The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-09-12
THE LAWYERS
ExORB|TANT FEE
A Modern Shylock Beaten
at His Own Game.

zone day after ] nad got fairly wei
started In my practice my Office door
opened and a Jew entered.
81 hold said be, a note for $500
secured by chattel mortgage on some
furniture. The note is due. and l can
not collect the money. | wish you to
foreclose the mortgage
II told him that did not take such
cases, but would find him lawyer.
Your Uncle Tom was then scraping
along for a practice. and Intended to
| give the case TO him. The Jew as
scented and agreed TO call the next day.
HE had not been long gone when a
lady was announced. She was shah,
! billy dressed In mourning. but she in"
terested me from the moment looked
at her. She was evidently ~ great
trouble.
"'Would you mind telling me- she
said, If Moses We'll has been to you
to get you to foreclose chattel mort
gage on my furnitureT
"A Jew has asked me to foreclose
such mortgage | replied,
"'Then am going to ask you not to
take the case. am widow in very
straitened circumstances ! have been
obliged to borrow money from the
Jew. can't pay the indebtedness.
and IL be takes my furniture shall
have to go to the poorhouse. can't
pay board. anu the only way ! can
live is In little cot. Thus far | have
persuaded every lawyer the Jew has
asked TO take his case not to do so. |
hope you. too, will refuse.
II was surprised and distressed to
see so refined person thus reduced.
was about to promise her that |
would not take the case against her
when | thought that by doing so |
might be OF service TO her But I had
no final plan and did not care to com
init myself | therefore told her that
| would consider her request She left
me much disappointed.
"The next day when We'll appeared
I told him that | had reconsidered the
matter and would oblige him. He wis
very much pleased-indeed. so much
so that he said nothing about the ex-
pense attending the matter except the
court fees. for which be made de-
post. He probably feared to antago.
nize me by mentioning my charge.
II called upon the widow and told
her frankly that her plan Of persuad.
ing all the lawyers not to act In the
matter was hopeless.
"'You are the first lawyer she said,
that has refused me. Tell me what
your fee is to be from the Jew. and
will endeavor TO raise the money and
pay 1t to you to refuse the case
THAT would not be in accordance
with the code among lawyers. certain
Iy not my code
"'Is II their code to assist creditors
to bring debtors to beggary? Indeed
know that 1t is not. for several OF
your profession have refused to do so.
This man Well said. attempt
ing to give her reasons that should
ga tisfy her. lis determined TO sell you
out He win In the end find 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 thar
to irritate her, and left her.
When the papers In the case wer,
ready | sent for my client and the
widow to meet me at my Office at the
same day and hour. 1t was not
pleasant gathering. The lady cast :
reproaohful glance ut me. then looked
ixedly out of the window. The Jew
looked meek.
"'Mr. Well said at last, these pa
pers give you possession Of this ladyi
household goods-that is, they will Civ.
you possession when | turn them oyei
to you on payment of my fee, This
feel turned to the widow--T volun
tarily agreed to turn over to you
Therefore. Mr.. We'll, you may as wei
pay the money direct to the lady
Certainly said the Jew. pulling
out his wallet How much Is tn,
amount?'
Two hundred dollars
he looked at me aghlst
81 pay you everything
"'It happens that my fee Is the ex
act amount of the Indebtedness.
suppose | don't pay it?'
"'You will not get the papers. and
will collect my fee by law. You art
perfectly good for the amount
Meanwhile a light began TO brent
N upon the widows brain. The Jew
,rgued. threatened. pleaded. was I'm
Finally proposed to remit
my fee on one condition-that be should
renew the lady's note for two years nj
! moderate rate of interest. Then hs
eft ME atone with her.
Pardon me- she said. with great
ceiling. for misjudging you Why did
you not tell me what you were going
o dor
Because did not know myself till
he last moment"
| paused. | had finished my story.
And who was the widow" asked
chorus OF voices.
THE widow was lady to whom
on are indebted for many kindnesses,"
"Do tell u.s.
well. since you are so eager to know
don't mind telling you that she u
our mother"