The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-06-14
SETTLED our or COURT

ceeds the value of the contention and
the difference approximates the law
yer's profit.
Though bristling with contumacy,
lawyers, particularly the old-time
lawyers are mindful that the policy
of non-resistance is often following
the line of least resistance.
In LaSalle, ILL.,, is a lawyer of the
classic school, named Ira Sharp. To
the townspeople he is known as
Trey" He is tall, thin, ascetic
looking. Since the day of his ad-
mission to the bar he has worn
broadcloth and his suits have been
made by the same tailor after the
same pattern. His diction is measur-
ed and sonorous, his gestures are
sweeping.
Sharp is leader in the community.
He conducts the choir in his church.
His favorite music is comprised in
Mendelssohn's elijah" and Handel's
messiah" which oratorios he pro-
duces with soloists, choir and organ
as often as may be. To their inter-
probation he adds the hallelujah style
that marks the singing of "Throw
Out the Lifeline" at a camp meeting.
Sharp, like old-time lawyers, has
read law and human nature in con-
notation. and worry over economic
theory has not whitened hair on his
head. On a recent visit to Indianap-
/ oils where he had some business in
the State supreme court, he ex-
pounded to circle of friends what
he called "the most interesting and
profitable case, in measure of time
and energy expended, in the course
of my practice at the bar"
I There is man in our town who
is quick to wrath and slow to pay his
/ debts" said Sharp, in his best manner
| of shrewd profundity, rising and
| pacing back and forth, as if he were
| before a jury box. "One hot after
| noon l was sitting in my office with
! my feet on the window sill, doing
/! nothing and liking it. In rushed
| Jinkins all in fever.
| "Irey," exclaimed Jinkins, 81 want
you to go to law for me against Wal
| lett, across the street in the hard
! ware store.
| Calm yourself and state your
! case, Jinkins," l said.
| "Jinkins jumped right into it: q
| promised my wife silver plated
| coffee pot on her birthday, which i.
| today, and she reminded me of il
/! this morning. So / went over t.
! Wallets and says, wallet
| want one of them dollar and hall
| silver plated coffee pots up there OF
| that shelf"
! Wallet gets down the coffe,
pot and puts dollar and-a-half OF
! the counter. Then Wallet he pick
| up both the pot and the dollar and {
! half, puts the pot back on the shell
T and the dollar and a half in the
drawer
g You've owed me balance<of 9
IL dollar and half. for two years,
Jinkins," he says, "and this just
squares us.
/ Now, Irey,' Jinkins went on
n stamping about the office as if he
4 were going to have stroke Of appo-
plexy, Il bought that coffee pot and
l want you to go to law for it,
"Well, said Sharp, with judicial
pause, 4 told Jinkins he'd better let
the matter stand as it was, as the cost
y of the proceedings and my fee would
far exceed the worth of the coffee
pot, though Wallets method of col
: lection, to say the least, was question
r able.
"Jinkins sobered down and went
away, but pretty soon he was back
again. Il want that pot he stormed.
!, 4 want you to start proceedings right
now to recover my property"
> at was too hot to controvert.
, took my feet off the window sill and
said, Jinkins, the retainer will be
five dollars. Jinkins produced five
dollar note and handed it to me.
; 'Jinkins,' said as picked up my hat
sit down and fan yourself til come
back
~ walked across the street to
Wallets and said, Wallet, give
me one of those silver plated dollar
and half coffee pots there on the
shelf Wallet wrapped up the pot,
/ passed him the five-dollar note and
he gave me three dollars and half
in change. I slipped the change in
my pocket, stepped back to the office
and gave Jinkins the coffee pot
is that ALL said Jinkins, all