The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-07-05

His First Case In Court



George Crawford left the high school
of his native village to go to college
with view to becoming q lawyer
How he was to pay his way no one
knew, for he had not cent in the
world. Moreover, there was a love
match between him and his school
mate, Maggie Pixley, the beginning Of
which neither could remember The
affair first began to look serious when
George went to college. At least, it
was then that Maggie's father first
took notice of it and showed his oppo-
sition. He reminded his daughter that
she was at a marriageable age, while
her lover had four years at college,
three at law school and no one could
tell how many more in getting prac-
tice at his profession. But all this de-
pended on his getting the money to
pay his expenses. Maggie made up her
mind to wait for George Crawford.
George at his entrance to college won
a scholarship that by dint of rigid
economy helped him through his first
year. After that he did odd jobs,
taught, won prizes, thus scraping to-
gether enough to put him through col
lege When 1t came to studying law,
ne found a position in q school requir-
ing but few hours of each day. This
gave HIM What he needed to complete
his legal education.
George was advised by most of his
professors to plant himself in large
city, but one of them, differing from
the rest, recommended the country,
where, If the field was smaller, the
competition was less. George chose the
country and settled in his native vii
lage
When one finds himself on the wrong
side of question the more the case
goes against him the closer he is tempt
ed to cling to it. Maggie's father was
the notary Of the village, and, having
once studied little law in a country
office, now found his daughters sutton,
whom he had opposed, looking down on
him from a comparatively high legal
pinnacle. His opposition to the match
was more obstinate than it had been
seven years before
Judge PiXley, as he had come to be
called by his fellow citizens who knew
his weakness in respect to legal lore,
was the recipient of many small trusts.
One day four men came together to
his office and after asking if he were
Judge Plxley, laying stress on the
Judge" asked him to take charge of
some $4,000 till they should call for
it again, offering him large fee The
notary, without stopping to inquire
whence the men came, accepted the
trust and at their request drew up q
receipt, ending with an agreement tc
pay over the money when called fol
to each and every one Of those who
had left it with him and to none OF
them separately. This done, they de
! parted.
In few minutes the spokesman OF
, the party, who had f1attered the no
tary, returned and said that he wished
to count the money. Pixley put hin
at table with the bills and during the
counting was called for moment into
another room. When he returned boil
the man and the money had vanished
This was the severest blow the no
tary had ever received. The only prop
erty he possessed was his dwelling
and he had been years paying off {
mortgage upon it. To replace the los
money would require the sacrifice Of
the house and something besides The
old man was in an agony. He spen
; what ready money he had going to the
city and consulting lawyers, all Of
whom told him that the theft of one O.
the depositors did not absolve his in
debtedness to the Others
He was not kept long in suspense
In few days the men, excepting the
thief, returned and claimed their prop
erty. Not receiving it. they entered
suit against PiXley, and as there was
but little business before the court the
case was soon called for trial There
was no lawyer in the place excep
George Crawford, and Pixley had NJ
money with which to pay a lawyer
Maggie begged George to do something
for her father, and the old man wa:
obliged to intrust his case to the per
son he SO bitterly opposed.
vi lle udy OIL tue Irlal eXcelleu
counsel appeared on behalf Of thu
claimants, who made speeches settin:
forth 'the villainy of the rascal VIII,
had sought to defraud these homes
men Of their dues" Crawford sa
without protest to these charges, thu
l gaping villagers setting him down fo
very poor lawyer for not hurting
them back in the attorneys teeth. TIL,
Judge and jury were not averse to Pix
ley, but they did not see how the.
could obey the law and not find a yer
dict for the plaintiff
When the case against the defendan
had been stated and George arose i
7 was hoped that at last he would max,
a fiery speech accusing the claimant;
of collision besides other crimes an(
set forth the high standing the defend
ant had held In the community. In
stead he called for reading of the re
ceipt. When the reader came to tn,
words 'shall pay to the said (the name
here followed together and not sepa
a rately" George called a halt and said:
oVn11r honor 7 ac1. iisrniSca