Year: 1877

Portable in that mans presence. / felt
as though he was trying to buy me. The
court would sit in four days. told him
1 would give him final answer in two
days from that.


"That evening made conddant of
my wife and asked her what should do.
If l take the case,' 1 said, 1 am sure of
$4,000 She bade me do what was right.
God has been very kind to u.s. she said !;
: let us look to him for guidance


"After this called on the clergyman
of the place, whose son had been my
classmate in college, and whom l had
once before visited. He received me
heartily, and by and by 1 asked him
about VIM. Acton. The result of all he
told me was summed up in his closing
sentence. Said he: Il am sure VIM.
Acton was Philip Acton's child-in fact,
l know it-and l think the father and
mother were married. Betsy died very
soon after her child was born, and we
know that Philip always treated the boy
as legitimate child; and that he loved
him as such can confidently affirm


"On the following morning, after
breakfast, as sat by the window in the
bar-room, l saw coming down the street
the man who had saved my child. He
was walking slowly like one in trouble.
1 pointed him out to my host, and asked
him who he was.


"' That is William Acton. Perhaps
you have heard of the trouble he ia likely
to have with Laban Sarfurtp


81 said had heard.


"sI hope he may come out all right
the host added: but I am fearful. He
has got hard and heartless customer to
deal with


81 shut my mouth and held my peace
until Laban Sarfurt called for his final
answer. said to him:


"Mr. Sarfurt, l have been considering
all this time whether / could undertake
your case with a clear conscience
whether should be helping the side of
justice and right in helping you. I had
concluded that could not do so before
had seen William Acton to know him by
name. / now know him for a man who
nobly risked his own life to save the life
of my child. I have not as yet accepted
one of your private disclosures; have
gained from you nothing which you
could wish to keep from the public. l
can not take your case, but I tell you
frankly that if you prosecute, l will de-
fend William Acton.


Il did not mind Sarfurt's wrath. He
raved and swore and stamped, and then
he went of and engaged two lawyers
from Herkimer to take his case. called
upon Acton and told him I would de-
fend him if he would accept my services
as had accepted his. He took my hand
and thanked me.


"I have made great many pleas in
my life, but I think I never made a
better one than 1 made to that
jury on that occasion. They were out
not over five minutes. By their vy9dict
William Acton was the lawful possessor
of the estate his father had left.


"From that day never hesitated to
refuse to accept case to which could
not give my heart. Such stand on the
part of lawyer becomes known and the
people feel it; and what the public feels
iuries are sure to feel.


Concerning William Acton, I will
only add that he became my bosom
friend. He always felt that he owed his
title to his valuable property to me and
| 1 knew that to him 1 was indebted fol-
the home that was mine for forty years
He was very delicate in the gift Of
that piece of property. He decided il
to my wife. The husband of my eldest
daughter is his eldest son."