Past and present of Will County, Illinois Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 Excerpt: ...fill but the former position.'" The records of the court do not show that the honorable judge ever again indulged in the hazardous experiment of appearing as both eounsel and witness in the same case. A good story is hold of Mr. Fellows' shrewdness as a criminal lawyer. Away back in the early fifties, a man had been arrested in the village for robbing a farm house out in the eastern part of the county of several hundred dollars. He was taken before Esquire Heath for examination, and Mr. Fellows was retained by the prisoner to defend him. When the case was called, Mr. Fellows arose and told the court that he had just been retained in the case, and that lie had not had an opportunity to talk with his client as to what his defense was, and asked that the examination be postponed for a while so as to give him time to prepare his defense. The court very graciously granted the request, and then jokingly added, "While you are about it, Mr. Fellows, give him good, healthy advice. Talk to him like a father to a wayward son." They went out together, and in about an hour Mr. Fellows returned alone. In the meantime another case had been taken up and was then on trial, and the court room was filled with those interested in that case, so that the entrance of Mr. Fellows alone was not noticed. It was at least another hour before the case was concluded, and then the court told the constable to bring in the prisoner. That officer replied that he did not know where he was--that he had not seen him since he went out with Mr. Fellows. The court then culled on that gentleman to produce his client. Mr. Fellows rose, and very gravely replied that life was very uncertain, and so also were examinations before justices. That no human being, not even the Angel Gabriel ...