St. Landry democrat., 1878-05-04


costs putting them in Jail for not lest
than "a or more than 4S hours, has made
witnesses more punctual in attendance
than ever known in this District.
The assignment of counsel to defend
accused in criminal case, has grown tc
be an intolerable nuisance to the mem
bers of our bar. The fashion of late
years has become almost universal, fol
accused parties when called for arraign-
ment to state to the court, their inability
to employ counsel, with view to hav-
ing counsel assigned to defend them.
In this way have the great majority of
thieves, ruffians and rogues been de-
Tended for years past. Stout able
| bodied men, amply able to pay attorneys
fees or to have them paid by their en-
ployers, have thrown themselves almost
invariably on the mercy of the court,
for counsel to represent them. For
long the bar submitted to this, and some
of the ablest defences we have ever
heard before our District Court we're
made in these charity cases. The pa
tience of the bar has at length been ex-
hausted. Last week of all those ar
raigned, only three or four appeared
with counsel to represent them. Monday
morning, at the opening of Court Hypo-
lite Ardoin was called for arraignment
on a charge of carrying concealed
weapons. He stated he was unable to
employ counsel and desired to have
counsel assigned. The court first as
signed J. T. Howell, ESD. who requested
the court to assign some other attorney,
as he spoke only English, whilst the ac-
cused spoke only French. The court
then assigned Hon. Henry L. Garland.
Mr.. Garland in accepting the assign
ment remarked that it was evident the
bar was being imposed upon by persons
during the criminal term continually
coming into court charged with ofenses
and throwing themselves on the charity
Of the attorneys, on the specipus pre-
text that they were unable to employ
counsel, that this had grown into
an abuse, and he was no longer disposed
to tolerate it, that In the present case
it was matter we'll known to the court,
il the accused had no means, he had
relations and friends who had and that
he could easily make arrangements to
employ an attorney if he needed the
services of one, thatip this, andin all 9th
er cases assigned to him hereafter, he
should waive arraignment for the accus-
ed, cite bis witnesses, examine them be-
fore the jury, but beyond this be would
feel or take no interest and would con-
slider his duty discharged, unless paid
for his services. His remarks met with
the universal commentator of the bar,
and We hope TO see the course initiated
by him carried out to the letter. It will
certainly go far towards striking death
blow at crime. Heretofore stealing es-
pecially has been simply coleation of
chances. A thief will argue thus: 81
will steal hog worth ten dollars; if
not detected SO much is gained. If de-
tected and put in Jail some planter will
bond me out when court comes on /
will have no money to spend, because I
need not employ q lawyer, as the court
will assign me one, hence the chances
are in my favor and / can at least steal
without incurring any expense for at
torney's fees.n
Hereafter the case will be different.
He must take into consideration the
Of his lawyer fees, and when
he comes to reflect that in stealing six
months cid pig, he may have to pay, in
the way Of attorneys fees, enough to
buy two or three barrels of pork he will |
be apt to hesitate.
No class of men have shown more
charity than the members of our bar,
but hereafter We reckon the case must
be purely a charitable one, in which |
their services can be had beyond the
point stated by Mr.. Garland on Monday. |