New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-10-25
4 CORRUPT BENCH AND DEMORALIzED

| BAR.
| Something more than a year ago, large
number of members of the New-YOrk Bar
sought TO protect themselves from the pOliti-
cal influences which arc rapidly corrupting
| what little of honesty is left on the NewYOrk
Bench and demoralizing the New-York Bar,
| by forming sort Of protective association.
| Some of the most prominent and respected
lawyers Of the city attached themselves to it.
We do not know how far the association has
succeeded as SUCH but 1t is very clear no
matter what its exertions, that it has done
little to counteract the increasing demoraliza-
ton. That the necessity for activity on its
part, and that OF reputable members of the
Bar generally, is as great as ever, is freshly
proved by the dsgraceful scene yesterday in
Recorder Hackett's Court.
1t is unnecessary to recount the facts in this
place, for they are fully stated elsewhere. No
thinking reader can rise from their perisal
without convictions of the corruption and de-
moralization of Bench and Bar, and the con-
sequent danger to public peace and personal
security. A murderer brought UP for trial for
his life declares himself in fear of the Judge
who is to try him, because he believes him to
be influenced by party leaders whom the pris-
oner has offended. Judges Hackett and Bed
ford ridiculed the affidavit which the
prisoners counsel presented, but they can
not afford to content themselves with gem
eral denial of its allegations. In spite of
the disgustngly offensive manner and tone of
the counsel who presented it, which serve in
some degree to distract attention from the
serious charges against the Recorder, the ALL
davit leaves on the readers mind the impress
sion that it is probably true. The corruption
of the men and party with whom Recorder
Hackett is associated is so notorious that their
odium extends to all about them and it is not
difficult to convince men that the Recorder is
a most improper person to sit in Judgment on
this prisoner. 1T is usual and very natural,
we suppose for prisoners to think they stand
ain danger OF their lives from the Judge on the
"bench,n but in this instance there ia reason
to thiok that the stale old legal joke thus
framed into an affidavit Is no joke at all.
Aside from these disgusting personal reveal
lions, the trial yesterday revealed the bitter
ness of the wal between the rival Democratic
factions and the majority Of those who study
the reports will have less hesitation than here
tofore in crediting the old assertion that Tam
many kills as well as buys its enemies.
| But this is not the only incident revealing
| the rapid Decentralization of the legal profess
sion in this misgoverned city. There are fire.
quent instances in which Judges have intimi-
dated lawyers and threatened them with
personal enmty in the event of their offend
| ing. 1t is only few months since that
prominent if not reputable lawyer proclaimed
in a New-York Court the infamous doctrine
that counsel in defense of criminals life are
justified in any effort to destroy the character
| of an innocent witness-a doctrine from which
every honest lawyer, as every honest man,
will Indignantly dissent. 1t is still later
that a most uniustiiable salvage suit
belonging TO proceedings which ought
TO be wholly fnadmissbe in any
court, sincs they begin and develop in
conspiracy-has long occupied the attention of
a court, forced defendants to heavy costs, and
resulted in Judgment which cannot be en-
forced because of the responsibility of the
LAWYER who instituted the proceedings. Yes
terday another court was employed for some
hours in hearing the application OF lady who
was forced TO bring suit to get her papers out of
the hands Of lawyer whom she had dis
missed.
These are but a few of many glaring in
stances which we might quote as revealing the
dsgraceful condition of legal practice here.
The corruption of the Courts il, of course,
the natural consequence of the corruption of
our local politics, and there can be no
thorough reformation of the Bar until the
Bench has been purified by the deposition Of
these mere tools of Tammany. We do not dcs-
pair of the final reformation even of tho
New-York Judiciary; but in the mean time the
legal fraternity owes it to itself and the public
to combine to maintain its own independence
and purity. When the Bar has sunk so
low as to seek the fayors of the Bench and
fear its enmty, there is no security for honest
clients and lawyers in any of our Courts.