The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-10-10
THE lawyers
ExORBITANT FEE
A Modern ShyIock Beaten
at His Own Game.

Law cases are very udAh ICi O''17
affairs. However. there is one case
which l think may be interesting TO
you youngsters because it has direct
influence on your existence
Zone day after l had got fairly well
started in my practice my office door
opened and a Jew entered.
81 hold said he. a note for $2oO'
secured by chattel mortgage on some
furniture The note is due. and can
not collect the money. | wish you TO
foreclose the mortgage
81 told him that did not take sucn
cases. but would find him a lawyer.
Your Uncle Tom was then scraplng
along for practice, and INTENDED 10
give the case to him. The Jew as
sented and agreed to call the next day.
"He had not been long gone when
lady was announced. She was shaD-
billy dressed in mourning. but she in
terested me from the moment looked
at her. She was evidently In great
trouble.
"sWould you mind telling me- she
said. IF Moses We'll has been to you
to get you to foreclose chattel mort
gage on my furniture"
ga Jew has asked me to foreclose
such a mortgage replied.
"sThen / 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 if he takes my furniture l shall
have to 20 to the poorhouse. l cant
nav 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.
hope you. too. will refuse
81 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 l
might be of service to her. But had
no final plan and did not care to COM
NIT myself. therefore told her that
I would consider her request. She lert
me much disappointed.
"The next day when We'll appeared
I told him that l had reconsidered the
matter and would Obiige him. He was
very much pleased-indeed. so much
so that he said nothing about the ex-
pense attending the matter except the
court fees. for which he made de-
posit He probably feared to antago-
nize me by mentioning my charge.
81 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 it to you to refuse the case
"'That would not be in accordance
with the code among lawyers. certain
ly not my code.
els it their code to assist creditors
to bring debtors to beggary? Indeed.
I know that it is not. for several OF
your profession have refused to do so.
""This man Well | said. attempt
ing to give her reasons that should
satisfy 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 | am.
will turn over my fee to you
my offer had no other effect than
to irritate her. and left her.
when the papers in the case were
, 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 {
, reproachful glance at me. then looked
q fixedly out of the window. The Jew
looked meek.
, Mr. Well said at last. these pa
pers give you possession of this LADY,
4 household goOds-that is, they will Civ
o you possession when | turn them owe
O to you on payment of my fee. Thu
/ feel turned to the widow-T volun
9 tarily agreed to turn over to you
O Therefore. Mr.. We'll. you may as wei
;. pay the money direct to the lady
4 Certainly said the Jew, pulling
? out his wallet How much is tn
!, amountT
O 1.-TWO hundred dollars
'He looked at me aghast."
I pay you everythingY
A. "'1t happens that my fee is the e1
i. act amount of the Indebtedness
E Suppose don't pay it?
"'YOu will not get the papers. and
will collect my fee by law. You ar
= perfectly good for the amount
' Meanwhile light began to brea
in upon the widows BRAIN The Je1
argued. threatened. pleaded | was i'm
movable. Finally | proposed to remi
,, my fee on one condition-that he shout
IS renew the lady's note for two years a
a moderate rate of interest Then b
to left me alone with her
ID pardon me- she said with grea
FEELING. for misjudging you Why di
n you not tell me what you were goin
N to do?'
Because did not know myself ii