Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-26

| his abridaement or the criminal law, that
! many of the most eminent and upright gen.
tlemen of the bar have felt no repEsna
to this method of compensation. 1t he's been
practiced without the slightest censure by
men who have risen to the highest itglsia-
tive and judicial stations in the Com mon
wealth. In Pennsylvania a contract be-
| tween client and attorney for a contingent
fee is as valid as an agreement for the necsss-
saries of life and is as enforceable.
"There," added Mr. McKenna, ''that
ought to be sufficient on that subject.
Suppose man should come to me and say:
Allmy money is tied up in hotel. Ifyou
are successful In getting me license, will
give you 81 900? 1 couldn't collect that fee
in law. All L would get is what the court
thinks my time and services were worth.
But suppose he gave me the money. Why
shouldn't 1 take it? Is it wrong for a
lawyer to accept even gifts?
He Undercharged His Clients.
"Why, remembered some years ago a
lawyer charged concern S15, 900 for his
service They sent him a check for S25, 900
with the statement that he under-rated his
worth, and didn't know how to charge.
The lawyer had saved them millions, and
they appreciated his skill. There is moth
ing wrong about contingent fees. The
balance of the preachers argument is too
foolish to consider"
j.
seen at the Union depot last evening before
starting for Philadelphia. When Mr.. Wat
son was asked for his opinion he said he
said he hadn't read the article, he didn't
want to see it, and he didn't want
to hear anything about it. Trades
against his profession do not in,
terest him. 81 am in too good
a humor," ne said, ''to be bothered by such
discussions. Have cigar, and sit down
and enjoy yourself for few moments be-
fore the train leaves and then he turned
the conversation into another channel
'McCrory," unused Mr.. Robb, dwelling
on the name. tfWhy who is McCrory?" he
asked abruptly. 81 never heard of him.
To what denomination does he belong? I
think, nv boy, you will find this fellow is
as bad as the lawyers, and needs watching"
w. J. Brennan is another OF the License
Court lawyers who was indirectly censured.
The Democratic leader was not the least
ruffied by the preachers criticism.
The Sentiment OF the Majority.
'I have always contended," said Mr..
Brennan, "that the license question should
be regulated by the sentiment of The ma or
itv. In communities where prohibition
prevails no saloons should be permitted.
In Pittsburg and other places where
limited number is demanded, licenses
to tnat extent snoulu De granted II is H.
diculous under the circumstances for a
minister to make an onslaught on the legal
profession and condemn all lawyers. There
are plenty of honorable and upright men in
the business, and Mr. McCrory is mistaken.
Concerning the criminal business, would
much rather defend man that 1
knew to be guilty than an innocent
one. Circumstantial evidence is often
strong against the defendant, and yet
he is not guilty. You can readily under
stand how a lawyer feels in such trying
situation. For example, 1 am on my way
now to Harrisburg to appear before the
Board of Pardons on behalf of Fitzpatrick,
who is under sentence of death for murder.
L want the sentence changed to life i'm
prisonment. 1 am working honestly
in the case, and believe it would |
be an outrage to hang him. |
The evidence shows that Fitzpatrick |
had been on protracted spree. His |
nervous constitution was racked, and he |
got into a fight, and cut the temoral artery |
of his victim from which he bled to death. |
L don't think Fitzpatrick knew what he |
was doing, and this is why the sentence |
should be changed" |
MI. Brennan was armed with petition, |
signed by a number of prominent people, |
and was accompanied by Oliver Scaife, one |
OF the lawyers In the case.