Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-08-22
ABOUT LAWYERS.

ABOUT LAWYERS.
There has been a good deal writ
ten and said from time to time
about members of the legal profess
sion. In fact people talk about
them many times when they had
better be minding their own bust.
ness. | am aware that the average
citizen is apt to look upon the law
yer as a scheming shyster, whose
business is to stir up strife and con
tention among the initiated and
then bleed them for all they are
worth and some more. A writer
says, "they look upon a lawyer as
dlstrustful as they do upon pollt-
ician, a horse jockey or bank cash
ier. They cannot pass one on the
street without feeling il their pocket
book is safe and wondering if the
title to their real estate is perfect,
and what he is going to sue them
for next. They wouldn't ask him
for match or the time of day for
the world for fear he would want
80 as a retainer"
Now this is all a mistake. The
lawyer is better in many respects
than the fancies of some have paint
ed him. He is not the high salaried,
perniciOus skinfiint that many have
supposed. On the contrary he is
about the best friend man can
have; so devoted, so magnanimous,
so faithful. Says old Peele Garlick !:
"NO matter how low you have be-
come no matter what is your mis-
fortune; no matter what is your sta.
ton in life; when you most need
help, in the darkest hour of your
adversely, when friends all forsake
you and foes all unite,' then it is
that thelawyer so magnanimously
steps in to help you, brings to your
aid all his varied knowledge, expert
ence, energy, zeal, cunning and
sagacity ; is lavish with his advice
and profuse in suggestions whether
your offense is trivial or of a bastard
ly nature; it makes no difference
whether you are an outlaw or a Pres
byterian, vagabond or an alder
man, a pickpocket or an Odd Fellow,
a heather Chinese or bank cashier,
it is all the same to him. He peels
his coat and goes in to WIN; who
ever heard of a lawyer who did not
go in to win Whether your crime
is simply stealing a loaf of bread or
foully numbering the president; he
comes to your assistance with the
same alacrity, puts himself in your
place and becomes to all intents and
purposes partner in your distress,
resents the insults cast upon you,
denies your guilt and proclaims your
innocence. As firm as the rocks of
Gibralter he stands by you through
the trial. How skillfully and adroit-
~ he manages your case. How
cunningly he brings out the testi-
mony in your favor and objects to
that which is adverse. How sys.
tematically he manufactures testi-
mony and hires somebody to swear
to it. How skillfully be wrangIes
over points of law, and in summing
lup how eloquently, pathetically,
fervently, zealously, confdentially,
honestly, religiously and boisterous-
" he explains to the jury the law
concerning these things and then, if
the jury are so cruel as to find you
guilty, not a whit discouraged he
asks for a new trial on the ground
that one of the jurymen can read a
little and write his name. That an
other was brlbed, that he has dis
covered more important testimony,
etc. This being refused he writes
up petition for pardon and signs
the name Of all his friends to it and
sends it to the Governor. Not
hearing from this he gets ont writ
Of habeas corpus claiming that yon
are non cotRpos mextis, insane, and a
natural born idotic crank, and you
ought to have been confined in a
lunatic or idiotic asylum Tor years.
That is the kind Of an individual q
lawyer is.n