The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-28
HONESTYMLAW PRACTICE
CHARLES w. SMITH TELLS GRADU-
ATEs 1T Is THE BEST POLICY.
Howard Sloan Young Wins Big In
diana LAW School Scholarship
Prixe-C0mmenceme Exercises.


mencement of the Indiana Law School
were held last night at the Grand Opera
House. Fifty-one men, some young, some
in the prime of life, received the degree
of LII. B. The graduating address to the
class was made by the Hon. Charles w.
Smith. of this city, his subject being 1.-THE
Lawyer-His Office, Duties and Privileges"
Honesty was the emphasized motive of Mr..
Smiths address. He said in part:
THE lawyer has great privileges, with
corresponding duties and responsibilities.
The relation of client and counsel is put
upon the same level as that of patient
and physician. But with his privileges and
opportunities for good there also come OPP
portunities for much evil doing. No in
dividual in organized society : is more
respected or wields a more helpful influence
than the lawyer. But on the other hand,
no man is more despised, and rightly so,
than the lawyer who fails honestly to meet
his obligations and duties in the practice
of his profession.
LAWYER OR PETTIFOGGER.
'You may become the lawyer or the
pettifogger; the gentleman or the bully;
the friend of honesty or the knave of high
and low degree. So that at the outset it
is of the utmost Importance that you get
the true idea of the office and function of
the lawyer. The profession is, in the vulgar
mind of the lawyer, judged by the lowest
of his class. OF all men the lawyer has the
least justification in departing by as much
as a hairs breadth from the path of recti-
tude. The true conception of him is that
he IS a court of Justice
1.-THE lawyers first duty is to God his
conscience and the court. 1t is sometimes
said that his first duty is to his client This
is not SO. There Is duty of loyalty to
client, which calls for the highest integrity,
and often for very high degree of cour-
age, both moral and physical.
First of all, the lawyer must be honest
with himself, and 1t requires the very high
est kind of integrity that enables man to
be honest with himself; without honesty
you can never rise to the highest place in
the profession. Your next duty is hon.
esty to your client 1t is your duty to deal
frankly with him. If the case is a doubt
full one, tell him so. The next step in prep
be honest Entirely aside from the ques-
ton of morals involved, the safety of your
case depends upon the witness keeping
cool, lest he not only entrap himself. but
you as well, and ruin your clients cause.
After the preparation you come to the trial.
If your preparation has been honest and
and this as nothing else will come to a
clear-headed and a courageous attitude
In regard to the conduct of the lawyer
before the court Mr.. Smith said: 1.-The
peace and dignity of the State and the well
fare of society depends almost absolutely
upon the respect which the people at large
there had. A courtroom during trial
ought TO present scene of gentlemen dis
cussing questions of right and justice in a
thoughtful and orderly way, with view
to aiding court and jury to arrive at the
very right between the parties.
THE PRIZE WINNERS.
Immediately following the address James
A. Rohbach, dean of the law school, an
nonnced the winners of the prizes offered
during the past year. The Edward Thomp
son prize, consisting of complete set Of
the Encyclopedia OF Pleading and Practice,
offered by the Edward Thompson Company,
publishers, New York. to be presented to
the member of the graduating class receiv-
ing the highest thesis and classroom stand
ing, was awarded to Howard Sloan Young,
of Indianapolis.
The Rohbach prize Bouvier's Law Die
tionary, was won by Elmer Eugene Scott,
of Indianapolis, for the second highest
general average made by graduating
student.
Receiving honorable mention were James
Il. Little, of Indianapolis. and Horace Lin
wood Gould, of Marion. The five seniors
order named: Joseph w. Hutchinson, of
Thorntown; Herman n. Hipskind, of Wa
bash; Horace L. Gould, of Marion; Arthur
D. MacKinley., of Muncie. and Howard S.
Young, of Indianapolis.
The free scholarship for the senior year
was won by Fred l.. Williams, of Finn
castle Charles Z. Smith, of Anderson, was
awarded the set of Elliott's General Prac-
tice," offered by the Bobbs-Merrill Com
pany to the junior making the highest
general average. The third junior prize,
consisting of Andrews's American Law"
went to Robert l. Pugh, of Shelbyville.
Juniors receiving honorable mention were
Harry L. Wagner and Otis NJ. Burnett, of
Dana, Ind. The special prize offered by
Rees, WEIGH & Co, consisting of a set OF
"Greenleaf on Evidence, Lewis edition,
three volumes. presented TO the junior
passing the highest grade on special ex-
animation. was won by Fred l.. Williams,
of Finncaste.
The degrees were conferred by Rev.
Matthias l.. Haines. chairman of the ex-
ecutiye committee of the board of trustees.
The oath OF admission to the United
States Circuit Court and District Court was
administered by Hon. Noble G. Butler. The.
oath to the Marion county Circuit and Su-
perior Court was administered by Judge
Henry Clay Allen and Judge John l.. Nc
Master. Ralph Dove McCarty made the
class valedictory.