Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-17
COURT AND PRESS.
RIGHTS OF LAWYERS AND EDITORS.
THE NEWSPAPERS SPEAKING OUT.

The Tenth Instaliment of their Opinions.
And the Western Press, Too.
Westmoreland Democrat, Dem.
The action of the court in this regard,
is severely commented on by the eastern
press as unj Just and arbitrary.
Ignorance or Cowardice:
Shppensburg Chronicle. Dem.
Much can be said on both sides of this
question, but as it is matter for the su-
prcme court to determine, we prefer to say
nothing further about it.
Terrible Prospect.
Altoona Sun, Dem.
That Lancaster judge has raised such a
fierce curse about his ears that his
smirched ermine is likely to be torn to
shreds ere it subsidies.
The Principle Involved.
Gettysburg Compiler Dem.
The principle involved is of such impor-
tance as to attract attention to the case
throughout the entire country. So far, in
our newspaper reading, we have failed to
notice a single defence of Judge Patter-
sons tyrannical course.
he Agreeable or he Quiet.
This action, the Philadelphia Ledger very
aptly remarks, if sustained by the supreme
court, will be notice to all practicing law
yers that they must keep out of newspaper
alliances, or print nothing but what shall
he agreeable to the judges.
The Last State Worse than the First.
Carlisle Volunteer, Dem.
The actions of Judge Patterson have al
ready received the severest kind of criti-
cisms from the public press irrespective of
politics and this last act, which seems to
have been necessary to keep up the ap-
pearance of consistency, is not likely to es
cape the thorough dissection and sound
eXecratiOn it deserves.
A Blunder and Crime.
Pottsville Chronicle, Dem.
Judge Patterson knew what lawful
course was open to him, but it was not
summary enough to suit his vindictive
purpose, and he has bespattered his er
mine to wreak his personal spite. His
unlawful exercise Of the judicial power is
the very madness Of the insolence of Office.
IfThat is the Law. Let it be Known.
Scranton Republican, Rep.
If a member of the judiciary is above
the operations of the law, it had better be
known. If he may thus punish member
of the bar for his utterances as editor, it
will not require great stretch OF au-
thOrity to punish as severely the express
of editors, preachers and citizens who are
not members of the bar.
Geg Law Triumphant.
Lebanon Advertiser Dem.
If Judge Patterson is sustained by the
supreme court, to which tribunal the case
will of course he taken, gag law will be tri-
umphant. SO far at least as editing news
papers by members of the bar is con-
cerned If these things
are right we may welcome the empire at
once.
Moves to Retire Him.
Perry County Democrat. Dem.
They will appeal to a higher court for
redress and if they do not get it there the
people of Lancaster county will vindicate
the rights of the press when they come to
choose Judge Pattcrson's successor. The
growing imperiousness Of the judiciary
needs looking after. If editors who hap
pen to be lawyers dare not write and pub
lish what they deem to be for the public
good, under a penalty of being disbarred,
then it is high time that presumptuous
judges be retired to private life.
An Indefensible Outrage.
Philadelphia Evening Star, Ind.
If a lawyer acting in editorial capacity
may not criticise the doings of judge
without incurring such a penalty, it be-
comes matter of interest to know why an
editor not lawyer who sharply, but not
unjustly, indulges in criticisms upon judi
cial acts shall not also be punished. + = <
1t seems to be an arbitrary and most un-
just proceeding. If the criticisms were ill
founded or ibelous, the law provided a
remedy. But it is not claimed by Judge
Patterson that they partook of that charac-
ter. He defines the offense as misbeha-
viOr," and forthwith perpetrates that
which can be regarded only as an indefen-
sible outrage.
Tho Compensation Involved.
Baltimore American, Rep.
The recent extraordinary proceedings of
Judge Patterson, who presides over the
court at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, suggests
him as the nearest likeness to Justice Shall
low that recent days have known. X
The opinion which he rendered in strik ing
them from the roll of attorneys is a superb
bit of tomfoolery. elf any wrongs" he
says "are done in trials it is not for law
yers or newspapers to criticise them - and
again, from malicious and unjust at
tacks by the public press calculated to i'm
pair public confidence in its integrity and
honest administration of justice the court
is protected, not for the sake of the
judges presiding, but for the sake of
the public and the suitors in the
court AS Patterson admits that the
principle he lays down can only be applied
in such rare instances as that at Lancaster
where an offending editor happens also to
be an attorney Of the court, he might have
spared himself the trouble of wishing that
he could deal summarily with every news
paper man who ventures ia criticise judi
cial proceedings. OF oburse, he has
simply extended to the editors increased
liberty and occasion to point out that he
is unfit for his place on the bench, and if
that satisfies him, We can't see why they
have any reason to grumble.