The New York herald., 1922-10-08

my first case. Since it is unethical to
solicit business. had to wait until 1t
solicited me, and 1t did so on Park row in
the person of former neighbor whom
had not seen in years.
Hello. there!" he hailed. What are you
doing for living now?"
"Oh." replied easily, I'm still practicing
law"
That word stiH was meant to imply a
long experience as a barrister. solicitor,
counselor, proctor and advocate thor
ough conversancy with the law and all
its works. / half expected him to remind
me that there were $4,000 lawyers in New
York city. But no. He said simply:
1--WE got case for you"
He recommended me to friend of his
whose wife knew a woman who was a
friend Of another woman, the last men
toned being the person in distress whose
sproblem needed legal solvent.
A dozen or so telephone calls and one
personal visit finally resulted IN my getting
in touch with my prospective client Mrs.
Viola Belts
1t happened that Mrs. Belts had gone
to Europe a few months before to visit
her father. Her husband had seen her off
with the deep affection that up to the
moment had marked their married life
But when she got back. few days ago. she
found strangers living in the apartment
that was her home. and they exhibited a
bill of sale to all the furniture signed In the
unmistakable hand Of her astounding
husband.
"And here am" she said. tearfully.
with only Ave dollars to my name!"
That mention Of only five dollars some
what dulled my enthusiasm, but neverthe-
less located the husband and informed him
that unless he made some financial pro-
vision for the wife such legal steps would
be taken as the circumstances warranted"
That was as far as I dared go toward
threat, as II Is unethical to threaten, par
ticularly with suit. I sent the letter.
special delivery and registered. return
card requested" to his last known place
of business. Two days later the return card
came back, as I suspected it would. for
had refrained from using an envel-
ope from my legal stationery, and had
addressed the envelope by hand. to give it
personal and disarmfng touch. And
few hours after the card arrived in my
office Friend Husband telephoned me-
ST was out of town." he said. Il didn't
expect my wife back SO soon. Things are
a little bit mixed up for me. Tell her I'll
see her in a few days I'll mail her $40
right now. and as much every week until
things are settled" And he did.
Aside from the shock of shattered matri-
mony. Mrs. Belts was much aggrieved
over the loss OF some family heirlooms,
precious rather in sentiment than in IN
trinsic value. She wanted to know whether
her husband had any right to sell them,
for they had been outright gifts to her
from others, and several pieces had been
hers before their marriage
I got a writ In the Municipal Court,
which commanded ANY Marshal of the
city of New York. to seize the enumerated
articles-the ones my client claimed were
hers. and which composed only a small
part of all those listed on the bill of sale
and retain them In his safekeeping until
there was judgment In the case.
To protect the defendant-the man to
whom my clients husband had ATTEMPTED
to sell the articles-we had to put up bonds
double the amount we estimated the prop
erty to be worth, so that If we lost the
defendant wouldn't be out of pocket Also
We had to hire moving van. This was
Z stationed half way down the block, the
driver awaiting signal from the Marshal
when to draw up to the door to cart the