The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-12
CHARLES 0'C0NOR.
His Reply to the Charges Of Hy-
pocrisy and Avarice.
REVIEW OF THE FORREST DIVORCE CASE.
The NestOr Of the Bar indicating the
Honor Of His Profession.
4 COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION.
REVIEW OF THE FORREST DIVORCE CASE.
COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION

The regular monthly meeting Of the Bar Association
last night was unusually well attended owing TO
rumor that Mr. Charles O'Conor would Be present and
say something in charges preferred
Againss his character in Of the daily papers
weeks ago In the absence OF the president, Mr. Van
Wrinkle took the chair.
suggestion adopted at . meeting Of the Executive
Committee Of the association Monday that the
citation should appoint special committee TO nvesti-
gate the charges against w. G. Barrett who had handed
In his resignation IS member Of the society, and II
lhs said charges were substantiatsd to petition the
General Term disbar him. adopted, and ., the
close Of the meeting q committee Of three was ap-
pointed for that purpose.
Nj. Delaneld offered resolutions Of respect 70 the
memory Of the late Surrogate, In which the character
u the latter was highly sulogizsd They wsre unan
lnously adopted.
Nj. kllott f. Shepsrd moved . resolution that each
judicial district State should invited elect
twenty delegates TO State convention for the purpose
Of organixnga State Bar Association whose objects
should DO similar TO tho present organization, only il
should operate In larger Held Tho motion after some
opposition, was carried
CHARLES o'coSoR SPEAKS
At this point Mr. Charles O'Conor who had from the
commencement Of the proceedings been sitting on
sofa in retired corner with his head resting in his
hands, and general expression Of weakness and
mess his furrowed face came slowly forward tow
ard the chair He was greeted with enthusiastic
clapping OF hands, which lasted for several seconds
Then lie began to speak In low voice. very different
from his ringing tones OF few months ago. The as
scmblagc moved by ono impulse, closed up in circle
around him.
"whcn this association was organized" said he
without addressing tho chairman in particular Al un-
Its chief object to and maintain the honor
Of the bar by carefully attending TO tho duty Of purify
Ing the profession by excluding from its
ranks those members who by professional
misconduct rendered themselves unworthy OF .
place in it. That. certainly, was announced as
sne Of the Objects and your constitution declares tho
TACT and suggests Of the methods Of efecng that
object as excluding from its body any member whose
misconduct has untitled him 10 associate with lawyers
and gentlemen. have seen, SIR, within a fortnight
= statement in OF the New York newspapers
charging Of your members who, II not honorably
known 10 certainly well known, with tho most
atrocous misconduct that can well 10 imputed TO n
lawyer Il Is that he volunteered to a client
throughout case gratuitously aud without compen-
sation, and that At tho close OF the controversy,
seized upon her money TO q very large amount
and kept Is under color OF compensation
Tor services for which she owed him nothing THIS
Atrocous conduct is charged in paper. copied in
another, and throughout the country the
. leading newspaper OF the Wcst-a Chicago paper.
we'll known-a sort Of rogucs galery"-a list Of law
editor been guilty or a,rocious and nagitious
conduct AZ tho end of il this Abatement
..we now And that lawyer in tho city OF New York,
OF honor and integrity is found to be like all the
fest-a rogue and sunderland his name should DO
dAnI els. fttrl fnr nlehf
Now, sir, Imagine when charges VI this description
made known TO the public through responsible
channels and the honor OF the profession and oil this
society-hc happening to tie one Of It's members-being
deeply Affected BY the imputation that
THE NATTER SHOULD Bk INQUIRED INFO
aud not passed without notice. This beng the
and the individual who addresses you being the
psrson 70 whom The public statement refers he has
prepared printed statement rst oil the charge next,
Of course his simple denial Of Its principal facts. de-
tail o tho circumstances which would tend to show that
untrue, aud ten invite your ASSOCIATION To adopt
such measures for investigating the matter us the
:asi0n may require. He proposes 10 submit 10 any
sort Of that you may think proper either
before your body before sort Of jury body or
tricrs taken IRON the mercantile community, or
from the clerical body or m any other req,
therefore suggest the proper course the appointment
81 committee To act in such way ~ may be deemed
necessary present the memorial, which ut this late
Aour would not he JUSTIFIED reading to you. and
suggest again the appointment OF committee imme-
aon vi this time. That however. submit to the
nation hand You the memorial SIR, aud will have
op cs for distribution.
Here Mr.. OiConor handed the chairman a pan.ph-
lei, OF which VIC give copy below
Mr.. Sewel moved 10 refer the matter 10 the Commit
zee on Grievances as the proper body to consider the
Mr. Hand thought present ever believed the
charges Tor moment but lie would defer to the wishes
pf MI. OConor, and move the appointment OF special
sommittcc
NJ Coudert though. Mr. oCouor exaggerated the
Importance OF the charges, coming from the sourre
they did and thought il would be to the credit OF the
association 10 take no notice VI them. Mr.. o'Conors
word should weigh against all the newspapers that
received corporation printing.
Thus statement was received with loud, hearty and
Ir 0'conor. Who during these remarks had sa,
ncrvously twts hing his fingers. rose. and with
much warmth and not little resentment mingled with
touch OF sadness in his lone. said:.i dont wish
70 IL understood that come here for the purpose OF
INDICATING REPUTATION
OF saving IL from attack. have object whether
my reputation be good or bad I have no
material interest IN IT, have pretty much passed all
interest OF human life. am concerned IN 10 public
matter that renders reputation thing or an,
qucnce 10 me whatever. am concerned IN no private
business which would make desirable for extend
or secure generally favorable opinion have no doubt
at all that those who actually know and have
observed my OF life and conduct hardly dcsir
even much y denial IN reference TO any imputae
lion upon my professional or personal conduct And
Tor the outside world. for those whom don't know.
snh whom do not come In contact.
Whilst do their III opuor, wish. to protect
myself against any possible influence might have, no
CONSCIOUS RgcnrrpE.
do not ask even my dear friends TO stand up and
uy word for me- could stand against the wide
sorId upon that capital and would rather scorn tho
AID which would como up to attempt tn yindcaic
my character against the crowd who Know me not |
know well the feelings OF the two gentlemen who have
addressed you. They OF the kindest possible de-
seripton, but cannot Tor these concur with
them have asked Tor an investigation. That Is not
Inc precise form OF my prayer ut this time. l
save 20 ask for an investigation, 10 be sure.
but i have asked commutec be
appointed To consider this memorial and thereon
promptly ~ u may seem To require And my
are Tor The honor OF the profession which by permit
Ting charges Of this description to be circulated
swsred against Of It's members, who happens DO
conspicuous aud we'll known The homer of the pro-
ession body Is assased, ana " ts not bv sitting
1Own and saying. 1--WE satisfied with tho integrity
u member" that this society protect the
honor OF the profession against assault
Tho conclusion 81 Mr.. u'Ianors address greeted
with louder applause than we're his hrst remarks. Mr
scwcll withdrew his motion
NJ. Albion r Mann thought prompt acton should be