Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-11-07
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CRIMINALS AND LAWYERS.

West Virginia is now to be stricken from
the October states.
AND LAWYERS.
[Cincinnati Evening Postl
The persistent interference OF the cour"
of this county and State to prevent the ex-
ecu,ion of the gang of murderers under
sentence in Hamilton county Jail, at the
instance ol over jealous and perhaps in
some cases interruptions attorneys, is caus-
ing all classes to anticipate another rio'.
I'm This connection an article in the NJ
yember Century on Lawyers Morals" is
worthy OF general re,ding and reflection
Mr.. Theodore Bacon, at the late meeting oil
the Social Science Association, read an ar
t:cle on lawyers morals which plainly
recognized ,h,t "the typical lawyer ia not
the type of honesty" The article contain
ed such quotations MS "an honest man
though a lawyer" and in singing express
sion of old DIR. Johnson when lie replied TO
question OF identity. 81 do not wish To
be calumnious, but it is my belief that the
man is an attorney" Lawyers generally
assume to themselves, though they do not
openly claim license to commit lmmor-
alities professionally which is not allowed
any olher class of citizens. After thor
oug,,ly considering the question, Mr.. Bacon
saws: 81 can iiud no diflerenl-or rather
| will say, no lower-ethical basis oil &C
ton for the advocate than for any other
member Of society,"" Yet, if lawyers are
measured bv the sane ethical basis of NOR
uli,v Ms oiher people, what an infinitely
small norton of them would pass muster
Mr. Beacon further SAYS: 'rhe honorable
LAWYER who knows beforehand that the
care which he is asked TO undertake is in
iquitouS, promptly declines it," When ont
measures the legal fraternity by the ini-
anitous cases declined by them he find
the honorable lawyers scarce as truthful
politicians. The article OF Mr.. Bacon ant
i.,e discussion which followed ii resnite
in the formulation by the Century OF thes
maxims:
81. A lawyer ought to he a gentleman
Ills functions as an attorney gives him II
dispensation to disregard the ordinary rule
of good manners, and the ordinary primer
7 Piles Of decency and honor. He has y
D right to bull or browbeat witness
g cross examination, or mlfully entrap lh'
. witness into false testimony. Whatev,
= the privilege of the court may be the law
yer who is guilty OF such practices in cou
!, is no gentleman out OF court.
"2. a lywyer ought not to lie. lie ma
defend n criminal whom he knows To
guilty, but he may not say TO The lur
that lie believes This criminal to be IN
nocent. He may not in any way inter
tiunally convey to the jury the impressio
r that he believes the man To be innocen
He may not in his plea prevent or iiso
the evidence so as to weaken the iorce
conceal the meaning OF 1t. He is swor
officer of the court and his oath sholll
5 bind him to the slrictest veracity. IL
obligation 10 speak the truth 0utranF
, every obligation that lie owes his ellen
1t is notorious that some lawyers, VIII
,, would think il scandalous to tell fals'
: hood out of court in any business transac
iion, lie shamefully in court in behalf
their clients, and SEEM 10 think II part {
their professional duty.
, "3. A lawyer ought not to sell his Sci
vices for the promotion OF injustice {
. knsvery. Swinders of all types are aide
by lawyers in their depredations on soci
ety."
The Century article then proceeds
show that the swindling oil Wall-st,
!, banks and in the wrecking of railroads
all conducted on plans perfected under I'll
best legal advice. Attorney Lewis
} Delafield, Of New York, in the discussio
in the Social Science Association, said
"There are many lswyers-and they al
not exclusively confined to our large ciis
WHO should be disbarred without della
: for dishonest and corrupt practices; an
until some serious and successful atteml
. Is made in this direction, the legal pro
fession must expect, and will deserve,
decline in popular esteem"
The code of ethics defined above il I'll
v one by which merchants, manufactures
: bankers, journalists, doctors, preacher
professors, scientists and every other cla
Of men are judged. and large majority I
them pass The examination. II the mem
: bers Of the Cincinnati bar, for instanc
had to pass inspection by il, how man
' would he "plucked ~
4. The lawyers OF Cincinnati who are pc
: tifogging in the courts 10 stay the execI
/ tion OF justice against the convicted mu
+. derers in Hamilton county jail wou
come ont badly tattoOed ii measured
% this code. Their chief is now under nj
. raignment for the purpose of disbarmer
but there seems lack Of courage 10 pr'
ceed with the trial. Are the prosecute
F" made weak by the silent warning Of co
n science? Is the Cincinnati bar willing
d further "water" the dimInulve value Of
r. stock OF popular esleem by letting th
disbarmenl case die Of ennui? Ia the Ci
70 cinnati bar going TO sit silent while cerla
n criminal attorneys go on sowing the se'
h for another riot which will cause the 10
IA to be remembered as little street di
=. turbance2 Iftle lawyers oil n large CT
Z" can be capable Of II great moral regener
= lion as other classes Of citizens can, q
! cinna,i affords AN excellent opporluni