The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-18

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
AS an attorney who has been trying to prac-
tice law for nineteen years, permit me to give to
the Journal my unqualified approval of the edi-
torials that have appeared from time to time
with reference to the administration of law by
courts and lawyers; not that I think that courts
or, rather, our judges-nor all our lawyers de-
sire that the law, and rules of law, should re
main as it now is, for many do not.
First, let me say that too many who enter the
profession of law forget the high and noble du-
ties of the true lawyer, as laid down by our law
writers and as found i'll our statutes, and lower
and debase the profession to the one object of
money making. There are men in the
practice of law in Indiana who never study as to
whether the cause of their client is Just or not,
but direct their inquiries as to whether or no the
techniealities of the law will enable them to
make success and hence they often take cases
Tor persons who are wholly irresponsible and
who have no meritorious cause, hut because the
opposite party has property, and the peculiar
preJldlce OF the jury and the Quib oeS of the law
gives them chance to rob man of his property
under color of law, they take the case on specu-
latlon, covered up, of course but speculation all
the same and too often they succeed.
This kind of disreputable practice is growing
altogether too common, and our Supreme Court
mas, IN my opinion, committed an error in looS
enlng the rule as to champerty.
Inc writer knows men in this State who pre-
tend to be honorable, and who have some legal
abilities, who procure the services OF rural pet-
tfogers to drum up business for them and make
division of fees gained by this questionable
practice. And these rural gentlemen, without
any real knowledge of the law, are continually
STIRRING up strife among neighbors and breeding
law suits Hence our courts are continually
burdened with cases that ought to have been set
tied by the efforts of a peacemakeP, instead of
beng urged on by those who are no better than
common barrators
Too many of our practicing attorneys when
called upon to defend man charged with crime,
do not strive honestly to ascertain whether or
not the party accused is innocent or guilty. But
the inquiry is, ''Will the bubbles of the law en-
able me to have this person aequittedp
After all, Mr.. Editor, are not the people who
go to law to blame in this matter, and had they
not best begin to think on the subject How
many htigants when they think they have
will honestly tell them to do what is right, hon
orable and Just without regard to the laws
bubbles and delaysl Do not most men
hunt up the attorney that they think will use
the laws technicalities to gain their cause in
stead Of relying upon the broad principles of
equity and justiceg
If litigants and iuries would try, they have it
IN their power to make lawyers and courts better
by seeking to carry on only such suits as are
honest and Just, and rendering only such verdicts
as Will protect the person and property of those
who seek aid from our courts only when such
persons come into court with clean hands them
selves Yours truly, LEVI FERGUSON.
MARTINsvILLE, Ind. Jan -