Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-06
A SHADY PROFESSION.
ONE OF ITS FOLLOWERS MAKES IN
TERESTING REVELATIONS.

:
Professional witnesses Who Follow Their
Vocation In English Law Courts-They
Are Always Ready to Help Defeat the
Ends OF Justice For Pay.
Except those lawyers, whether they be
magistrates, barristers or solicitors, whose
duties cause them to be brought in constant
rnntact with crime, few people know any
thing of the career of professional witness.
| may 90 farther, and say that few people
rre aware of the existence of men who gain
a livelihood by giving evidence in the wit
ness box. Yet not only do they exist, but
they derive a substantial income from their
work.
/ would divide them into two classes.
The first class consists of expert witnesses.
whose duty it is to assist justice by giving
evidence of a technical description, which
only those versed in the special technical
tiles of the case can give. The second class
consists of those witnesses whose business
it is to defeat the ends Of justice on behalf
of anybody who can afford to pay them.
OF the first class there is little to be said.
As rule, they are men of irreproachable
integrity, who have earned well deserved
reputation in their respective professions
or businesses. Their evidence is often con-
fiicting, but as rule it is given in good
faith
Medical evidence is, believe, always
above suspicion, but where the cause in dis
pute is merely one of damages, and expert
witnesses have to be called to give evidence
as TO valuation, then the professional wit
ness has his chance. If the question relates
to the value of property, his mind is as elias
tic as that of the auctioneer, while if the
dispute be over hevalue of horse it would
appear that no two dealers in the kingdom
hold the same opinion.
1t has never been my lot to be engaged in
horse case, but know one dealer who has
regular scale of payment for his evidence.
| would not accuse him of perjury, but the
variety of his opinions on horsehesh is GER
tanly remarkable. | knew him to value
The same horse at two different times at 200
giineag ard e25
But It is among the criminal classes that
the professional witness reaps the richest
harvest. OF there classes have had large
experience, both in London and in the prov
inces and | venture to say that L am the
cause of many man being at liberty. Yet
have never been reprimanded either by a
Judge or magistrate. Cases where the de-
tense is an alibi and cases of assault form
my chief stock in trade.
The defense of an alibi is always viewed
with suspicion, and therefore requires the
exercise of considerable ingenuity. 1t must
be remembered that the first object of the
professional witness is not to commit per-
Jury, or rather not to say anything which
the jury would consider perjury. For this
reason it is best to appear as an independent
witness and not as friend of the prisoner.
So if you swear that you saw man at a
certain place at the time when the offense
was committed, and it is proved that he
was not ae that place, it is sufficient to
prove that you were at that place yourself
and so might have mistaken somebody else
for the prisoner.
But the danger of attempting to prove
an alibi without success is so great III case
Of importance that it is rarely resorted to-.
In cases of common assault and public
house brawls, where the offender is not
taken redhanded, the professional witness
can generally throw so much doubt on the
matter that an acquittal is the result.
Still, in these cases it is best not to depend
on an alibi for the defense
The independent witness who happened
to be present at the time and who states
that the prisoner was the aggrieved party
instead of being the aggressor is the most
useful man for the defense The police
stand in awe of him. How often does a
gentleman voluntarily come forward to say
that the police used unnecessary violence?
He is not a volunteer. He lisa professional
witness whose fee ranges from 95 note to
quart of beer.
The great drawback to my profession is
that am constantly Obliged to change my
place of business, else l should become
more widely known than would be conven-
lent. At the outside cannot appear be-
fore the same metropolitan magistrate
more than six times in year.
| have a permanent address which is
known to several people, but most of my
time is spent in wandering from police
court to police court, both in town and
country / loaf about the neighboring pub
lie houses, and generally hear of some busi-
ness in which my services would be accept
able.
have to exercise great discretion as to
whom tender those services, but do not
often meet with a rebuff. A prisoner is not
generally scrupulous as to the truth of his
defense, though sometimes he will try to
avoid paying for it. make it a rule to get
at least large share of my fee in advance.
Giving evidence as to character affords a
rich harvest both at quarter sessions and at
assizes The price for this evidence is high,
as it can only be given about once in IS
months, either at the same court or before
the same Judge. Some briefless barrister is
sure to recognize us and to tell the prose
cutting counsel
OF course the character assume in Civ
ing this evidence varies with the position
of the prisoner. The character of the par
son of the parish where the prisoner has
lived at some former period of his life is the
one which have found most successful.
have often been complimented by her ma
jesty's judges on NY kindness of heart,
compliments which / acknowledge with
that respect due to the dignity of the law,
-Pearson's Weekly.
Shocked the Upper.