The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-13

equal Justice. The Office of the iudye IA t0
weigh the arguments, and charge the Jury;
the Office OF the Jury is to act on the evidence
submitted and the legal points explained to
them by the Judge. The Office Of the lawyer
is to aid justice by placing the cause of his
client in the strongest possible light. 1t il to
adduce every argument in his favor. and
bring all the truth to light, so that he can
secure the Justice that is to be meted out
Ii is not to distort facts. and baulk the end,
for which courts were created by legal ouib.
bies and technicalities much less to deieat
iustice by assuming character which ia will
fully false-is barelaced deception. and one
which should disgrace every man who would
connive at it.
The latest policy OF defense is, il the client
be evidently murderer, it the case he
clearly one OF premeditated slaughter, to set
up the plea of insanity. The prisoner beinc
informed that it is the only hope he has Of
life, raves in his cell, gnashes his teeth and
by foaming aud yelping conveys an impres.
sion of his madness. When brought on trial
his keepers testify to his extraordinary he
havior. Friends and relatives are summoned
who swear that he used to do many tbincs
which looked like madness All of tbase ora
laid before the Jury, while the prisoner sits
mumblng and grinning before them. The
case is ably argued that he is insaue, and il
the jury are not convinced it is because
they see through the fraud, and not bv the
absence OF hard swearing. We do not accuse
the witnesses OF perjury. Many of them give
evidence in good faith. Every man has his
peculiarities. which, when looked back unon in
the light OF future madness, look like tha
premonition OF mind diseased. They NAV
therefore, act honestly. The blame does nnt
lie with them, but rests with the lawver who
prostituting his profession, seeks to save from,
the gallows the murderer, and violates tho
Biblical law, that "Whosoever sbeddoth
mans blood, by man shall his blood be shadD
There is class of moralists who danu
that any sane man will commit murder ., IT,
this be recognized in the courts. we'll o.
good, and let us do away with the;farce of =
trial But if murder is supposed to be .
crime, and not the work of an unsound mind
let us have no more of this dlsgraceful, petti-
logging, and dishonest course on the part of
the attorneys. There is only a certain cIas.
OF men who will condescend to resort to such
deception. Honorable and higb-mindod
lovers of their profession will not accent ~
such foul means of robbing Justice of ber
due. 1t seems to us that whenever m,n
is sane enough to purchase a weapon. and
deliberately go in search OF his victim. and
murder him or her, that toe ruffian is ouite
sane enough to swing for his offense.
We hope that we will hear No
more Of this style OF defense. Rv il
the willy practitioner is enabled to Get off b;o
guilty client; and when he boasts of his suc-
cess, and says that, Through my skill 1 have
succeeded" he utters no sentiment over
which he has the right to glory. He has de-
feated the euds for which courts !were jnst;-
tuted; he has deceived the Jury, but not the
God OF Justice; he has prostltuted bis talents
and his profession; and instead OF glorying in
his act he should rather hide his head to
escape the contempt of every law-loving and
honorable man.