M'GINN STATES A CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1296, 30 September 1876, Page 21

M'GINN STATES A CASE.

A man called at the office of Lawyer M'Ginn the other day, and after introducing himself, said :—: —

" Mr M'Ginn, I want to state a case to you. A little while after the war broke out, I concluded that, as a citizen, I had a, duty to perform on behalf of my bleeding country. I had heard the call to arms, and my soul was filled with a fierce desire to strike a blow against the enemies 6f my native land. In a short time my | resolution was taken. Arranging my ! business, I embraced my family, buckled on my accoutrements, shouldered my j musket, breathed an aspiration for my country's success, and with a firm,resolution to defend ths right at all hazards, marched to the recruiting station, where heroes were gathering for the fray, and there bought a substitute for 275 dollars. I gave him my musket and my blessing ; I told him not to dishonour me by cowI ardice, but to face the foe as I would 1 have done, while I returned to my family j and wondered what would become of free- ; dom but for the bravery of her children." 1 "Itis a wonder," said Mr M'Ginn. " Yes, sir. Well, that substitute went to the war. In one of the fights he was shot in the leg, and it had to be amputated. He bore it like a man. I couldn't have done it better myself. And then he came home to stay. Now, of course, when a soldier has his leg shot to pieces, he is entitled to a pension. And the point I want to get at is, who is to get that pension, the substitute or me 1 Now, it strikes me I am the right man to have it. Who is this man. He is my agent. He represented me. Virtually he was me. When he fought in the ranks, it really was me fighting ; it was really I who lost the leg, therefore it is actually I that am entitled to the pension. Doesn't it strike y6ii in that way ?" , "I dunno," said M'Ginn. "There's something in the way you state it. You are entitled ,to the pension as the principal in the transaction, and the substitute,also is entitled to , it as the man who lost the leg. The Government is obliged to pay both of you the same pension ; but as it can only pay one of you, the question is, which one should'it pay 1" " Jes' so ; and I say it ought to pay it to me. When I handed that' man 275 dollars .then he got his full dues." "I'll tell you how you can get' at it," said Mr M'GihnJ "If ,that man really represented you,, you would have been dead in the eye of the law if he had be,en killed, and if he should die now, your friends would be justified in burying you." 1 " That seems to be straining the thing a little." >" Not at all. Well, now, I'll' get you that pension if you'll agree to creep into a coffin and be carted out to the cemetery and hustled into the grave aa soon as that substitute dies." " I guess I won't accept. I'll drop, the matter as it 1 stands. The man has consumption and chronic.liver complaint.'.' ' "Well, I'm going to have you buried, anyhow, when he steps out. That's the law." ' • " Then you must excuse me. I'll skip the country." Mr M'Ginn's warrior left the office suddenly, and has never put in an appearance since.