The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-19

1eaoefn9 the List 81 Six HanAreA
me subordinate body which vas 0cing
tnc real work cf the Chicago bar Aasoctn-
non made Z most interesting report ana
showed that after ali ernsares during the
year the original lis. Of 90 had been re-
oaced "a "a attorneys whose names were
'nciuded In directories u attcrneys many
% wnom were practising Law in the city
apparently without any right al all 70 30
%.
The members OF the grievance committee
OF IN. Frank Asbury johnson. Edwin u.
AsacrAft and Leander D. Condee. were re-
appointed. the others net being abb. 10
continue 10 devcte the necessary time 70.
CURED on the committees work, ana
Judge LoFfn {. Collins and Frank j.
smith we're appointed One member OF
the associations guaranteed informally the
sum OF u.We for the work Of the commit
Tee generally and for completing the cor
rection Of the list OF men TO whom the in
dex finger az Information pointed as MEM
oers OF the class that would rather deceive
tnAn 80 to the trouble and expense OF be-
ing prepared - enter the great profession
why same Were Net Eneellea.
In Carrying en- the work II was found
tnas some OF the attorneys whose names
were still ION the list were having great
dtmcuify In complying with the rules Of
the state board OF examiners governing
admission TO the bar. Judges. from whom
anidavfts would be forthcoming. had died,
and from other causes almost insurmouns-
Able obstacles had arisen While dealing
reasonably with these men the grievance
committee sent out its Anal circular
note to 'lawyers." whose names had not
been erased About l,eoe replies were re-
ceived TO four sets Of circular and special
letters. and the mass would have struck
terror into the hearts OF any ordinary man
Who knew how much work was thus pre-
cipitated upon the grievance COMMITTEES.
Realizing that each one Of the whole
L1o0 letters was all important TO its writ
er. and determined that no injustice what
ever should be done. Mr.. Johnson and Mr..
Ashcraft decided to meet at Mr. john
sons home en- the South Side and hold
frequent evening sessions until each ans
wer had been most carefully examined.
Verf0cataon % Statements.
Meanwhile. through outside assistance.
statements in the letters were verified or
proved false. And all winter Information
about the 800 or more on the list was ac-
cumuiating. The law bulletin was watch
ed and the court calls OF cases were scru-
tinized TO see which OF the suspected men
still boldly persisted in "practicing law"
The finishing touches of the sitting pro-
1889 VI A1ssSt tAtc WI n vi ctithiuaAihfls
involved great deal OF writing, TRANSCRIPT
ing OF records and. OF course expense.
But the Bar Association reiterated: Go
on. Never mind the cost. DO whatever is
necessary and bring in the bill. 1t will be
paid"
Every man who was on the grievance
committees list received at least four let
ters from that body Of seekers after truth,
and many Of them received FIVE or SIX.
One Good Result Elected.
Frequently an envelope would be
brought back bearing the words Left
city, or Gone" or Left last August" or
other similar. significant inscription. In
this way II was shown to the committee.
Mr.. johnson says. that at least seventy
five lawyers quickly and quietly folded
their tents and stole away from Chicago
. - result Of the bar associations invests
cation.
some OF the men who received letters
called In person and showed fight but
unless something better was shown their
names remained on the list. The present
total, Mr.. Johnson says, Is over 200. After
every legal safeguard has been secured,
after every chance OF injustice 10 anyone
has been avoided, this list OF over 30 men
whose names appear in the directories OF
lawyers will be made public. That Is, II
Will be given over by the grievance COM
mittee to the bar association and the gem
eral body Will supply its members with
copies. Anyone interested can then ascer-
tain the names on the list and avoid
waste of money on impostors.
Mr. Johnson Talks Of the Work.
Speaking generally of the work OF the
grievance committee. Frank A. johnson
said:
More than 400 names are included in
c3..11t
but large number of these persons claim
TIA, their names were inserted without
their authority or knowledge, and these
claims are probably true. As the bar as
socsat!on now has a complete and accurate
list OF all licensed Illinois attorneys. no
names viii hereafter appear in the dirsc-
tory OF lawyers except those found on
this list.
The work OF the committee In this line
is now substantially completed as II
awaits only the return by the clerks OF
the supreme court, duly certified, OF list
OF those who have not admitted In writ
ing that they hold no license from cur
supreme court. About twenty names are
withheld FOR further examination. as the
committee has reason 10 believe IN those
casea orders were entered admitting 20
practice, hu. licenses were no, actually
issued under the orders. and consequently
they were lot enrolled II will now tie
possible 10 ascertain who are actually
prscticing I'm tke state courts OF CHICAGO
without authority, and who are maintaining
law offices and thus representa-. rem
selves 20 the public as lawyers without
having been admitted to the bar, and IL il
believed that few will have the tsmerfty
10 continue without complying with the
requirements Of the Law. though no penalty
- prescribed for violation OF the statue
To Punish the Imposters.
Prosecutions by attachment for con-
tempt under the practice in this state
have found 10 be Intellectual. and a bill
is now pend.ng 20 establish jurisdiction in
equity to enjoin enc from prac,scing In
courts Of record and from maintaining .
law office and holding himself out to the
public as 4 lawyer. A demurrer TO that
bill has been argued And overruled. thus
establishing Jurisdiction 70 entertain sha
bill but the question OF jurisdiction to en-
Join from, hoid.nx himself out TO the public
a. a Lawyer ard from doing law business
In an offsee, which is frequently IA. most
important basness transacted By astss-
neys, remains TO h> decided, and apon the
Of that question the people
who are least able To protect themselves
are largely interested
With decision in its favor upon that