The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-30
A HYPoTHETICAL CASE.
By NJ. Quad.)

There We're half a dozen lawyers in
the city of Burlington who were re-
ferred to as smart members of the pro-
fession, but when one inquired for the
very smartest he was always recon-
mended to see John Taylor The more
perilous he considered his case the stiff
fer the recommend.
If Taylor takes your case you can
consider it Won was common re-
mark.
There is quite a difference between a
smart lawyer and a very smart law
yer The one is naturally bright and
logical; he understands the law as laid
down; he appeals for conviction or ac-
quittal on the grounds of the evidence
furnished; he appeals to each juror as
man of sense and reason; he does
his best within the confines of the law
and established practice, win or lose.
very smart lawyer is a mixture of
the sharper and the lawyer. He mixes
his law and his sophistry in equal
parts. He mingles his tears and his
eloquence. He thinks more of the trick
up his sleeve than of the plain letter
OF the law. his object is to beat the
law and clear his client. In arguing
for the defendant one day he will up
set his own arguments for the defend
ant of the day previous.
That was John Taylor. Whenever he
was pinned down to straight law before
Judge he was beaten; whenever he
cessful. If he hadn't been we'll off in
this worlds goods and a member of
one of the best clubs and a smart poll
tician, no one would have hesitated to
refer to him as a shyster. AS it was,
his brother lawyers thought so without
saying it. while clients didn't care what
he was as long as they won their
cases.
Lawyer Taylor had all sorts and
kinds of clients come and go, and was
never surprised on this particular July
afternoon when a we'll dressed and re-
spectacle looking stranger called and
laid hundred dollar bill on his desk
and observed that he had two or three
hypothetical questions to ask He was
told to go ahead, and he lighted cigar
and said:
tain man. who is now about forty
years old, (that appeared to be about
his age) was q lad of ten, he, in his
innocence, attempted to pick up the
scented the familiarity and kicked the
boy in the head. From that date
change was observed in the boy
There naturally would be-" replied
the lawyer
between articles belonging to himself
and to others, and by and by this be-
came a fixed habit with him. In other
words. you might say that he became
q thief. Do you think that a jury
could be made to understand that con-
cussion of the brain sometimes acts
that way?'
II haven't a doubt of it. I am sure
that I could also get two or three doc
tors to testify to that effect
'.As the youth grows up he is all
right morally EXCEPT on that one
point He persists in possessing him
self of other peoples property and
converting it to his own use. He be-
comes a thief burglar and confidence
man. 1t was the kick that did it ALL
But for that kick he must have
grown up to be a Sunday school super
intendent Do you think the jury
could be made to see it in this light %
without the slightest doubt. sir. A
Jury can be made to see anything in
any light if property presented" re-
piled the lawyer.
.eWen, on a recent OCCASION need
not say just how recent-this person
who had been kicked when boy en-
tered a fine mansion in the suburbs