The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-06-08
LAW AND JOURNALISM.
IL IL Is Right for n Lawyer TO Sell His In
hnsncs and Ability, why Is IL Wrong
for a Newspaper 10 do So?
Or lie the Profession of Law Dem.ra,,z,,s &,

The Chicago Ne,cs 10 after Emory storr
with sharp stick. Mr.. Slorrs was principa
counsel for the defense In the famous tria
OF Jere Dunn for the murder of Elliott. AND
his able and eloquent opening address TO th,
jury furnished the Netcs with good deal o.
food for reflection. It says: Take a news
paper, for instance. What would be said Of
any respectable journal Of Chicago that
should accept fee of $500 or $1,000 from
Jere Dunn, and should thereupon proceed te
argue his innocence TO the world, and do all
In It's power 10 secure his entire acquittal:
The more respectable the newspaper the
greater its influence with those reached by
1t, and although the Days DoingS might
serve the prisoner with quite as much abil.
ity, Its services would be worth less because
Of lower character? The paper entering
into such defense, therefore, would sell not
only Its ability to defend, but Its reputation
and influence acquired In other and better
channels.
Suppose, we say, that respectable journal
should undertake this role Of counsel and
advocate, not as a matter of conscience and
conviction, but for pay, what would be said
of itP How long would 1t remain respecta.
BILE? How many such cases would 1t need
to champion TO be regarded as q journalistic
outlaw?
Yet what is 1t that makes such an act on
the part Of a newspaper highly dishonorable,
while on the part OF lawyer 1t is perfectly
proper and permissible?
Some one may say, "oh, this is lawyers
business" but that does not answer the
question, nor Is 1t true that 1t is his "busi-
ness" except In the baser meaning of the
word.
Take Mr.. Stors, for eyample-and we
only mention him and the Dunn trial be-
cause both are before the public-and the IL
lustrat.on Is easy.
Mr., Storrs, as citizen, is not the champion
OF murderers. lie is, indeed, their very
pronounced enemy. He stands up in Music
Hall and denounces the murderers, thugs,
and gamblers of the city, and inveighs with
eloquent tongue against the city authorities
for failing TO suppress them. He laments
the possible election of certain men, fearing
that, should they be intrusted with the de-
lection and punishment of criminals, they
wsuld secretly connive at their escape In
stead. Mr.. Storrs does all this as a citizen,
without pay; but pretty soon along comes
the gambler, with his fist full of shekels, and
behold Storrs stands as his champion; or up
steps the murderer with a pleLhorc pocket
book, and StOrrs rises TO his tiptoes In vehe
ment speech, and wrings tears from the very
stone-flagging Of the courtroom In his eff
forts to secure the acquittal of the assassin.
Alas IL is not the lax official whom we have
now TO fear; II lie not the easy-going city
authorities that are now to be guarded
against; IL Is Mr.. Storrs, laborlng to make
justice farce, and bringing about just that
immunity from punishment which he has
been swearing was the bane of our politics
and our government; and doing 1t, mind
you, for $500.
Behold the conupting and convincing in
fuences of CASH. Offer Mr.. Storrs $40, and
be would tell You that Jere Dunn was guilty |
Of murder. Make 1t 500, and he would
still insist that the man was guilty of man
slaughter; but put down $500, and he will |
declare publicly and privately .(for Mr..
Storrs is lawyer who, when he goes into a
case, goes in 'for all he is worthy that the |
case is justifiablc homicide, and will put
forth his best efforts TO make 1t so appear,
and TO secure the absolute acquttal of the |
prisoner. Mind We are not saying that the |
case on trial Is not such an enc. We only |
say that Mr.. Storrs did not find It out until |
The money had been paid and he was re-
tanned In the case. And what Storrs does, |
almost any lawyer in the land would deem
himself perfectly justified in doing.
Now, Is there not something radically |
wrong about this sort of business? Can any
man Of any profession honorably sell his |
abilities and his influence to secure the es-
cape Of criminals? And If those of one pro-
fession may do 30, why may not others of
other professions do the same and play the
role of assistants TO vice while they preach |
The gospel Of holiness?