Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 264, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1919 — CHAUNCEY’S TURN TO LAUGH [ARTICLE]

CHAUNCEY’S TURN TO LAUGH

Close-Fisted Farmer Learned Something About., the Value Legal Lights Set on Services. Chauncey M. Depew, in writing the story of This life, recalls his first law case. It was in Peekskill.. The client was a farmer and he wanted an opinion on certain property rights. Depew spent a week in looking up the points of law' that had bearing on the case and when he had finished charged the modest fee of $5. “Too much,” cried the farmer. ■ "But it’s taken me a whole week to prepare this," protested Depew. “Don’t make no difference,” declared the farmer. “I figure $1.50 is all it’s worth and that’s all you’re going to get.” About a week later the man came to the office again. “Mr. Depew,” he said, “I had some doubts about that opinion of yours, so I took it down to New York and showed It to Mr. . And what do you think he charged me, just for readin’ that opinion of yours and putting his O. K. on It?” “How much,” demanded Depew, all excited. “Five hundred dollars!”