Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 13.pdf/156

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The New York Friday Calendar. "He's—please your Honor, he's over on Long Island," replies the attorney. "For trial the —th" (early date), replies the judge. "This case, if your Honor please, is likely to be settled and we would like two months' adjournment," pleads a defendant. "For trial," replies the judge, "that will expedite the settlement." "My client has had an operation, pleads another. "What was the operation?" asks the judge. "I don't just know." "One week's adjournment; find out," says the judge. "My client has left' the city, your Honor." "When did he leave?" "Yesterday." "Humph, well, I will give you a week." "Will your Honor please adjourn this case for two months?" "Why?" "I've been unable to locate my client. He's a travelling man." "One week's adjournment. That will help locate him." "I trust your Honor will not set this case down," says an important young lawyer. "Why?"' "We have so many cases set we can't pos sibly try them all." "Well, please your Honor," pipes up a boy's voice—for once in a while a boy answers the call—"won't you set that case for trial, 'cause our office hasn't any case on for trial." "All right, my boy. for trial." says the judge, unwilling to close up an enterprising young law office. "I'd like to have that case adjourned for six weeks, because my client is on the moni tor , down the harbor," (this was in the Spanish war), says plaintiff's attorney. "That's agreeable to us," says the defend ant's lawyer, "for my client is doing duty on the same boat." "All right," says the judge, "perhaps they will settle it."

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Now the young man from Evarts, Choate & Beaman engages in conflict with the young man from Hoadly, Lauterbach & Johnson. The latter insists that it is ex ceedingly important that the case be set for trial. The young man from Evarts, Choate & Beaman attempts to convey the impression that Evarts, Choate & Beaman will go to the wall, if the case is set for trial. The judge becomes anxious. "What is this case all about?" he inquires. The young man from Hoadly, Lauterbach & Johnson is not fully informed. But he was to get the case set for trial and he is bound to do his best. "What's it all about?" persists the judge, turning to the young man from Evarts, Choate & Beaman. "Well, your Honor, it is, I think, something about a contract," replies the latter. "Humph, one week adjournment to give you all a chance to find out what it is about," says the judge. Now the young woman lawyer, with the big curling feather in her hat, pleads for speedy justice for her client. The case is set for trial at an early date, and the defend ant's lawyer looks disgusted and stunned. Oddly enough, all the other lawyers are smiling. Then a mere boy, frightened into rapid speech, pleads frantically that his case be adjourned for many months. "Why?" asks the judge—it is always "why" with him. "Please, your Honor, I don't know, but they told me down at the office to get it set off as far as possible." "That means the earliest day possible for trial." replies the judge: and everybody wonders what will happen to the little boy "down at the office." So the call proceeds—full, once a week, of varied and amusing incidents, good na ture, clever devices and able retorts. On the whole, probably, quite substantial justice is dealt out.