Year: 1875

that the preserver of my child should
not be forgotten.


81 will not tell you of the emotions Of
my wife when she held her child once
more in her arms. We reached Shiretor
before night, and found quarters at 9
comfortable tavern.


"On the following day Laban Sarfurt
called upon me, and was about to spread
his evidence for my inspection, when
interrupted him. / told him / could not
accept his confidence until | had made
up my mind to take his case in hand.
Something seemed to whisper to me that
there was danger ahead. did not fee
comfortable in that mans presence. Ifelt
as though he was trying to buy me. The
court would sit III four days. L told him
/ would give him a final answer in two
days from that.


"That evening / made confdant of
my wife, and asked her what l should
do. If 1 take the case, L said, Il am
sue of five thousand dollars. She bade
me do what was right. God has been
very kind to us, 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 had
once before visited. He received me
heartily, and by and by / asked him about
William Acton. The result of all he told
me may be summed up in his closing
sentence. Said he:


"I am sure William was Philip Acton S
child-in fact, know it-and think the
father and mother were married. Betsey
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 L can confidently
affirm.


"On the following morning, after
breakfast, as sat by window in the
bar room, saw, coming up 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 is likely to
have with Laban Sarfurtl'


81 said had heard.


"'I hope he may come out all right,
the host added but 1 am fearful. He's
got hard and heartless customer to deal
with.


81 shut my mouth, and heldmy peace,
until Laban Sarfurt called for his final
answer. / said to him


"' Mr.. Sarfurt, / have been consider
ing all this time whether / could under
take your case with clear conscience
whether should be helping the side of
justice and right in helping you. L had
concluded that l could not do so before
| had seen William Acton to know him
by name. L now know him for man
who nobly risked his own life to save the
life of my child. For that deed l will
reward him if L can. L have as yet ac-
cepted not one of your private disclos-
ures. L have gained from you nothing
which you could wish to keep from the
world. l cannot take your case ; but 1
tell you frankly, that if you prosecute,
will defend William Acton.


81 did not mind Sarfurts wrath. He
raved, and swore, and stamped ; and
then he went off and engaged two lawyers
from Herkimer to take his case. 1 called
upon Acton, and told him would de-
fend him if he would accept my services
as / had accepted his. He took my hand,
and thanked me.


90 L have made great many pleas in
my life, but think / never made bet
ter one than made to that jury on that
occasion. They were out not over five
minutes. BY their verdict, William Ac-
ton was the lawful possessor of the estate
his father had left.


"From that day never hesitated tore
fuse case to which I could not give my
heart. Such stand on the part of a
lawyer becomes known, and the public
feel it and what the public feel, juries
are sure to feel.


"Conc arning William Acton, 1 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 1 owed to him not only the
life of my child, but that to him was
indebted for the home that was mine for
thirty years. He was very delicate in
the gift of that piece of property. He
decided it to my wife. The husband of
my Oldest daughter is his Oldest son.