The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20


walked out of court bitter at heart.
He glared banefully at Fogarty, the fly
cop, who had made such a spectacle of
himself on the witness stand and whose
forgetfulness and general stupidity had
made the Assistant District Attorney
swear under his breath. He even was
curt, If not absolutely disrespectful to
the polished getleman who had acted
as his counsel and who had tears in
his voice IL not in. his eyes. while speak
ing of the great wrong visited upon
his client through his arrest and prose-
cution.
There are some victories that are as
disastrous as defeats This seemed one
of them to Mr.. Caplin.
well" said the lawyer. rubbing his
hands and beaming on his client when
they were outside, under circum-
stances such as these the proper thing
for you to do is TO- buy. I don't mind
telling you I'm dry as Sahara"
"The only thing I'll buy for you is
strychnine, you Bloody robber," ex-
claimed Caplin. what gall you've
got You trim me out of every thing
but small change and now you have
the nerve to ask me to buy wine for you.
Why, you crook, while Fogarty was on
the stand I got to thinking what his
testimony was costing me and what
you were costing me and what Engel,
the bondsman cost me and what the
captain cost me and the Inspector and
the district leader and I was almost
tempted to get up and plead guilty and
take my medicine, but first ia blow the
whole game to the judge
WELL" blurted Shelton, the lawyer,
In virtuous wrath, II thought you were
gentleman. I thought you were a
gentleman or I'd never have taken your
case. You're nothing but a misera-
ble-"
Say It," said Caplin threateningly.
Call me a welcher or a squealer and
I'll break your face. You talk of gem
tlemen, you thieving hound Why,
you're one of the worst crooks in town.
You've never earned an honest dollar
in your life You soak me $500 for this
case and $3.50 for fixing Fogarty. I
suppose you get half of Fogartys bit
You're responsible for more perjury
than any lawyer / know. That's the
whole stock in trade-perjury I'm
sick of you and sick of the cops. I'd
be money ahead If had pleaded guilty
and taken so or 80 days on the island
Where do I get off? 1 can't make a
living. If happen to build up bit of
play Fogarty and the others have their
hands out all the time. If don't come
vii
they frame up case on me, run me
In and then cruelty me. l get the worst
of it going and coming. I'd rather dig
In the ditch with a lot of dogs than
Keep at this game.
why don't your" inquired Shelton
sarcastically
IF 1 do I'll get square with you
pirates first" said Caplin.
1t was not Skeletons desire and it
was not polite or wise to leave his
client in such a frame of mind. There
was no telling to what lengths an an
CRY and injured man might go. This
was no time for exposures. The public
had been inflamed by the Rosenthal
murder and there had been much scan
dal over the conduct of various lawyers
Mr.. Skeletons reputation was more than
questionable. Caplin had been pres
ent when the money was paid to Fo-
garty. He knew of half a dozen other
cases in which Shelton was concerned
and might stir up no end of trouble
1t would be the part of wisdom to pla-
cate him. SHELTON went about 1T
adroitly.
We'll" he said laughingly, "ali this
aa nra1t- iY,af
III have to buy. Let us go In here'
When Shelton gave a 50 bill to the
walter in payment of a bottle of cham
payne. Caplin was ungracious enough to
remark that ii was the first time he ever
knew the lawyer to part with real money
Shelton did not notice the slur, but drank
his champagne with appreciation and
then ordered some more Feeling con-
sderably better and knowing Caplin
should be in a mellower mood he told
few humorous stories. He was an ex-
cellent story teller and he made his COM
panion smile in spite of himself Then,
at the proper time he got back to busi-
ness.
These were trying times for men in
caplin's line, he admitted, but they could
not last forever. 1t was too bad the
police were so grasping. He would see
Fogarty and advise him to go easy There
was no profit in quarrelng with the DO
lice. III you knocked one set out an
other came in and there was such a
bond between them that they never for
got or forgave man who got a COP
into trouble. Things were going to i'm
prove 1t might take years to restore
racing, but a start would be made with
the meeting at Belmont park In a few
years the sport ought to be on it's feet
again. A few more favorable decisions
from the courts would restore betting
to its old stage.
Conditions in regard to gambling up
town, too, would brighten. OF course,
everything had to be under cover now
A city election was approaching. An ap-
pearance of virtue had to be maintained
to keep the goody-goody element quiet.
After election there would be something.
doing
Caplin, he admitted, had received a raw
deal. Someone had made Fogarty be-
lieve Caplin was holding out on him.
Shelton knew how to make Fogarty be-
=ave. Skeletons advice was for Capln
to be patient. Once a gambler always
gambler was a truism. Caplin could
not afford to quarrel with the police He
had better plug along making his hand
book. doing the best he could until good
times returned. Meanwhile, he could rest
assured of Skeltons earnest friendship.
Say, Skelton,'' said Caplin that
sounds fine but you know it's all bull
con. I'm weary of this whole business
So Is every gambler know. We are sup
posed to be fly people but we are easy
marks for all the grating lawyers and
cops In town. When I was a youngster
I thought it would be a great thing to
be gambler. / thought it was the
sportiest sort of life and the easiest