The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-07-15
MISCELLANY.

A SCENE IN THE IlrsTINGs Court
Pay Your LAWYERS OR 60 TO THE
PENIrENTIanY.--On saturday last
Howard, alias Monte. negro, was ar
raSrued before the Hastings court,
Judge Oicott presiding, for horse.s'cal-
ing. His Homer having Inquired Of
the prisoner if he had engaged c'aasel,
and having rec ivcd reply in the ne
ya,ive, called upon A. Moise, Esq, and
requested him t" defend him. Mr. Mo-
isc, in very respectful language address
ed to his Honor, d,chucd d"i~y 80 -
Mr.. NJ. said that he expressed his own
sentiments, and he believed that of every
gentleman of the Richmond bar, when
he said that it would afford him plea
sure to comply with any request which
his Honor might make, either in his
judicial or personal capacity. but he
(Mr. NJ felt himself constrained to de
cliae the defence Of the prisoner
lie would say, however, that he would
assign his easous for doing so, and
If his Honor decided that the reasons
were'u"t satisfactory. he wes!d-waving
all his own scruples-put his poor ubii-
ties ut the service of prisoner. Mr.. NJ.
referred to many jurors aud others, at
that moment in courb as to s4se fact
no unfortunate man or woman, whether
ethiopian or Caacasian, whether ne
had black skin ur white skin--wao
had BY the frailty Of our nature and
temptation, been betrayed into crime.
had ever appealed to him for profession
al-aid, though for such service he never
expected to receive any reward; that the
consciousness of having done our duty
never fails to bring-the smiles of aa
approving conscience. But his Honor
having but recently taken his seat, was
not aware that there is-an- army of pro-
fessional negro horse-thieves and bu--
glars, who thr"ns this cnurt.house at
every term Of the court. ana wh" make
1t rule not tn cmpl"y counsel, expect
irg that the court will furnish them
with legal aid, and lha: too, when they
have ample means to fee a lawyer i they
wanted to. In this particular case o',c
month had elapsed since the c"mmi>-
sion Of the act for which the prisoner
was arrested, and yet, though he had
SIS, he failed to procure counsel.
They say that the business won't pay
II they have To pay to make lawyers
The thing had become an iutolerAble
evil. While it was worthy ofhis Fre-
ftssiea that a gcRtlcman should scca.
sioua1ly volunteer to detcnl some un-
fortunate poor Ran or woman, yet he
must say, Tor tho members Of the bar
TO permit these penple to make matter
of convenience of them defending every
robbcr or petty thieffor nothing, was
radignided and highly improper, IN |
while on the subject he would 60 step
farthcr-he would say defending them
for pery small fees, was not only to some
exunt encouraging crime and putting
premium Oh dishonesty, but was lower
ing the high standard Of the profess. on.
These fellows we'll know that when oncc
lawyer enters upon his defence, both
motives of professional pride and Of
honor, he will exert himself as much NJ
if nc had received fec of Sl00. For
his part he would set his face against it,
and teach thieves, burglars and petty
larseners that "the way of the trausgres-
sor is not only had, but uery erpe"sioe,' >
and if they want our services, they must
pay for them. In conclusion, Mr., N
said tha, having given his reasons tor
not wishing to comply with his hon"rs
request. if these rcasous were not per-
fectIy satisfactory to bis honor he would
defend Howard, and do his best, which
wns, he regretted TO say, but little His
Hear, we are pleased to say, approved
of Mr. Noises reason for refusing and
excused him for declining the very
questionable honor.
Moral.-The man was tried and sent
TO the penitentiary for G7re" yenrs.
Richmond Examiner.