Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-24

Criminal LAWYERS.


I" Mr. Brady, the great criminal lawyer Of New
York, is dead, said one neighbor 10 another,
one evening last week. after the mail had been
opened " He was probably the greatest lawyer
in that respect in the United States, he contin-
ued.
I'd Nagib0r. Yes perhaps so. That means. !
suppose, that he has secured the pardon or es-
cape Of the greatest number of ielons of any law
yer and is, or was, the most criminal OF any
lawyer in the United States.
Isl Naghbor WE'LL no not that exactly. But
lie has been very successful in defending those ac-
cused of criminal deeds
2d Ne,ghbor. Has procured the release of hun
dreds, perhaps thousands, who had robbed. burnt
buildings stolen, committed forgery, burglary.
or murder, and put them in conditions 10 commit
these crimes again
Isl Neighbour Undoubtedly much Of his work
was Of that sort
I'd Nsighbor. And so he has undermined socie-
ty, telling the innocent and delenseless they have
no security in law for life, limbs or property.
Telling the ielon be has nothing to fear at the bar
OF his country, if he can only secure Mr.. Brady 5
assistance
Isl Ne,gh5or. did not mean to say that but
fear that is too near the truth
"a Neghbor. We agree as to the principles
We know at the present day on every murder
trial the business of the criminals LAWYER is 10
make the jury believe his client was insane, even
wien ne KNOWS mat IS lie as IN the Cole trial,
the Sickes trial. and all similar trials for the past
eight or ten years. Men don't become insane in
a moment and recover in a moment having done
the deed that was plotted in malice and hy LEGAL
hctlon held up before the world to tell il how m
injured man may murder with impunity, and an
iniurated man must not he restrained in his ra-
pacity
Isl Neighbor Must not criminal be defended?
"a Nelghb0r. Surely he must he proved guilty.
before he is punished, and the labor of the trial
should be to show that the accused is guilty. and
II found guilty. then let him suffer as he deserves
l." Nigh6or. Would not that be cruel in some
cases2
2d Ndgh5or. Would it not be lust? Would il
not say unequivocally-lf thou doest evil. be
AFRAID, Tor he 1.-THE magistrate) beareth not the
sword in vain Justice is never cruelty. Rut
to help the guilty to eyade, or es-
cape, a righteous sentence, is cruelty 10 suffer
ing and deenceess people is to deGlc the land
with blood, and invite the commission of every
conceivable enormty, The heart of humane
man sickens now as from time to time he reads
the criminal calendar and sees how the guilty
are acquitted by the verdict Of the jury, procured
by the ingenuity OF the lawyer on the defence and
not by the correctness Of the accused Hence the
vast Increase of crime. Boys are encouraged 10
steal and to rob. The reckless are easily enlisted
In burglary and murder. The most atrocious
crimes are undertaken by the wicked because |
they can accomplish desirable scheme and es-
ape the penalty. Lawyers build up reputation
by destroying law, and by giving the crimnally |
inclined license to fulfil their evil desires and ex
pect IMMUNITY. Every criminal is, Of course, in
sane, ii their pleas are TO be received and instead
d court houses and lails, these lawyers should be
consulted as physicians, and these leons should |
BY them be committed to asylums, until they are
iane enough to itanotheratrooity- have
mother iarcical examination, and undergo the
anne process. Meanwhile, let the community suf- .
er and law bleed, until an indignant people de
nand a different course from courts iurfes and
awyers. 7. SU