The Arizona sentinel., 1896-01-11

passion which might be overcome were
ordinary control exercised. And what
man of full life and passion has not yielded
to an evil impulse? And pardon me If
enlarge this domain Of the criminal classes.
The apostles of liberty, the advocates Of
free speech, the votaries Of science, the
combatants against bigotrY, intolerance,
slavery and ignorance have been, at one
time or another, classed as criminals.
Hamilton made some memorable de-
fenses in criminal cases, but none afforded
him such an opportunity for brilliant ef-
fort as might have ensued on the failure Of
the Revolutionary cause and the ensuing
indictment Of Washington for treason. In
defense Of criminals, therefore, the great
est forensic efforts have been made and the
strongest bulwarks to protect personal
rights and liberties Have been erected. A
galaxy of great names runs through my
mind. Across the water, Brougham, Mack
intosh, Grattan, O'Connell, Stephens, Frs
kline and host Of others Strange to say,
in this connection, that the last named, in
his celebrated defense of Hatfield, charged
with shooting at King George, advanced
and sustained q more humane doctrine to
protect the insane than today prevails in
our own state. And in our own beloved
land the criminal bar has been honored by
men of like renown. The political speeches
Of Seward today remain on the shelf un-
read, when every student of law and ad-
mirer of eloquence pursues with pleasure
his magnificent defense Of the poor negro
murderer Freeman, after his rescue from
the mob, and that defense the much abused
plea of insanity. Webster's speech in the
Knapp murder case Is moro frequently
quoted than any of his others Choate's
name Is still the most illustrious for loren,
sic eloquence in Boston. The same may
be said of Brady IN New York, Story in
Chicago, Paul Brown in Philadelphia.
Then we have Prentiss, Marshal, Graham,
Mills, Stanton, Wright and a host of
others. Our country presents galaxy OF
splendid criminal lawyers,
And now let US consider and answer the
question often asked tho criminal lawyer,
Chow can you justify your efforts in get
ting a man charged with a criminal Of
fense free when you practically know he
Is guiltyP" How can doctor justify him
self in saving patient afflicted with
deadly disease when he knows that the
man is bad and dangerous character and
may do evil If he livesp His profession is
to save life.
Again, there is prejudice against the
criminal lawyer because of an opinion OF
the public that so many criminals go free
This is because in 80 cases out Of 100 the
public, especially in cities, takes it as moro
than prima facie evidence that an accusa-
ton means guilt. The accused gets no
sympathy in that direction. His principal
friend is his attorney. ~
The newspapers give in most instances
only the states case, because the accounts
in the papers are published immediately
upon the occurrence of the act the party Is
accused of, and necessarily when preju-
dice, passion, curiosity and rumor are rife
In connection with 1t. No palliating or
extenuating circumstances are sought for.
The headlines, "An Atrocious Murder"
imprint on the brain cells Of the reader an
impression as marked and usually as in
effaceable as the figures on a newly coined
silver dollar. And herein is done uncon-
sciously a great injustice, and, further,
herein originates that so frequently erro-
neous opinion Of so many criminals who
should be punished going free.