finally. by way -
he Numbered
'Thi- has always bron the law IL
"a as the law before the dANs - Bl~ackstonr,
t@fpra the dave - Coke. before the DAYS
J%u-tinlRn. before the davs oi Moese
II ~as ~" law away hack Ia tho-' dim aud
dave l-fur. the creation q the
when there Nas nobody but God