The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-26
That Bili Of Atwoca's,

aurderers, and has the following to say:
During the last day of the late session p
f the board of supervisors the following
occurred:
Supervisor Ransom moved that the bill of W H a
Atwood amounted TO 500 for defending Bernard
Ieeney be allowed. The yeas and nays being \
alled resulted as follows:
Yeas-Koch and Ransom
Nays-Zimmerman, Hcllister, Martin, Hanna,
Reed, Cofeen, Gordon, Cleaveland Atkinson, Case,
Gilmore sayre, Miller, Ballard, Drury and Kramer
10.
Absent-Wigh and silyis-s. Lost. II
"On what ground the supervisors reject
ed this bill we are not informed, nor are
we informed as to what Mr.. Atwood thinks
Of the matter. 1t is for the public good
that all criminals have fair trial and the
people choose prosecuting attorneys to
attend to their side of the case and the
law provides that,in cases where criminals
ore unable to secure legal aid to defend
them, the court shall appoint some attor
ney to defend them.
We do not think it was necessary for
the supervisors and the city council to en-
ploy assistance for the states attorney, but
they thought it was.
And the court very properly appointed |
counsel for one of the prisoners who was
unable to procure counsel AS to whether |
the bill for services shall be paid or not, |
we suppose that is matter of discretion |
with the supervisors. 1t is usual to pay
such bills. MIR. Atwood would have been
liable to be fined by the circuit court for
contempt for not defediDg the criminal,
and it seems hard that, when ordered by
the court to perform a service, and when
liable to fine if he did not perform the
service, he should not be paid for the la
Dor performed. AS to any money he may
have expended in the discharge of his
duty there is no doubt OF the liability Of
the county to return that to him. even if
the matter for pay OF services is discro-
tiouary."
Now what are the facts in the case?
First, when the court appoints an attorney
to defend a criminal, he is bound to do it,
without money and without price, this is
bounden duty with all attorneys. Not
only is ne to defend his client, but he is to
do SO diligently and to the best of his
ability. Sometimes cases occur where an
attorney is obliged to take charge of
case against his wishes. but gener-
ally attorneys are appointed who have rep
utations to make, or have no cases on
hand to prevent them from so doing. The
court as a rule endeavors to conform to the
business engageme nts of counsel. Butitwas
not so 10 this case-for not only was Mr..
Atwood willing to act, but he actually qsk-
ed to be appointed and went to Kenworthy
& Beardsiey and Mr, Parmenter to have
those gentlemen use their influence to Sc
cure his appointment, SO that when ne was
ordered By the court to assume charge of
Bernard Heeney's defense he assumed o
voluntary duty and did it for the sake Of
Reputation.
Through her friends, Mrs. Heeney, Der
nard 8 wife, secured 500, this was to en-
able her to buy delicacies for her husband
while in jail and provide for her own sup
port This money she turned over to Mr..
Adler to keep for her,-to be used as she
wanted the money.
Atwood learned somehow that she had
the money and at once commenced to
engineer to get it. He went to see her.
asked for it, and used every means to
secure it, and finally went to her mother
Iin-iaw's aud told Mrs. Heeney that hc
,OOu}d drop the case unless the money was
forthcoming, Fifty dollars was paid-$25
for himself and SO for Bigelow. OF Galva
Afterwards he went to the Commercial
House. and while Mrs Heeney lay on a
sick bed, demanded and received S25
making SIS in all, and the last farthing she
had-leaving her to pay her board as best
she could. This is no idle statement but
was openly and fearlessly charged in the
court room at Cambridge by Major
Beardsley. Now then what has the Rock
Islander to say about this mode, self sacrifc-
ing attorney who was willing at the start
to take the case voluntarily-"with-
out money aud without price"
just for reputation? And now a word
10 regard to that bill of 800 for services.
That bill was shown Mr.. Parmenter, and
Atwood said ut won't make any differ
cree to you, aud ycu need not say anything
against it." or words to that efect-but
: States Attorney Parmeater refused tc
r sanction it and said promptly he would moi
stand it. Now does the Rock IsIdadel
> sea anything wrong in refusal to allow
this bill2 Can any one censure thesboarC
g OF supervisors for doing their duty? IF thu
e board did one thing more than another
: that was right, it was the rejection of At
: woods bill for services which he was
f bound to perform without money, ant
y without price, and yet for which he not only
e received the hard earnings of Mrs. Hee-
;. ney, but was willing to accept $l00 from
the county. The board did exactly RICH
iU this matter and the people sustain tnei
1T action. The Rock Islander may attemp
: to deny that Atwood received the none
i as charged. but it will be useless, for %
r hno,U that aOratten receipts for the none
J. can be PRODUCED
The Davenport Boat Club had a FIRE
Il for all race this afternoon-the four oare
shell, the gig and the barge entered. Th
p she'll gave the barge a start OF mile an
ST the gig half mile. The whole course is
mile and half in length, from the boa
house to the. bridge and return. Th
N shell crew is composed of Captain Westo
rs stroke, Ed. Rouse No. 3, George Presto
1 No o and T HirschI NJ I. 4bo -: