Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1859 — A First Rate Story for Lawyers. [ARTICLE]

A First Rate Story for Lawyers.

It is probable that every lawyer of any note has heard and read of the celebrated Luther Martin, of Maryland. His great effort in the case of Aaron Burr, as well as his display in the Senate of the United States, will not be forgotten. Trifles in the history of genius are important, as we hope to show in the story. Mr. Martin was on his way to Annapolis, to attend the Supreme Court of the State. A solitary passenger was in the stage with him, and, as the weather was extremely cold, the passengers soon resorted to conversation., to divert themselves from too much

j sensibility- to the inclement air. The young ; man knew Martin by sight,and as he was ) also a lawyer, the thread of talk soon began ■to spin itself out of legal matters. “Mr. Martin,” said trie young man, “I am just entering on my career as a lawyer: can i you tell me the secret of your success? If, (sir, you will give from your experience the key to distinction at the Bar, I will—” “Will what l ” exclaimed Martin. “Why, sir, I will pay your expenses while you are at Annapolis.” “Done. Stand to your bargain now, and I’ll furnish you with the great secret of my success as a lawyer,” The young man assented. “Very well,” said Mr. Martin. “The whole secret of my success is contained in one little maxim, which I early laid down to guide me. If you follow it you cannot fail to succeed. It is this: Always be sure of your evidence.” The listener was very attentive—smiled—threw himself back in a philosophical posture, and gave his brain to the analysis, with true lawyer patience, of “Always be sure of your evidence.” It was too cold a night for anything to be made pecuniarily out of the old man’s wisdom, and so the promising adept in maxim learning gave himself to strange drcams, in which he was knocking and pushing his way through the world by the all powerful words, “Always be sure of your evidence.” The morning came, and Mr. Martin, with his practical student, took rooms at the best hotel in the city. The only thing peculiar to the hotel, in the eyes of the young man, was that the wine bottles and the etceteras of fine living seemed to recall very vividly the maxim about the evidence. The young man watched Mr. Martin. Wherever eating or drinking were concerned

he was indeed a man to be watched, especially in the latter, as he was immoderately fond of the after dinner, after supper, after everything luxury of wine. A few days were sufficient to show the incipient legalist that he would have to pay dearlv for his knowledge, as Mr. Martin seemed resolved to make the most of his part of the contract. I Lawyers, whether young or old, have legal rights, and so the young man began to think of the study of self-protection. It was certainly a solemn duty. It ran through all creation. Common to animals and men it [ was a noble instinct not to be disobeyed, particularly where the hotel bills of a lawyer wore concerned. The subject daily grew on the young man. It was all absorbing to the mind and pocket. A week elapsed and Martin was ready to return to Baltimore. So was the young man, but not in the same stage with his illustrious teacher. Mr. Martin approached the counter in the bar-room. The young man was an anxious spectator near him. “Mr. Clerk,” said Mr. Martin,“my young friend, Mr. , will settle my bill, agreeable to the engagement.” The young man said nothing, but looked everything. “He will attend to it, Mr. Clerk, as we have already had a definate understanding on the subject. He is pledged, professionally pledged to pay my bill.” he hurriedly rerepeated. “ Where’s your evidence!” asked the young man. “Evidence?” sneered Mr. Martin. “Yes, sir,” said the young man, demurely-. “Always be sure of your evidence, Mr. Martin. Can you prove the bargain!” Mr. Martin saw the snare, and pulling out his pocket book, paid the bill, and with great good humor assured the young man: “You will do, sir, and get through the world with your profession without advise from me.”