The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-18
BY C. B. LEWIS.

miles out of town, but it was some
time before they realized that they
were also rivals in that case. 1t was
by design that Sommers called at the
house and made some excuse about an
old deed He talked. with the father
and he chatted with the daughter, and
he made up his mind that he would
win her. Her impressions OF him were
not very favorable. He was too con-
ceited and too boastful. He seemed
to want to elbow in and to crowd 9TH
erS out
Young Graham came later, and
there was no design about it. He was
out in his auto, with which he was
not very well acquainted. and it went
dead before the gate of the Manor
House. When he had tinkered with
1T for about ten minutes, Miss Minnie
came out to the gate to lend her as
sistance. There is a bond between
autoists that makes them do this, and
not always wait for an introduction.
In five minutes the legal machine
was all right again, and, tho but few
words had passed, there was a favor
able impression on both sides. By and
by both young lawyers were callers
at the house. When this state of af-
fairs had been going on for three
months, Mr.. Sommers admitted to
himself that he was not gaining in
his object, and it provoked and irri-
tated him. His envy was excited the
more, and altho he had no rights as
yet, he had the feeling which jeal-
ousy always brings. Neither had had
case yet. and neither could show
how smart he was and what his legal
standing was to be.
One spring day. when Miss Minnie
was driving her auto over country
road, she had the misfortune to run
over and kill a black hog belonging
to a farmer. This farmer was known
far and wide for his hatred of auto
lists, and their vehicles. He came out
of his house at the hogs last suueal.
and he came with furious language.
He was interrupted by the statement
that the full value of the hog should
be paid, but when it came down to
that he wanted about five times as
much as the porker was worth. He
was told to sue for it, and he went
on and sued. That is, he came tramp
ing into the law Office of Mr.. SOM
mers and demanded his legal rights.
A black hog of his had been run over
and sent to Eternity without warn
ing, and by the great jumping Jupi-
ter. Miss Minnie Sherman should pay
him twenty dollars for it.
You said Miss Sherman. did Won -,
askeds the lawyer, in anxious tones.
That's what L said and she is the
one. She never goes out driving
without killing hogs. chickens or
calves. L want you to show her no
mercy"
The lawyer took the case. He want
ed to get even not only with the girl.
put with young raham, who would
be employed to defend the case. if any
one was. He could defend himself to
me siri by saving that a lawyer must
take a case when it is offered him.
BY strange plan of Providence.
young Graham went riding on the
same day. By a still stranger plan. he
ran over black hog. The fatal acct
dents occurred three mile apart, but
they were both black hogs. When he
knew he had killed a hog. young
Graham descended from his vehicle
and drew the carcass into the road
side ditch. Then he passed on and
thought no more of it until he heard
that Miss Minnie Sherman had been
summoned into court. He heard of it
by her calling at the office, and re-
tanning him for the defense He hunt
ed up the farmer who owned the hog
that he had killed and paid for it and
then had a confidential talk. AS a con-
sequence, that farmer was called as
a witness.
When the suit came off and the
lawyer for the plaintiff had made his
opening speech, young Graham made
a motion that the case be thrown out
of court on the ground that he had
| run over and killed black hog him
self that very day. There were
black hogs in plenty but it was i'm
| possible that two black hogs should
meet their deaths on the same day
| on the same highway.
Miss Minnie was put on the stand,
| and she did not have to plead guilty
| or innocent In fact, she could not be
questioned at all in legal way. Mr..
! Graham's witness swore that his
black hog had been killed, and that
Mr.. Graham had come to him like a
man and paid the damages. and he
| offered to show the dead body of the
hog.
| "But. Your Honor" protested Som
mers. the plaintiff in this case had a
black hog. too. and he was killed by
an auto. What becomes of him? He
did not bring his suit for the other
| farmers hog but for his own. There
seems to be a queer nix-'lp here"
There does indeed replied His
\ hog killed. He swears but has no wit
nesses to corroborate him. The hog
might not have been killed. He might
| have been badly injured. but walked
hog examined by a doctor? Did any
doctor pronounce him dead? I shall
have to dismiss the case for want of
| better evidence"
But. Your Honor shouted Som
mers, This case has been befogged.
There was an intention to be logged
Why don't this court compel my
brother to present his case in a legal
way?''
| because there is no case!" solemn
| w replied His Honor.
|. But there was another case six
| months later and Mr.. Sherman pre-
sented it in such manner that he
won hands down, and soon thereafter
Mr.. Sommers took down his sign and
, left the only successful lawyer in the
village to enjoy his triumph
! A prominent New York clergyman says.
! II think the most honorable place in this
country is Wall Street There man holds
IN one finger to represent 100000 and
he lives up to it. II he loses, he pays his