The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-08-08
The Delinqueneiea Of Lawyers.
From the phlladelphia Cpa.1 Ledger.

The sentencing of ex-City Attorney
Moreland and ex-Assistant City Attorney
House, both of Pittsburg, closes another
chapter in the history of official delin-
quency in Pennsylvania. The former was
sentenced to the penitentiary for three
years, and the latter to the same institu-
ton for two years and three months At
this distance from the scene the punish
ment in both cases seems moderate, but
the circumstances may justify it There
is something peculiarly shocking to the
moral sense in the downfall of an officer
entrusted with the enforcement of the
laws. Nothing brings the law itself into
contempt more quickly than the betrayal
of clients by their chosen legal advisers
and protectors Embezzlement by lawyers
is crime of peculiar turpitude, and when
clearly established the punishment should
be swift and severe Unlimited conf
denee is reposed in lawyers as class.
Large sums are frequently placed in their
keeping without any security for their re-
turn other than professional integrity or
honor, and it is creditable to the profess
sion that lawyers are so rarely called into
court to answer charges of embezzlement
or other breaches of trust. Millions of
dollars are constantly in the custody of
attorneys, and, relatively to the sums held
by them, the amounts involved in defalca-
tions and embezzlements by lawyers are
not great
This universal confidence in the profes-
sion imposes upon it the duty of expelling
all unworthy practitioners and giving ac-
tive assistance to the prosecution of crimes
committed by them. Lawyers are officers
of the courts, and Judges are neglectful of
duty when they palliate professional
offences Some Of these offences are not
criminal, but are, nevertheless, open to
public criticism, and should receive Judi
cial rebuke. Lawyers are sometimes per-
mitted to browbeat and bully witnesses in
the trial of cases in court This is a
species of professional misconduct which
should never escape the sharp interference
of the Judge in whose presence it occurs.
1t is due to the courts, however, to say
that the rights Of witnesses are more care
fully protected than they were in former
times. The brutal treatment Of witnesses
is rather an offence chargeable to Judges
than to lawyers, for the Judges have full
power over their officers in the court room,
and are responsible for any breach Of good
manners which may occur in their presence.
While the sums lost by unfaithful attor-
neys are not great when compared with
the valuable property committed to their
care, it is, nevertheless, true that the
crime of embezzlement by trustees and
custodians of money is on the increase in
this country. The money stolen in this
way amounted to more than S25, 600, 900
in 1894, and to nearly $50, 600, 900 in the
previous year. This exhibit includes all
kinds of embezzles, defaulters, swindlers
and bank wreckers The yearly loss thus
inflicted upon confding people has not been
less than three millions a year for twenty
years past. In 1894 the average stealings
of this nature were about 50, 600, 900 per
month
Tue people of this country are paying
too much tribute to confidence men. The
burglar, the highwayman who risks his
life to steal small sum, is heroic char
acter compared with the man who purloins
millions. at no risk of bodily harm; and it
is too true that, in many instances, the
thief who steals bis hundreds Of thousands
has better chance to get light sentence
and greater hope Of pardon than the
ordinary and friendless reprobate who capt
res little booty. The public looks TO the
courts to protect it against the defaulter
and embezzler. It is possible that the in
crease of embexzlements is traeeable to some
extent to misplaced lenity on the part of
the Courts and pardoning boards.