The Portland daily press., 1885-03-16
VOTE FOR JOHN H. FoGG.
No Contempt of Court-What aIr. Munson
Says.

To the Editor Of the Press;
The Advertisers account of "the scene" which
occurred Saturday in the Municipal Court when
was fined "for contempt" was characteristically in
correct, if not Intentionally unfair. 1t misrepre-
sents and suppresses important facts. Charles H.
Girard, who runs the liquor shop at 10 Moulton
street, and is an old offender was up on charge of
nuisance. Twice within ten weeks was told he
had been before the Court then trying him, twice
had he waved examination, twice fined $100. ap-
pealed and given bonds to appear at the Superior
Court, all within the dates of the nuisance COM
plant which signed for the Portland Law and
Order League. The sheriffs who served my search
and seizure warrants twice reported that they had
got acase" against Girard, and accordingly they
were called To establish nuisance in any court
governed by the law it is only necessary to prove
that liquors are "kept' for illegal sale by respon-
dent. The misunderstanding and Gribben-were
called and to my surprise knew nothing to convict
the man they had raided almost daily tor eight
weeks Had they not told me what they did L
could have called two witnesses to prove the case
When the sheriffs had taken their seats. Mr.. Lunt
attorney for the respondent looking at Mr.. Libby
counsel for the State, suggested. laughingly and
a joke suppose, that the complainant be put upon
the stand. This was, of course, improper as 1 was
not witness in the case. AS the respondent had
twice recently been before his Honor, the Judge,
and given bonds on appeal, said to Mr.. Lunt and
Mr.. Libby, near whom was sitting, and not to
Judge Could "And would suggest that his Honor
be questioned as he has knowledge in this case"
The Judge heard this and presume thought it ad-
dressed TO himself with imagined intent to insult,
l did not at that moment rise and address the
rise later, will be seen. Not being lawyer, in
the midst of my surprise that the witnesses who
had made 80 many seizures knew so little, and
knowing his Honor did know all, made retort to
Mr.. Lunts words.
There was no contempt OF court" This ex-
planned to the court, rising at this time, but not
making ian apology as the Advertiser says. The
Judge having his attention called to Mr.. Lunt's
words, and the circumstances, said as any honora-
SON discharged; !" whereupon said: 'I thank your
Honor, but should have been perfectly willing and
glad have gone to Jail for the sake of the cause"
In the midst of the ''scenen Rev. Mr.. LeLaeheur
with the generosity SO characteristic of the man.
stepped forward and offered to pay the fine of So
more than many rumselers have paid lately in this
court. but refused this and after making an ex-
PLANTATION was ready to suffer jail had suffer
ed almost everything else the last three years to
serve the and the thousands of fiendsthrough
out the State who have called me to this work and
its many sacrifices.
There is one other thing the public entitled to up
derstand in this connection. While in the belief of ali
it is proper enough for attorney to defend man
accused of crime, and see that he gets Justice he
has no right to seek by reprehensible expedients
and tricks try to turn we'll known criminals back
upon society to go in their daily profession of
committing crime. just here an indignant public
should call halt and teach lawyers they can be
the promoters and not the scourges and pests of
good society.
Nor has an attorney right of any kind to assault
with the epithets ecclesiastical crank" fperiur-
er'' and "blsck periurer" the agent of the Christ
ian people of Portland who are seeking to bring
criminals to justice and to do it must have some one
make oath in the printed forms of the Law furnished
by the court and accepted by the judge. Law is to
suppress crime and protect innocence. When law
yers forget this they have lost that sense of honor
which should characterize the profession, and
should be held to strict account for violations of
right and manly honor. To protect the innocent,
to pity the repentant criminal and to urge the ex-
tenuations of circumstances is noble in any man but
to make Barrabbas laugh for fee and en-
courage the lawless elements of of a city to
persist ia lawlessness by attacks upon law abid-
ing citizens who would save their fellow-men, is q
thing which every fairminded man will condemn.
If lawyers must attack Christian people and defend
professional and well-known criminals let them be
brave enough to make their attacks in the street
where it will not be 'peevsh, cost So to reply.
H. G. MUNsoN.