Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-07-30
His Bread and
Butter Case
BY HENRY L. DOOLITTLE
Copy right, 1908. by Daily story Pub. Co.,

~~sSS
A ND still the damage suits against
~ the Urban Transit company null
tiplied. The general manager was
seated at his desk studying the re.
port of new cases.
'',Phe devil of it is" he muttered,
"the juries have got so used to bring
ing in big damages against this soul
less corporation that they do it from
sheer force of habit. Oh, we'll"
He paused. as he turned to the next
case. civilian Ford, injured in col
lision between his carriage and car
728, motorman 253, conductor 176,
Hamilton road and Graham. May "a,
10 a. M" he read; witnesses disa-
gree concerning speed of car and
sounding of gong" -
"That means another big hole in
our dividends" he reflected grimly.
As he turned to the next memoran-
dunn, his secretary entered with a
card. bearing the simple script, John
C.%Archer, Counsellor at law"
'John C. Archer? John C.--Arch-
err" he repeated absently. "Where
have T heard that name before? Oh,
yes, now Ishave it; 1T my last frater-
nifty dinner, nice young chap he was,
too-and a stranger in town. Won
der if he wants some help? Oh, we'll,
show him in," this last to the secre-
tary, who stood awaiting reply.
"Ah, now I've made connections -
he exclaimed half aloud, as the latter
was leaving the room. II can just re-
member having heard the girls at the
dinner table discussing young Archer
and old Fcrd's daughter. Said she
wore a ring, and seemed to think it
was sure thing"
& swell, well, I'm more than glad to
see you again, Mr.. Archer" cordially
exclaimed the general manager later.
Have chair. Let's see, you have
come in reference to that suit being
Instituted by Mr.. Ford? Did he send
you here to settle out of court?"
He-sent-me-here the other
repeated slowly. "Why, he didn't
send me. I came to see if you
wouldn't let me take up your side of
the case"
:. 'What in the name Of the gener-
al manager checked himself and
gazed thoughtfully out of the win
dow. "But I thought you and Miss
Ford" again he checked himself as
the young man rose stifay.
ooh, come now" he added in a
fatherly way, "we're both Chi Phi
men and I like you immensely, but
how am I to know you are not just
trying to be put on the case under
Ford's directions. The Lord only
knows we stand poor enough show
to win with loyal attorneys. Old
Ford knows that, he's no fool,-nor is
he above trying to buy in the lawyers
on the opposite side, as
n "Stop!"t cried Archer in a sudden
fury. I won't hear a word against
him."
VI "How is it you're not on his side
them" dryly queried the other.
4 II did try" he admitted.
Fl "And got turned down in more
ways than one, Ell? So this, I take
It, is in revenge"
"No! it's bread and butter. He told
me that as a lawyer would never be
worth the room took up, he'd stake
his daughter on that. I intend to
show him that even if he can de-
prive me of the sweets of life, he can
not of the substance. 1t is dollars
and cents and reputation against
sentiment that has brought me here"
But let me tell you trolley case
is the poorest sort to stake your rep
sutation on, particularly when you are
the under dog. Why, the plaintiff
can make these juries believe that
snnything that bears any relation to
III trolley company is always black"
"But you haven't given me chance
to explain my mode Of procedure, ="
the lawyer made haste to reply. eff
L can give satisfactory proof of my
standing a good chance to win your
case, will you let me try? You know
the Fords came less than six months
ago-and followed"
& T.. ''All right, fire away. If you can
satisfy me, I'll give you carte blanche
to try it on that dog of jury. Any
thing dramatic just suits them to q
T."
Half an hour later young Archer
left the general managers office, the
possessor of a retaining fee and legal
contract to defend the case of "Ford
vs.. The Urban Transit company"
The trial had dragged on in the
customary way. The prosecution
had produced dozen witnesses to
swear that the car was running at
least Is miles an hour; and the de-
fence had produced as many. pro-
cured from only the general man.
aager knew where, to assert that it
was moving but moderately, and that
the gong was rung for several Sec
onds before the collision.
= This and much more to the same
effect had brought to the faces of the
IL jurors a settled expression of a
foregone unanimity that augured ill
to the traction interests.