Amador ledger., 1908-03-20
A Modern ShyIOck.
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Father, tell us a story about your
law cases"
Law cases are very uninteresti1g
affairs. However. there is one case
which think may be interesting to
you youngsters because it has a direct
Influence on your existence. will tell
It.
zone day after had got fairly well
started in my practice my office door
opened and a Jew entered.
az hold said he, a note for 5000,
secured by chattel mortgage on some
furniture. The note is due and l can
not collect the money. l wish you to
forccIose the mortgage
81 told him that I did not take such
cases, but would find him a lawyer.
Your Uncle Tom was then scraplng
along for practice, and / intended TO
give the case TO him. The jew as
scented and agreed to call the next day.
'EIc had not been long gone when a
liNN WAS ullIOulCCN. IDnt was Hlldb-
billy dressed in mourning. but she in
terestcd me from the moment.I looked
at her. She was evidently in great
trouble.
Would you mind telling me- she
said, If Moses We'll has been to you
to get you to foreclose a chattel mort
gage on my furnitureY
"A Jew has asked me to foreclOse
such a mortgage l replied.
Then | am going to ask you not
to take the case. l am a widow in
very straitened circumstances. l have
been obliged tC borrow money from
the Jew. l can't pay the indebted
ness, and if he takes my furniture
l shall have to go to the poorhouse.
can't pay board, and the only way
can live is in a little cot. Thus far
have persuaded every lawyer the Jew
has asked to take his case not to do So
l hope you, too, will refuse
81 was surprised and distressed to
see so refined person thus reduced.
/ was about to promise her that l
would not take the case against her
when | thought that by doing so
might be Of service to her. But had
no final plan and did not care to COM
init myself. l therefore told her that
would consider her request She left
me much disappointed.
"The next day when We'll appeared
told him that had reconsidered the
| n,DJ obi TN To 10
very much pleased-indeed, so much SO
that he said nothing about the expense
attending the matter except the court
fees, for which he made a deposit. He
probably feared to antagonize me by
mentioning my charge.
II called upon the widow and told her
frankly that her plan of persuading all
the lawyers not to act in the matter
was hopeless. She was clinging to q
straw but she would not give up the
straw
"'You are the first lawyer she said,
that has refused me. Tell me what
your fee is to be from the Jew, and I
will endeavor to raise the money and
pay it to you to refuse the case
"That would not be in accordance
with the code among lawyers, certain
ly not my code
"Is. it their code to assist creditors
to bring debtors to beggary? Indeed,
know that it is not. for several of your
profession have refused to do So
"'This man Well 1 said attempt
ing to give her reasons that should sat
isfy her. is determined to sell you out.
He will in the end find a lawyer to do
his work. That you may not think me
more sordid than I am, will turn over
my fee to you
MY offer had no other effect than to
irritate her, and I left her without
making any further attempt at concil-
iation.
''When the papers in the case were
ready, I sent for my client and the
widow to meet me at my Office at the
same day and hour. 1t was not Il
pleasant gathering. The lady cast a
reproachful glance at me, then looked
fixedly out of the window. The Jew
looked meek. sat reading over the
documents.
"'Mr Well I said at last, these pa
pers give you possession Of this lady
household goods-that is, they will give
you possession when 1 turn them over
to you on payment of my fee. This
feel turned to the widow-I volun-
tarily agreed to turn over to you.
Therefore, Mr. We'll, you may as well
pay the money direct to the lady
Certainly said the Jew, pulling
out his wallet. How much is the
amountY
"'Two hundred dollars
"IIe looked at me aghast
"I pay you everythingY
"'It happens that my fee is the ex-
act amount of the indebtedness.'