The New York herald., 1871-03-07
JUICE BEDFORD AID THE BAR.
Opening Of the March Term Of the Court Of Con-
eral sessions-The Judges Charge to the
Grand Jury-He OPENS a Campaign
Against the Legal shysters.

The March term OF the General Sessions was opened
yesterday morning, City Judge Bedford presiding.
Notwithstanding the storm that prevailed the court
room was Well filed by lawyers and citizens, who
were drawn thitner by the expectation of hearing
his Honor the City Judge deliver his charge 10 the
Grand Jury. AS is well known by those who have
listened to these addresses every alternate month
that they have been replee with important sugges-
tions affecting the public good expressed In ornate
Language ana delivered In an animated and finished
manner. Those who were fortunate enough TO be
present yesterday enjoyed rich treat in hearing
scalhing rebukc dealt, on tho one hand, to men,
bers OF The legal profession known as 'shysters,n
VINO degrade 1t by robbing their innocent victims,
and then listened, on the other hand, to fitting
and eloquent tribute to those members OF the bar
who adorn it by their culture and probity OF char
acter. Those 'shys.ers' who were in court, If any
there were while Judge Bedford was charging
the jury must have wnced under the severe but well
merited criticisms OF his Honor. To the younger
members OF the legal professional profession to
which Judge Bedford so feelingly refers when he
Ikens II TO splendid garden filled with the
choicest nowers," and of which he himself Is so
proud to belonS-the almoniton OF the youthful
Judge will come with peculiar meaning and effect.
The example so honorably presented In his own per-
son in the important judicial position he fills and
Bench OF the highest criminal tribunal In the State
lends additional weight to his words Of encourage
ment, as well as to his notes OF warning. No doubt
they Will be well pondered on by the two distinct
classes in the profession referred TO- with the hap
piesr results TO both.
Nh. Theron r. Butler was selected to act as Fore
man. After the jury were sworn Judge Bedford
charged them as follows:-
TIE CHARGE.
hfv sNnArr n
JURY-The law makes 1t incumbent upon me TO
direct your attention especially to all ofences
serve the purity OF elections, the laws torbidding
lotteries and the taking Of Illegal fees by public on.
IN tie sale OF tickets upon steamboats, and other YES.
sells. must also inform you that lt Is
A MlsDEMRANoR
for any grand Juror or Ollcer Of the court TO
disclose the fact OF an lnd!cmen having been
found for felony against any person, not IN actual
deem il my duty 70 direct your attention
deeply interested, Tor It rehecIs directly upon
the legal PROFESSIONAL procession which love
perpetrated every day by the
DISHONEST AND UNPRNCIpLED MEMBERS OF THE |
but thank Godl gentlemen, these members are
greatly in The minority. Nothing more richly I
deserves the universal scorn aud contempt OF |
dsnonesv lawyer. look upon the legal pro- |
fesslon as ! 40 upon splendid garden filled |
this pcanly ana cultivation one sometimes finds
faithful gardener to uproot the weeds, so that the |
noWers may longer retain their life and lovelincss
Sna Ts e Of ne noxs a % o a g Ke
manner 40 l hold 1t to be the duty OF |,
ne he to al sse S WSa tn the ,sr rRk %
ressional acts ana conduct degrade and dishonor |
1t. What to-day particularly deprecate in the |
isned system nmong some OF the practitioners OF the
law lor rathtr perhaps, those only claiming TO be
Ss IS the & sAdt to 90
one OF which consists In visiting prisoners when
first arrested, and whether
GUILTY OR INNOCENT,
it matters not. The prisoner in MS frame Of mind.
with the evidences OF his guilt more or less sur
rounding him, Is willing TO believe anything which
may have a tendency once more to make him q free !
man, and Ia informed by his visitor that he has |
to say he controls, ay, even
owns, THE COURT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
After conversng In this strain for some little
while ne acsomplsSes p les his purpose the prisoner
quently, to raise the fec demanded, his wiie's |
clothes, bed and bedding and those OF lns little I
almost utter destitutoh The money Once obtained,
The wretch who, under the garb Of his profession,
won the confidence OF his client leaves him, turns
deaf ear TO his enlreat1es forever iorsakes him and
Immediately goes in quest Of some new victim.
This picture s, indeed, dark one but BY no means
melancholy truth. The authorities oltentlmes have
moral proof, but the great difficulty - to obtain the
District Attorney npon tbs subject, ana am happy
10 say thGt he Is determined TO use all his power IN
the efor, OF crushing out mis- dlserscerul ramc,
legal fraternity rhe DISTRICT Attorney desires me .
S tho to you gentlemen S me mat crna Ss 1Sr
obliged 10 any person in The community VINO vii
furnish him with convincing evidence pointing vii,
Court and the district attorneys 5ea Tne prose,
of9r Il fhf ,Ilar
this matter fully Investigated ana probed to its very
core, SO tDat The naked truth can be laid before
aarlg follow that qtcils viii be placed upon these
groundless insinuatlons, now once ana forever.
Let these creatures be deba1ed from the profession,
SENT TO STATE PRISON.
In all probability the District Attorney will be able,
this character for to pass upon. And should he
be successful, then ask you to be prompt in your
sicioa the he Court, You a may rest assured, win win
do its duty. | am Of the opinion, ana, in fact,
sent TO the State Prison for the full term fixed by law
there to reflect IN their lonely cells upon their many
fessonal honor upon the irend,ess and over credu-
Ipas then believe ogr profession @ being stripped Of
oaly OF illgh-toned, honorable men. would, indeed,
full its noble misslon-meng ont justice to all and
every young man standing upon the threshold OF hts
profession, and entering rs ranks, wonid at once
psICelVc WHtl siuilOus IutuTc WGs OpcHiuS pcloIe
him. In hts endeavor to do honor TO the path
marked out FOR him and credit 70 himself he would
learn the pleasing lesson that the law although IT
has it5 labois, yet it has Its rewards, and he who
pursues It wltha proper spirit aud discrimination
esEe m 60 a s o ay no be o per s
mlttcd to Say, that tie young lawyer should ever
remember ina mt success IA his profession
individual Efforts. He should never lose signt
OF the fact that as difficulties surround
him fresh energies should be awakened and in
creased resolution MADE 10 go onward. Let him
ever bear in mInd nat from the very hour he Is ad-
niitted to the last day or his professional career o
high moral responsibility devolyes upon him, and
That OF the great attributes OF the lawyer Is TO
dispense justice. Before his God he has sworn to
maintain the rights of man 70 his fellow man, to
preserve the scales Of justice IN equilibrium, not
the weight OF one feather more nor less. HIS pur-
pose as well as his anlbition should be 10 do right,
and in doing right he VIII. indeed accomplish all.
Gentlemen learn that the