The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-13
M'DERNIT PLEASED.
Newark Lawyers Views
of Lentz's Escape--His
Own Case.

Frank NJ McDermit, who was disbar-
red some time ago, was smiling and cheer
full as he sat in his Office in the Globe
building this morning looking over his
mail, says yesterdays Newark DAILY
Advertiser"
''Mr. AIcDermitt, what do you think of
the decision of the Supreme Court in the
case of Major Lentz?"
'You want my opinion?" smiled the
lawyer.
Eyes, eir.'
mo, you don't either said Mr.. Nc
Dermit
"Oh, but I do.''
81 don't think you do" said Mr.. Nc
Dermit, s"for the simple reason that there
is not newspaper under heaven that
would publish my opinion in this matter
You know, I set high value on my opin-
ions and I would not like to have them
blue penciled. That's my record. I set
high value on my opinions and on my ser
vices.
"But I can say this to you,'' continued
the lawyer. 81 can say that am very
glad that Mr.. Lentz has come out of this
all right. They say that misery loves
company, but you can see that am not
very miserable and 1 tell you that I am
glad that Mr.. Lertz has come out all
right. I am really and TRULY glad of it. 1
would not say that if did not mean 1t.
As to my own case. the whole end and
aim of the persecution-not prosecution
was to shut off my income, or at least, a
substantial part of it. Well, to show you
how we'll. that plan has operated let me
| show you my ledger. In the year before
and during the fight against me cleared
Just so much and in the year since the ac-
| tion of the Supreme Court in my case
have cleared just % per cent. more. That
| looks good, don't it? I have surrounded
myself with corps of lawyers, among
them my brother, and the business of this
office is still going on apace and to my
satisfaction, as well as to the strength
of my bank account"
I 'sWin you take any steps toward rein
statement"
81 am not yet prepared OF discuss that
matter for publication answered the
smiling lawyer. There may be some
thing of the kind in the air sooon, but as
yet I won't talk about it. I have not
made the plea for clemency, nor have any
of my friends done SO. What I wanted
and still want is justice, not mercy.
| CITY Comptroller Frederick T. johnson,
who was active in the case before the
LAWYERS Club, was asked today for his
opinion of the action of the court in dis
charging the rule to show cause why the
fDIaJor should not be disbarged.
awe must respect the opinions of the
Supreme Court said Mr.. Johnson. Il
o1,o
Major Lentz was busy opening letters
and kilograms of congratulation from
! LAWYERS all over the State this morning.
| The chairman of the County Republican
Committee was smiling and happy when
a reporter of the advertiser called at
| his Office ut he preserved his usual
taciturnity when asked concerning the
| decision Of the court in his case.
st have nothing to say to the "ADVER-
TISER.'' he said, with a marked degree
of emphasis. That's all, 1 have moth
ing to say to the advertiser"
Then the Major proceeded to open more
letters and kilograms and smile over
| their contents as though thoroughly
pleased with them.
81 am not surprised at the Supreme
Courts action said Henry Hahn. Il
| expected it. In my opinion the object
of motions to disbar is the raising of the
standard of the legal profession. The
punishment is best meted out by re-
fusal to disbar, unless some negligence
| is shown on the part of the attorney.
'aThe punishment and hardship endured
is the disgrace upon the publicity given
to misconduct, and the practical suspen-
sion from practice while the charges are
pending. A lawyer sense of honor should
compel him to resign under such cir
cumstances, but in case he does not do
so and makes good the wrongs ne has
committed, disbarment from practice
many years after the wrong was COM
mitted seems a great hardship. The time
to weed out the profession is when stress
is laid upon the qualification of good
moral character, required to take exam
ination for admission to the bar. In that
way many who are unfit to practice law
would never, be licensed.
'I am therefore of the opinion that Mr.
McDermit, who was disbarred, was too Sc
yerely punished and should again be per-
mftted to practice, as the object of his
punishment has been attained by raising
the standard of the profession and deter
ring others from the commission OF
| thoughtless wrongs and neglect of trust
1 reposed in them.
not. therefore, in a position to say mueh
| about the case" said Edward d. Duffield.
| secretary of the Lawyers Club during the
| proceedings against Lentz. But what l
! do believe about it from the reports which
! / have read is that the court has fully
| yindicated the Lawyers Club and the
| E5thics Committee in the action taken py
| those bodies. The Lawyers Club will con-
tinue to do business at the old stand, ana
| when any man is accused OF improves
sional conduct the club viii take the mat
/ ter 1Ip and push it to the end. When the
| cases go to the court the club IS out OF
It, and the further responsibility rests
| With the court No. l do not care to have
| awning to saw about the decision, be-
| cause / do not know on what the opinion
| of the justices was based.