The state chronicle., 1889-10-04
MAI. ROBBINS THE RIGHT KIND
OF LAW YER.

The readers of the CHRONICLE are famll-
lar with the failure and fight of Mr.. J.
B. Connolly. late Clerk of the Superior
Court of IredeIl county; Of his return and
the card which he published in this and
other papers in which he declared his in
tentions to have always been honorable
and of his purpose of doing right and
mending his fortunes; and of his recent
conviction in Iredeil Superior Court, and
his appeal TO the Supreme Court. We
confess, after reading his card and the
personal letter which accompanied 1t, we
were full of sympathy for Mr.. COSNELLY
and more than half way believed that his
intentions were not bad. This belief was
strengthened by the knowledge OF the
fact that lie had surrendered all his prop
erty, not even retaining his homestead
exemptions. to his bondsmen. We could
see no escape from punishment but our
heart was deeply touched with sympathy
for the unfortunate and erring man whom
We had long known to esteem.
| Monday OF last week was the day set
| for the sale of property transferred TO the
bondsmen for their protection. The
Landmark says that large crowd was
assembled around the Court House and
! just before the sale J \. HARTNER, ESQ,
and r. Z. LINNEY, ESQ, attorneys retained
for Mrs. CONNELLY, produced and read
the following paper which was in the
handwriting of Mr.. J. B. CoSNELLY
-
she claims title to the mill tract of land
containing 216 acres, including the mill
known as the Connelly mill; also the
Bradwell place, containing so acres; and
| she also claims an interest IN the house
and lot in Statesville, adjoining the Meth
odist church lot, known as the J B. Con
nelly residence and lot. She claims and
hereby gives notice that her signature to
the mortgage deed under which sale is
made was obtained by undue influence
and by deception and fraud.
The Landmark says:
Immediately upon the reading of this
paper, Hon. VIM. NJ. Robbins, who has
been of counsel for Connolly in the crimi-
nal cases against him, and also of counsel
for the bondsmen, arose and denounced
it unmeasuredly. He charged that Con
nelly alone was responsible for the paper
that it indicated dshonorable purpose,
and be announced that he from hence
forth washed his hands of his late client
and should at once write him that he
would not further represent him in the
case now pending in the Supreme Court
nor in any other cases. Mai. Robbins
spoke vehemently and with confessed agi-
tation, and his remarks made quite a fut-
ter in the crowd.
The sale was proceeded with at is
quite clear" adds the Landmark, "tha,
; the ex clerk has fully made up his mind
to attack the mortgage given to his bonds
men and to re-possess himself, if possible
Of the property which he conveyed tc
them to elm burse them for their losse.
on his account
Of course by this dishonorable act Mr.
CONNELLY has forfeited all claim to tn,
, sympathy and aid of his friends W,
glory in the course of Hon W. NJ ROB
BINS. He acted the honorable, uprigh
, man we have always known him to be
, faithfully by his friend and client unit
he sought to crown all his wrongs b.
, sWlndling his bondsmen. Then he Washet
, his hands of the whole matter. 10 thi
he has shown his appreciation of the tru
function and duty Of a lawyer. Unde
no circumstances is he justifyable in aid
ing or abetting fraud. If he is in tn
midst of the trial of a cause, it is his dut,
to retire from a case when it is seen tha
, his client is seeking to defraud and de
oaiya We have MANY loose notions i,
regard to lawyers duty. 1t would seen
that some of them believe it to be thei
duty to stand by a dishonorable ellen
to the last extremity, and to do any
thing to clear him of fraud and ras
cality. MAJ. ROBBINS has a true con
ception of his duty, and he has the man
. illness and the high sense of honor to per
7 form his duty. 1t is to such lawyers tina
the people can pin their faith.