Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-01
A PRIVILEGED CLASS.
Lawyers Who Jostle Justice Out Of
Her Boots, Yet Who Sport
IN THE SOCIAL SWIM HERE.
How Rascals Are Sometimes Shielded, and
E Murderersi Necks
SAVED FROM THE HEMPEN EECKTIE

It is said that in the case of earthquakes,
familiarity never breeds contempt 1t may
be so, but it is more than probable from
stories told that some old lawyers might in
earthquake countries have sufficient temer-
ity to apply for an injunction on Mother
Earth to prevent her wrinkliIg her skin.
A story is told Of an eminent criminal
lawyer at the Allegheny county bar which
shows that some lawyers, when it suits
their purpose, will defy law. no matter how
jealous they may appear in the advocacy OF
it, and will do things which would send q
layman to Jail.
The lawyer in question had for client
not many years ago, a scoundrel who had
stuffed his pockets with other peoples
money, and having been caught, fed to the
lawyer for protection. The rascal had
given bail to keep out of jail, and wanted
to skip and yet save his bail from being
made take the consequence. The lawyer in
structed them to appear in court just few
minutes before the noon recess, and just as
the judge was about to order an adjourn
ment the lawyer stepped up and stated that
bis client had been given up by his bonds
man. He, the lawyer, then made plea for
mercy, and asked the Judge to sentence his
client at once and be done with it. The
district attorney arose in great wrath and
protested, thinking it trick to prevent the
rascal from being punished according to his
deserts, and the judge also fell into the
trap, reproving the lawyer sharply for his
irregular proceeding. The clerk was or
dered to make note out and also wrote
the refusal of the request. The bondsman
had
ACQUITTED HIMSELF OF LIABILITY.
by surrendering the man, and the lawyer
hustled the fraudulent debtor down to jail
and demanded that the warden lock him
up at once, which the warden very properly
refused to do in the absence Of an order
from the Court. The lawyer then escorted
the man out and told him to scoot and take
the first train and get over TO Canada with
all possible haste, and the fellow did so.
Before court convened both Judge and
District Attorney realized that they had
been caught in a trap, and as soon as the
court had opened they both proceeded to
pour the walls of their wrath on the veteran
LAWYER, who sat coolly enjoying their dis
comfture The language of the Court was
rasping, but it neither broke the contuma-
cious lawyers bones nor hurt his standing
with the criminal class. Heaffected humil-
ity while laughing in his sleeve. The rascal
who had been sent over the border remained
there until he had worn out the patience of
his creditors, when he effected settlement
with them on a basis of 10 cents on the
dollar, and came back and resumed his
place in the business world and society as
before.
HOW A MURDERER ESCAPED.
On another occasion the same lawyer out
witted the District Attorney and saved
murderer's neck by asking that the only two
witnesses by whom the murder could be
proven should be examined first. The Dis
trict Attorney caught on to the trick at the
wrong. end and objected promptly, and his
objection was sustained. The witnesses
were relatives of the prisoner, but his lawyer
knew they were conscientious men and would
not swear q lie Ito save their relatives
life. The District Attorney was in the
dark and did not call them at all, proposing
to make his point in rebuttal. As soon as
he had announced the Commonwealth side
closed the prisoners lawyer arose and stated
that they would rest their case. The Dis
trict Attorney grew furious and protested,
but to no purpose, and the accused went
free. The Judge was angry also, but there
was no remedy.
Such cases 60 to show that prosecuting
attorney should be man of vast resources
and legal knowledge, as real rascal can
generally find money to employ the ablest
criminal counsel, who are not always scru-
pulous regarding the methods they employ,
conscious that they will not suffer much in
the estimation of good citizens, while the
practice of chicanery only increases their
popularity among the class that gives them
bread and butter.