The San Francisco call., 1910-04-03

and assault and battery. 1t was the
chance of McShane's life to get some
cheap legal advice, and he embraced
the opportunity.
The farmer listened to a very learn
ed dissertation on the law, literally
sprinkled with Latin sentences. but
boiled down at the last, McShane learned
that for trespass he might secure 6
cents damages, and as for jabbing a
man through and through with a fork
or slfcing off ones legs with a scythe,
criminal or civil proceedings would re-
suit and end in either Imprisonment or
matter of a few thousand dollars
damages. 1t was now about dark and
they wended their way to the barnyard,
and our lawyer friend stepped out upon
the high road on his way home the
happiest fisherman in three states
In the memory of the oldest inhabi-
tant no such catch OF trout had come
into the village.
Selecting the largest fish, they were
displayed on block of ice in the prin-
cipal shop window of the village and
were universally admired
Callers trudged up his office stairs
all day. congratulating him upon his
phenomenal luck, and If asked once he
was asked hundred times Where did
you get them?
Within week the lawyer made out
lIle following Dill.
John McShane, Esq, DR..
10 Jacob Countryman. attorney at law:
Consultation had and advice given as to
law of trespass and assault and battery SOS. 90
And depositing the bill in the mail duly
addressed awaited results. And the re-
suits came good and fast in the person
of the old skinfint, foaming at the
mouth and beside himself with rage. He
stormed; he swore; he yelled that il
was swindle, an outrage. He beloved
like a yearling bull.
Countryman was on his own dunghill
so to speak, so McShane had to dance
to another mans music. The lawyer
made but one reply-that bill must be
paid. And McShane left, threatening
to run the lawyer out Of town and dc
other dire and dreadful things.
In another week the village eombi-
nation of constable. sheriff. pound
master, ETC., served the farmer with
papers in the suit of Countryman VS.
McShane, and when it came to trial Nc
Shane would hire no lawyer; he would
conduct his own case. In selecting the
jury Countryman took care to see that
every juror was personally acquainted
with the defendant. or course a ver-
dict for the full amount was given for
the plaintiff-some OF the jury asking
the justice If there was any law against
McShane almost collapsed.
Nothing was left now but for Nc
Shane to haul out his safety deposit
vault stocking and pay up or have a
COW or two seized to satisfy the judg-
ment.
outside of the fun created at the
trial Countryman had gotten unlim-
tied advertising out of the case. Every
farmer in the country for miles around
had driven in to witness the trial. The
number of teams tied up around town
made one think of fair day.
'Countryman sent for McShane and
agreed to let up on him under one con-
dition, and that was that he should
permit free fishing on the stream In
the future. and McShane signing a
paper to that effect. the judgment and
costs were waived.
The stream at once became opeu
fishing, and asa consequence the trout
scattered and that particular stretch of
water afforded no better fishing than
the rest of the stream.
lakes reputation as a lawyer was
made in the village and every one said
that any one who could come up with
that old rapscallion of a McShane in
any such way deserved credit. success
and all the consequent good things in
this-.4life usually hankered after by
man"