The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-04-27
A TALE or
TWO TRADES
How the Lawyer Hangs It
Over the Newspaper
Man.

/ y
day and probably loaded up pretty
freely on "Uno" and other Rat
drinks, and consequently did not feel
in the best Of humor. He knew also
that the boss was in Kansas City to-
day to buy new material with which
to handle the Associated Press SER
vice, and of course took advantage to
say things that he would not if he
were here.
He wanted to know if we had ever
heard the story about the lawyer.
We told him we had not. Well, he
says John Blackstone was lawyer
in prosperous territory town. The
town was more prosperous than John,
probably, and better known, although
lawyers are quick to get acquainted.
But John was a hustler and always
had his EYE open for business
One day court opened, and among
other prisoners arraigned at the bar
was a man charged with stealing a
horse. The prisoner had no money
and no friends, But the court said
no man should be prosecuted without
chance to defend himself; SO accord
ing TO law an attorney was appointed
for the defense John secured the
appointment. 1t was the first really
fat job he had secured for a year, and
he meant to make the most of it. He
made an affidavit for continuance and
had the trial postponed. He secured
further continuance on the ground
that important witnesses we're absent.
Then he entered plea Of abatement,
and when that failed he filed mo-
tion to quash. Finally he had to 80
to trial, and he made splendid plea
for his client-but the client had to
60 to jail.
Then John filed claim for 500 as
his fee. The court intimated that it
was too high, but John said:
"Your honor, it is a reasonable fee.
am willing to leave the question to
my fellow members Of the bar"
The judge agreed, and called several
lawyers up.
aIs 500 a reasonable fee for de-
fending the prisoners" asked the
judge.
ut is too reasonable; John should
have charged $50, said another law
yer.
1T is unreasonably low said an
other lawyer.
81 would have asked $500 If it had
been my case, said another.
Every lawyer called insisted that
Johns claim was reasonable and just,
and the Judge ordered the clerk Of the
court to draw a warrant for 500 for
John Blackstone "for services rem
deredn
Did you ever hear the story about
the editor, said Nip. No? Well, its
different.
John Smith was editor of a daily
paper in the same town. He had in
vested seven or eight thousand dollars
in his printing plant, and for years
he doomed the town, the county and
the territory and everything calcu-
lated to advance the interests Of his
community. He worked day and
night to get out a good paper, give
his advertisers the worth Of their
money and his subscribers all the
news. Being a fearless advocate Of
what he thought to be right at all
times he had made some enemies of
course, and seldom ever received any
party patronage, but he never falter-
ed or cared for that. One time po-
litical revolution came, and Smith
picked out good men and worked |
teeth and toenail for their election.
Johns friends thought he ought to
receive the city printing without even
asking for it, and John kept saving
wood And that's where John dropped /
his wax
When the time came to give out the
work the officers preferred to dribble
it out in small taxes, 50 as to keep
John fromgetting it at a remu neratiye
figure.
Did Johns professional brethren I
say he ought to have it2
Not on your Washington hand
press. And yet there are people in
this town who wonder why lawyers
get rich while newspaper publishers
have to scratch like thunder to keep
their heads above watff.
WEATHER FORECAST Ill