Case ID: ad_163/html/0880-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Ingraham, P. J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of Holmes Jones, an Attorney.
    
      Attorney disbarred.
    
    Charges of professional misconduct against the respondent, an attorney and counselor at law, presented by the Association of the Bar of the City of Hew York.
   Ingraham, P. J.:

The charges against this respondent involve his misappropriation of property and money of his clients, which he converted to his own use and failed to pay over until proceedings had been commenced by his clients against him, orders had been made that he restore to his clients the money he had misappropriated, and commitments had been ordered for contempt for refusing to obey the orders of the court. When the charges were presented the respondent interposed an answer, and they were referred to the official referee. Instead of appearing before the official referee, the respondent attempted to avoid the investigation by charging that the official referee, being a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of Hew York, was disqualified from acting. That objection having been overruled (See 159 App. Div. 782), the respondent failed to appear before the official referee. The official referee took the evidence of the charges and they were proved by uncontradicted evidence. The order of the court requiring the respondent to restore to his clients property that he had misappropriated, and the commitments for contempt for refusing to obey its orders, were proved before the official referee, and he has reported that the charges were all proved. When the proceedings came on for final order upon the report of the official referee, the respondent again charged that four members of this court, having been members of the Association of the Bar of the City of Hew York before their election to the bench, were disqualified from hearing the charges against the respondent. That objection having been overruled, and the respondent having been given time to file briefs in opposition to the report of the official referee, of which he has failed to avail himself, the proceeding is now presented for final disposition. The official referee in his report has fully set out the charges and the evidence to sustain them. They are all conclusively proved. We adopt the report of the official referee. The conduct of the respondent, both in his treatment of his clients, which is detailed in the report of the official referee, and in this proceeding, when called to account, has demonstrated his unfitness to remain a member of the profession and he is, therefore, disbarred. Clarke, Scott, Dowling and Hotchkiss, JJ., concurred. Respondent disbarred. Order to be settled on notice.