New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-24
LAWYERS AND LIQUOR DEALERS.

The lsst resource of detected and arrested
rogue is to call in the aid of lawyer. pick
pocket in the hands Of the Police readily parts
with large share of his ill-acquired gains in
order TO secure the freedom of continuing his
depredatiOns on the unity; and in MI large
cities there are found class of legal practition-
ers Familiarity known as Old Bailey lawyers,
ready TO help the pick pockets upon being hand
somely paid for it.
This phenomenon at this moment is exhibited
on q scale unusually large. BY recent enact
ments in various States and in our own among
the rest. the picking of pockets hitherto so ex-
tensivey carried by the dealers in intoxicating
drinks has been made criminal ofense. The
number Of pickpockets under arrest or in dan
ger of being so, having been thus greatly in
creased, of course corresponding increase has
taken place in the demand for the services of
Old Bailey lawyers.
1t is a law of political economy that demand
creates supply, ana this law has been signslly
illustrated ia tbs instance. Old Bailey lawyers,
haw-finders and flaw pickeis-aad where flaws
are neither 10 b. found nor picked, most bold
and brazen.laced perVerters Of che peoples En-
glsb-haye spruDg up IN unexpected quarters.
This branch of the profession used to be limited
to a few disregutable individuals, generally
1eckOned to be on the whole, in pont of moral
principle, about on par with their clients.
Just now this questionable branch seems to have
drawn in large part of the bar, and even some
Judges Oh the bench.
ho to-. il M .fr
by a lOrg course not only of unpublished but
even Of lei allied depredations the liquor deal
ers are flush Of orey, and are ready to spend it
freely to break down the laws by which that
kind of pocket picking has been made criminal.
Nevertheless this tempting opportunity of gsio
is not without its dangers. The legal profession
has enjoyed ard still enjoys high social posi-
tion in this community in spite of the obloquy
brought upon it by few Old Bailey practition-
els. But if all our leading lawyers, or a MAORI
ty ofthem are to turn Old Bailey practitioners,
what then! Will little temporary run of prac-
tice even with the largest fees-for this line of
practice is sure to be temporary, whether the
law or the liqaor dealers triumph-make up for
\ permanent degradation of the legal profession
itself in the eyes of the great body of the coh-
munityl Upon large proportion Of the law
yers retained in the service Of the liquor dealers
considerations such as these cannot be likely II
produce much effect; at the same time there is
this to be said, that as they are not the men who
give character to the profession, the course Of
practice which they may see fit to adopt, how
ever it may disgrace themselves, cannot perma-
nently affect the general standing of the bar.
But there are men among those from whom the
liquor dealers have lately purchased trucking
and quibbling opinions, evidently given for
money, and against the interior convictions of
their authors, who 10 thus selling themselves to
the pickpockets, damsge not emily their private
reputation, but that of the profession of which
they are considered the lights aud eYemplsrs.
1t is not necessary TO dwell upon this topic.
word TO the wise is sufficient We shall ouly
add-whst our position as watchers of the signs
Of the times has given US occasion to notice.
that the legal profession in these times has no
suporogatory reputation 10 loss.