Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-26
SMILE At M'CRORY,
Attorneys Amused at His
Attack Oh the Legal
Profession and
PRONOUNCE HIM A BIGOT.
Supreme Justice Clark Did Not Agree
With the Clergyman.
GOODLAWYERS TRY TO BE HONEST.
Their Tndeavor Is to Secures sJuStice for
Their Clients.
PRONOUNCE HIM A BIGOT.
GOODLAWYERS TRY TO BE HONEST.
LIVING UP TO THE CONSTITUTION


the part they play in acting as attorneys
for license applicants. 1t was at the
weekly meeting Yesterday, of The United
PRESBYTERIAN ministers on Ninth street, and
the subject under discussion was "How far
will Christian ethics permit lawyer TO go in
defending criminal, or supporting an un-
christian cause.
Mr.. McCrory had been selected to open
the debate, and he came Loaded with paper
on the subject, which he read. He started
out by quoting the late Chief Justice Shars-
wood. who said that the responsibilities of
lawyer, legal and moral, arise from his rela-
ton to the court. to his profes sional breth-
ren and TO his client.
To this Rev. Mr.. McCrory files the ex-
ception that the Chief Justice has left out
the lawyers responsibility to the Supreme
Judge. Then he jumped to the character OF
the laws and the legislation to be admin
istered. "May there not be a law" he
asks, (which may be OF such a character
that the Christian man could not assist in
putting it into operation. 1t is reasonable
10 hold that 4 LAWYER has no right to
% into court as Christian on behalf of a
client who Is seeking to carry on an un-
christian business, or enc that is inimical to
the best interests Of society,""
G-n.ra! Deaunciarfon or Liquor Laws.
Mr. NcCrory rapHed the license laws,
ard claimed according to all evangelical
denominations they are anti-christian and
immoral. The Methodist Church SAYS all
liquor laws are vicious in principle and
powerleSs in practice. The liquor traffic
can never br legalized without sin. The
lawyer who appears for license applicant
is putting anti-chris.ian laws into opera
tion. The man who signs the saloon keepers
petition is disciplined BY the church; why
shouldn't the lawyer receive the same
treatment who makes plea for him
Next he condemned the practice oftaking
contingent fees, and said it had scarcely a
voice in its defense lie claimed many law
yers were paid $50 as preliminary fee by
saloon men, and then if the applicant was
successful they received more. He read a
newspaper clipping in which such lawyers
as John S. Eobb. W. j. Bremen, c. f. Nc
Hcrna, Josiah Cohen, A. Israel, Montooth
Bros, a. II. Rowand, William McCutcheon
and others were mentioned as reaping
harvest out of the license business.
On the subject Of how far a lawyer should
20 in defending criminals, he said it is
agreed among them that the attorney
should fight to a finish, even if he is con-
virced his client is guilty He concluded
BY saying that with his present conscience
he wouldn't make good criminal lawyer.
Ono Friend Of the Constitution.
All the ministers present, with the e1-
ceptior of Rev. Mr.. Wilson, of Mt. Pleas
ant. agreed with McCrory's views Mr..
Wilson answered the argument with the
objection that Mr. McCrory makes the law
yer the judge, thereby denying man
the right of tria! by jury.
When the speech was brought to the at
tention of members of the bar the majority
regarded it as too frivolous to answer. A
few expressed disgust for the arguments, but
with most OF them the paper made their
sides ache with laughter. A. NJ. Brown, as
one of the oldest and foremost lawyers at
the Allegheny county bar, was sought out
for his opinion Now why do
YOU newspaper men paw any attention
to a man like McCrory?" he began. "Such |
men and their foolish talk are fit subjects to
be ignored" Then the Major adjusted his |
eyeglasses and commenced to read the ar
ticie He soon came to the criticism on
Justice Sharswood.
Tut, tut" he remarked impatiently, 81 |
knew Sharswood and he was fine Christian |
character, a member of the Presby- |
terian Church, 1 believe. Why this |
is nothing but religious
man on a subject about which he knows
nothing. | haven't any patience with such
preachers. And as for his accusation that
lawyers defend clients they know to be
guilty, that is not true.
A Fair Trial for Every Man.
A man is not criminal until he is con-
victed after tair trial. How is lawyer
TO know that his client is guilty? He may
have his suspicious, bat that is not proof
and no reason why he should abandon !
the case. | am not criminal lawyer, but !
occasionally go into that court to defend |
prisoners. / have had three murder cases |
in my time. In two OF them the fact OF the |
killing was not denied, but the men were |
acquitted. They had not committed muir |
der in the legal sense. / don't believe a |
lawyer will defend a man that he thinks is |
guilty. l have often seen attorneys throw |
up a case in court and admit they had been |
deceived. They were satisfied their client |
was guilty. This does not tally with what |
Rev. Mr.. McCrory says. Contingent fees, |
Also are regarded as perfectly proper when |
advantage has not been taken OF client. / |
do not go into the License Court, either, |
but ii is not because L have conscientious |
scruples on the subject. Lean see no reason !
why man is not justified in working for a |
license applicant The liquor laws are |
based on the best judgment of the people, |
and it is tine business of the lawyer TO see |
that they are enforced. But it is nom |
sense to answer McCrory. His argument is |
fimsy from beginning to end. He would |
have man take the law in his own hands |
If it didn't suit his religious convictions 1 |
repeat again that the newspapers are wrong |
in publishing this mans speeches Let |
him spout as much as he pleases in COM
mittee room, but spare the public the infiic- |
ton. All he wants is notoriety and to stir |
up a public discussion" !
What Supreme Justice Clark Said.
q. f. McKenna was one of the license !
lawyers held up as reaping harvest And |
so McCrory is now roasting the lawyers"
remarked Mr.. Mckenna good naturedly. |
We'll, l don't care to be quoted; have |
no desire to get into an argument with him. |
He is Law and Order man, and appeals to /
the Supreme Court to decide his cases. We !
Will let the same court reverse Mr.. McCrory |
so lar as contingent fees are concerned" !
ana then M Nchenna got z law book, and |
turned to the case Of Perry VS. Dicken. 1t |
was about contingent fee, and the 1
late Justice Clark in his opinion says:
That an attorney may agree with his client |
10 render services for a contingent Zee is |
now well settled in Pennsylvania Ii is /
doubtless true that such ractice may some |
times lead to speculative litigation, yet it is
certainly true, as stated by Judge Lewis in |