The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-01
Eighty Applicants Pored Over
the Questions.
THE LARGEST CLASS YET
The Examination Blanks Were Exhausted and
Two Lucky Applicants Were Given Last
February's Blanks---In the Class
Were Five Negroes.

license TO practice law IN NorIn CaroIId
was that which yesterday stood the exam
ination before the Supreme Court.
No such sized class had been expected,
and there were not enough question
blanks to supply the applicants. There
were eighty applicants in all and of these
there were five negroes applying for
license. Two applicants had to be given
the question blanks of last February and
they were considered lucky. fellows by the
other men
The court attempted to begin 1.-The ex-
animation in the Supreme court room, but
found it was too small and therefore moved
over to the hall of the House of Represen-
tatives, where the examination was held.
1t was to be seven hours in length, but
the time of moving the quarters and lis
tening to the opening remarks eat UP some
of the precious minutes before the mem
bers of the class got down to the work
that was before them.
1t was an orderly looking array that
started, very dignified and earnest look
ing, but as the hours rolled on dignity
fell by the wayside Off came coats, then
vests, while ties, collars and cuffs soon
followed. The aspect to a locker on from
the gallery was busy hive of workers
with variegated lot of suspenders in
evidence.
The examination was concluded by five
O'Clock, though two of the applicants by
sheer perseverance managed to hold on to
their papers for some minutes longer, till
Marshal Bradley called time ON them
and reluctantly they yielded their papers,
the last man to hand his in saying that
he was slow writer.
Last night the boys" were talking
over the questions and there seemed to
be consensus of opinion that while the
questions were eminently fair ones, still
that they required answers too long for
the time given on the examination, and
there was not room enough on the blanks
furnished to write the answers
Many of the applicants in writing out
their thoughts had to pin strips of paper
on the edge of the blanks in order to get
room on which to write their answers.
Sixty-six questions in seven hours, an
average of over nine to the hour, or about
six minutes on each was the time limit.
The class was all in all strong looking
one, many of the men being of a mature
appearance. Last night there was much
discussion among them concerning the ex-
animation, and in great majority OF cases
the men said that they be-
lieved they had passed. There were but
few faint hearted ones who
talked of failure as nearly all seemed 10
think they had given above the forty
four answers required for them to pass
successfully.
There were present at the examination
the full court, Chief Justice Clark, Asso-
ciate Justices Douglass, Montgomery.
Conner and Walker. No official intorma-
ton is ever given out as to which OF the
justices prepare the examination ques-
tions. but it is held that the questions this
year were prepared by Associate Justice
Platt d. Walker, those of last February
having been prepared by Associate Justice
HI. G.. Connor 1t will be fully a week
perhaps longer before the decision of the
Judges will be made known.
The court being ready to begin the ex
animation the address to the class was
made by Justice Montgomery, who spoke
as follows:
Gentlemen of the law class: In
making application for license to practise
law you are seeking to enter profession
most ancient as well as most honorable.
The law, as you doubtless have often
heard it said, is jealous mistress and
her votaries 70 win her favor must carry
to her service integrity, diligence and
knowledge of her arts.
The first is more indispensable than
either of the others. Without honesty of
purpose and the pride of profession it
may be possible to lawyer to get money,
but never to reach honorable distinction.
Trust, confidence, is at the foundation oil
the relation between attorneys and
clients and the betrayal of that trust,
dishonors the attorney and the profession.
"Today you will have an opportunity
for the display of your appreciation of a
confidence important as that which
exists between attorneys and clients.
The court submits to you certain ques-
tions, upon the correct answers to which
depends your license, in the confidence
that you will receive no aid from any
source-that the answers shall be yours.
An applicant who may see that he will
fail without assistance might be sorely
tempted to invoke the help of others, but
to do so would be a breach of the trust
we have reposed in him and the tempta-
ton ought to be- and we believe will be.
resisted"
Following this address, Judge Mont
gomery then made a resume of the sixty
six questions which were to be answered,
these being as follows:
QUESTIONS OF LAW
1. What are the rules for the interpre-
tation of laws?
2. What are the rules for the construc-
ton Of statutes?
3. What is meant by ''due process of
law?
A. What is meant by the police power
of the State?
3. What Is the right of eminent domain
and by whom and under what restrictions
may it be exercised?
6. What general rule is required by the
Constitution of this State to be observed
IN the exercises of the power of taxation?
z. What is the constitutional restriction
upon the power of municipal corporations
to tax and to contract debts?
s. How is jurisdiction apportioned
among the several courts of the State?
8. When is the master liable for the
torts of his servant?