The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-19
THE BAR ASSOCIATION.
Report on Mr.. 0'Conor's Letter
of Explanation.
A New Court Of Inquiry
To Be Formed.
THE MEETING LAST NIGHT
Judge BOSwOrth'S Well-Timed Defence Of the
Legal NeStOr.
THE MEETING LAST NIGHT.
MRS. SIN WANTE D.

MRS. SINCLAIR WANTE D.
A well attended meeting OF the Bar Association, Mr.
Van Wrinkle presiding, was held last evening ut No
West Twenty ninth street TO consider Mr.. O'Conor's
letter relative the charges preferred against him in
connection with Mrs. sinclair's suit against Edwin
Forrest, twenty-five years ago. The parors on the
first floor OF the building were crowded with well
known lawyers. MT o'Conor was also present.
When the discussion became interesting to Mr.
O'conor he spoke with great earnestness and deter
mination. and though he dsavowed beng personally
much exercised about the charges made against him
he certainly deeply interested in carrying the point
he had In view, which 10 be "nvesti-
gated" fully possible. He cmphatically
stated that he could dsprove the statements OF those
who had accused him, and demonstrate the truth OF
his letter in every particular. At the close OF the
meeting his desire gratidcd by the adoption ola
resolution appointing a committee to arrange for
tribunal whose business It will be to investigate tho
allegations made, and should accuscrs appear when
called for, then TO hear from Mr. oConor himself his
complete refutaton of the charges
After the meeting called to order ex-Judge Bos-
worth rose and, as chairman Of the committee having
charge of Mr. O'Conors letter, read the following re-
port
To rnr BAR ASSOCIATION OF THE CRY or NEw yonx:-
Your Special Committee appointed consider and report
upon the communication made TO the Association tho
por tina. they have considered The communication with all
nieation and its source would naturally excite.
are Sp M e Of II. 1s ss @ and "
in the whole Of his relations Mrs. sinclair her
the public prints Or Within the
edge OF the COMMITTEES in tho way OF accusation or inua
Holding this opinion committee at present
the association for further Of the inquiry
asked for in Mr. oConos's communication
may be for the a,,oeissm to nyts from Mrs Sinclair
make such % M should a raise any Is
for association 70 make some provision OF the nyesti.
therefore for the Of the the
Resolved That copy Of Mr. oConors communication
the Bar Association and Of this and resolution be
eia and shSi sue &c informed that tue Ace4sion viii Se
%ss. which s D.
S %5hkI 4 rs aEJ6aELI-
nrNI.u, Y. 9 nn s}iI
WILLIAM NJ EvARrs. AZ
ExJudge Bosworth supplemented the report with
few remarks, in the course Of which he ad:-sThe
committee have stated in their report their unanimous
opinion that the communication made by Mr.. O'Conor
Is full and complete answer to thing In the way OF
mputaton or insinuation contained in the article
specified in his communication. In that article Mrs.
Sinclair is made to say simply that she understood
or supposed that Mr.. o'Conor's services were
made ssy that mr. ono s' ever
stated. Mr. scdley publishes this morning a long
article, as originally published in the Times was pub
lished not only against his but against Mrs Sin
clairs wish and reinonstrance
After dssecting the letter alluded TO the speaker
Baid there seemed TO be nothing left the article
side of newspaper nsinualion, OF which he had
Mr. 1 ScoDor ~ the nsep ades q Ssa York;
and the other behalf OF prominent
members Of the Bar, and what took place those
casonz. on the latter occasion Mr. Lord said that the
conduct of Mr.. OConor IN respect TO Mrs Forrest
body at liberty, from that remark, TO infer that
Mr. o'conor had rendered his laporous services gra
tmiousiy, If anybody had inferred that. why,
10 relieve his mind He thought that any
one who could perform the services
rendered by Mr.. O'Conor. and in addition that would
ndyance large OF money his client during the
progress of the trial. without any otner chance OF pay
the services repayment OF the loaned
than contingency depending upon the result OF the
trial. and that, too to lady 10 whom he entire
see such conduct was like 10 uhivalry.
THIS outburst was RECESSED with loud applause, when
the speaker concluded his remarks by saying that Mr.
Sedley asserted that neither himself Mrs Sinclair
any OF her relatives in any aided In
gated the publication Of the original article,
disposed TO appear before the association 10
make any accusation. What the committee might have
been disposed to recommend " had this dcclara-
of Mr. sedey before making report he was not
able to say As 1t was Mrs Sinclair the only person
living, FAR as they could judge who knew the facts,
was invited TO attend.
MIR. o'coSon's SPEECH
At the conclusion OF Judge Bosworth's remarks Mr..
O'Conor advanced amid warm applause He said he
exceedingly honorcd by the courteous manner IN
which he had been received, and that he could
but feel highly obliged to the learned
and very distinguished committee for the man.
ner in which II had treated his communication.
This was however, free country and while we were
able we might be frcer TO indulge In our independent
opinions and he under the necessity of entering his
objection would not say protest-,o the conclusion
the publication referred to appeared, attach any impor
lance TO 1t in so far could possibly affect him per
..aaltx~ l.atp hn ntlA xlsofh no has
the last mccting-that while he esteemed tho kind
opinion OF those who know him not and OF
the good opinion OF those who did he stood in dread
OF general opinion, and had always been willing
front II and 10 defy u II had been Necessary What
he considered right and just he would do, and what he
considered right and just TO omit he would omit in
defiance OF whatever opinion might be expressed by the
general public or BY the press Therefore as y re
spcctcd any influence upon his own pleasure tran
guilty publication OF this kind could have infu
He might adj that at his time OF life and with his
relations TO societyhaving objects TO gain, public
private-rcpuiation vauclcss TO him
IL could be any person While saying this would
no, be thought ungratcu to the people and the press
for the almost uniformly kind sentiments expressed
toward him for half century, but at this day he could
have il supposed that he had como there or any
where else for the purpose OF obtaining simple vind
cation OF bis own personal reputation from false
charges He would not consider It worth an hours
effort so Tar as personal feeling concerned
Indeed, when turning to the sheets OF newspaper
and hndng tho most unexccptionablc and he thought
selfish actions OF his life made the OF such mon
sirous accusations as are made in the article, he
rather diverted than otherwise Affected disturbed.
u might. then, be asked why he reluctant 10 ac
ccpt or acquicsce In the conclusion which had been
arrived at What was the accuSAtonY That
about the oldest lawyer who eolId be at ali
considered active In the pro csson OF the very
best known and who had resided all his life in place
90 conspicuous as the metropolis OF America 20 That
his name bad become generally known and connected
exclusively with professional action and professional
life aud the profession body-that lawyer OF that
condition and whose life had not been tho subject
OF any reproach as having committed any fraud
previously should all nj be shown 10 have
pcrpctra u fraud upon TO begin with,
aud a monstrous mcanncss Imposing upon the whole
profession and the whole community the hrst place
very naturally would lead 10 the remark which coun
try paper he observed had made