Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-10-05
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
LEGAL INTEGRITY


from their studies, and just admitted
10 the bar, were listening to his advice.
The old jurist was complacently smok.
ing his pipe and was in a communica-
tive mood.
Young men," he said. whatever
may be your strait never take a case
before a jury, or before any court. un.
less you have your right bower for a
lead"
II the reader surmises from this that
the old Judge was fond Of euchre, he
will not have surmised amiss.
The young men looked at him inquir-
ingly.
IL mean," he added, that you shall
never advocate a cause into the work
of which you cannot enter with clear
conscience. You shall never accept a
client whose cause you do not believe
TO be just
Can this rule always be adhered
tor" asked one Of the listeners.
1T can" answered burlington, en-
phatically. 1T is a lawyers firm rock
OF foundation, and the only sure point
OF departure to the respect and con.
fdence of his fellows"
Have you always followed that rule,
Judge?"
IL was never tempted from 1t but
once" he replied. IL will tell you the
story, II you would like to hear it."
or course they would like to; and,
having laid aside his pipe, the old man
commenced:
zone day was waited upon by a
man who gave his name as Laban Sar.
furt. He was of middle age, well
dressed. and at first sight, appeared to
be a gentleman, but the illusion was
dispelled when approaching business.
He was hard and unfeeling. and natur.
ally villain. Success in speculation
had saved him from being a thief or a
lhighwayman. ! heard of him as q
heavy dealer in the up.river lands. He
asked me II was willing to undertake
q job which would call me to Shireton.
told him was open to anything legi.
innate which would pay.
"'Mr. burlington said he, tapping
me with coarse familiarity upon the
arm, I want to secure your services.
You must not be engaged ON the other
side
Il told him II he would explain to
me the case, ! might be better able to
give him an answer He bit an enor.
nous quid of tobacco from black plug,
and having got II into shape between
his jaws, went on with his story.
THE case was one OF ejectment. An
elderly man named Philip Acton had
died, leaving valuable estate. There
was nearly a thousand acres Of land,
Opportunities for developing water
power, and ere many years that land
would be worth more than a million
dollars. At present. upon the estate.
aud claiming Il as son of the de.
ceased, was man calling himself vii.
liam Acton.
But said Sarfurt, he Is not lie.
Ultimate child at all. His mother was
Betsy Totwood, at one time girl in
Acton's employ. Acton, I know, was
never married. He brought the boy
UP, and educated him, and now the fel.
low thinks he will step into his pro-
tector's shoes. can prove that am
the only living relative of Philip Ac.
ton. He was my uncle-my mothers
brother-and, to a lawyer as smart as
you, there can be no difficulty in prov.
ing my title. can bring the witness
to your hand
He told me he would give me $500
II | would undertake his case, and an
additional thousand II gained. That
was big fee-far more than ! had
then made in all my pleading. 1t was
tempting, And yet ] saw that II was
not perfectly clear--not entirely hon.
est, The probability was that this vii.
liam Action was Philips child; and It
was not impossible that Philip had
married Betsy TotwOod. II struck me
that Laban Sarfurt was a villain, and
that he fancied that he had young Ac.
ton SO far in his power that he could
eject him from the title. But what had
! particularly to do with that? IL ]
accepted client, | must serve him. !
had no business but to serve his inter.
est. finally told Mr.. Sarfurt that
would think the matter over; ! should
probably have business in Shireton
during the season Of the court, and
would call on him there, and examine
more fully ! could not take his re-
tainer until | had further light.
But said he, will you promise
rot to take up for the other side?'
Il told him | would do nothing with
out further consultation with him.
Because he added, If you are for
me ! am sure to win. Acton cant find
lawyer that can hold a candle to
you. know them ALL
mo matter whether believed him
or not-I did not feel fiattered.