Adam Kendall has returned to Sleepy Eye as a law graduate. An attorney. A blood sucker. Well, actually he's the kind of lawyer who isn't in it just for the money so the latter term wouldn't apply to Adam. After being greeted by the energetic Houston, he was taken to the blind school where Charles, Caroline, Hester Sue, all the children and his loving wife Mary awaited him. They'd even made him up a surprise: his very own plaque: Adam Kendall, Attorney at Law. He's got it made. Bright and early the next morning, Adam started to work in the law offices of Davis & Sloane. Sloane? Yeah, it turns out Mr. Davis made a boo-boo and forgot all about Adam when he took on another partner. Adam was crushed and was Davis sorry? He claimed to be, but he blamed his own mistake on the expansion and times and other such nonsense. Oh well, that guy isn't worth working for anyway. After trying numerous other law firms, Adam realized there wasn't anything for him in Sleepy Eye and then he thought of Walnut Grove. They don't have a lawyer, or a lot of other things for that matter, but why couldn't Adam and Mary move back there and start their own firm? Hester Sue could handle the blind school, so it all sounded like a sweet deal. The settled into an office above the post office, which would also serve as their home, and Adam could finally use that sign. He was now Walnut Grove's first and official lawyer. Now all he needed was his first case, and something tells me it's just right around the corner...and I don't mean Doc Baker.
Nels Oleson stopped by Adam's office expressing concerns over the land development deal Harriet's been pushing on the townspeople. Folks have been drawing out their money, buying things on credit. It seems the man looking to sell the land, Mr. Edgar Mills, is selling a gold mine that he should be keeping. Could it be a fraud? Yep! Doc Baker found out the land was in fact a lake. They raced up to Mills' hotel room to discover him trying to make a getaway. Mills is placed under citizens' arrest and incarcerated in the Olesons' ice house pending a trial. Adam Kendall is called upon immediately. All the while Mills pleaded innocence and wanted Adam to be his attorney, but of course he turned him down, figuring him guilty, especially after finding out more facts about the case, all of which played against Mills. Regardless, Adam later changed his mind and decided to defend Mills, much to the chagrin of everyone in town. But having rocks thrown through his window didn't intimidate Adam into changing his mind. And so the trial commenced in Sleepy Eye. Judge Adams presiding. Harriet was first on the stand and Adam pointed out that she and the other investors were just as much to blame for signing off on this land, but then Mills was called to the stand. It seems the prosecutor, Sykes, discovered a surveyor's report proving that Mills knew the land was worthless before he started selling shares. Adam really found himself in a tight spot. Finally he has his first client, and the man was guilty as hell. What's an honest lawyer to do? He still pitied the old codger and knew he was going to get life in the slammer. However, Mr. Mills didn't seem a bit shaken up. What was his motive? Next day in court, Edgar's wife Edna and the family doctor surprisingly showed up and testified on Mr. Mills' behalf. It seems he has the always-fatal Little House Plot Device Disease and only a few months to live. Edna went on to state that her husband was stealing money in order to feed his family, which Adam used as his defense. I see, so he stole from people who were just as poor as him? That's okay, I guess. Finally, the jury reached a verdict. They found him guilty, however Judge Adams held a meeting with Edna and the citizens of Walnut Grove and they'd reached a compromise: they'll help Mills' family as much as they can. Adam was right, they did purchase that land out of greed, and this was their way of atoning. The judge sentenced Edgar Mills to life with his family. So I guess all was well again.
I have to say it seems the plot device of Edgar Mills dying seemed to be thrown in at the last minute. It's so typical of this show to incorporate the plot of somebody dying, so it's gotten to the point of being a little too convenient and cliché. I would have preferred that Mills had been a greedy scumbag. As far as performances go, Linwood Boomer was very good and very convincing. I think Adam will make a fine lawyer. I think he's the kind we'd all like to have. Also good was Jeff Corey, whom you may remember as the judge from the episode "Barn Burner". Edgar's wife Edna was played by Barbara Collentine, the wife of Richard Bull. This was a nice story and another exciting trial episode, but again, that plot device of Mills being deathly ill seems way too contrived. If they'd left it out, this would have been flawless. Anyway, "Blind Justice" is well worth checking out and seeing Adam Kendall, attorney at law in action. He'll fight for you!
Adam Kendall got me 2.5 dollars (not really).
Nels Oleson stopped by Adam's office expressing concerns over the land development deal Harriet's been pushing on the townspeople. Folks have been drawing out their money, buying things on credit. It seems the man looking to sell the land, Mr. Edgar Mills, is selling a gold mine that he should be keeping. Could it be a fraud? Yep! Doc Baker found out the land was in fact a lake. They raced up to Mills' hotel room to discover him trying to make a getaway. Mills is placed under citizens' arrest and incarcerated in the Olesons' ice house pending a trial. Adam Kendall is called upon immediately. All the while Mills pleaded innocence and wanted Adam to be his attorney, but of course he turned him down, figuring him guilty, especially after finding out more facts about the case, all of which played against Mills. Regardless, Adam later changed his mind and decided to defend Mills, much to the chagrin of everyone in town. But having rocks thrown through his window didn't intimidate Adam into changing his mind. And so the trial commenced in Sleepy Eye. Judge Adams presiding. Harriet was first on the stand and Adam pointed out that she and the other investors were just as much to blame for signing off on this land, but then Mills was called to the stand. It seems the prosecutor, Sykes, discovered a surveyor's report proving that Mills knew the land was worthless before he started selling shares. Adam really found himself in a tight spot. Finally he has his first client, and the man was guilty as hell. What's an honest lawyer to do? He still pitied the old codger and knew he was going to get life in the slammer. However, Mr. Mills didn't seem a bit shaken up. What was his motive? Next day in court, Edgar's wife Edna and the family doctor surprisingly showed up and testified on Mr. Mills' behalf. It seems he has the always-fatal Little House Plot Device Disease and only a few months to live. Edna went on to state that her husband was stealing money in order to feed his family, which Adam used as his defense. I see, so he stole from people who were just as poor as him? That's okay, I guess. Finally, the jury reached a verdict. They found him guilty, however Judge Adams held a meeting with Edna and the citizens of Walnut Grove and they'd reached a compromise: they'll help Mills' family as much as they can. Adam was right, they did purchase that land out of greed, and this was their way of atoning. The judge sentenced Edgar Mills to life with his family. So I guess all was well again.
I have to say it seems the plot device of Edgar Mills dying seemed to be thrown in at the last minute. It's so typical of this show to incorporate the plot of somebody dying, so it's gotten to the point of being a little too convenient and cliché. I would have preferred that Mills had been a greedy scumbag. As far as performances go, Linwood Boomer was very good and very convincing. I think Adam will make a fine lawyer. I think he's the kind we'd all like to have. Also good was Jeff Corey, whom you may remember as the judge from the episode "Barn Burner". Edgar's wife Edna was played by Barbara Collentine, the wife of Richard Bull. This was a nice story and another exciting trial episode, but again, that plot device of Mills being deathly ill seems way too contrived. If they'd left it out, this would have been flawless. Anyway, "Blind Justice" is well worth checking out and seeing Adam Kendall, attorney at law in action. He'll fight for you!
Adam Kendall got me 2.5 dollars (not really).
