The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-16
LAWYERS HAVE NO
SECRETS TO CONFESS
John D. O'Brien Entertains Crusaders
With "reminiscences of an Attorney.

John D. O'Brien entertained the Cru
saders' Total Abstinence society at Gre
tin hall yesterday afternoon with an
interesting recital of The Confessions
of An Attorney"
"Probably the title under which [ am
to speak to you this afternoon may
be a little misleading" said Mr..
O'Brien. But you see, I understand
and appreciate the worth of a good,
attractive title or name. There is ev-
erything in d name. remember that
some fifteen years ago a widely sold
book was placed upon the market with
the title, How to Be Happy, Though
Married. 1t had, as 1 have said, a
very %vide sale, purely, l am certain,
because of the title Surely not
through anything the book contained,
for purchased copy of it Rnd found
it to be filled with the dryest and
most prosaic platitudes. That book
sold on its name.
Then L recall that one of the IA
nous Artemus Wards most celebrated
lectures was upon The Babes in the
Woods though he never once during
the course of the lecture referred to
the babes in the woods or any other
place. So probably, after this explain
alton, you win not be disappointed if
do not reveal to you all the horrible
things that have come to my notice
during my twenty-five years of le-
gal life.
There is nothing of the kind to tell
Clients do not reveal to their lawyers
The criminal lies to the public, his
lawyer and to himself. His life is a
lie. The God who made him intended
that he should live a good life, which
would be the truth, and he has per-
Nerted 1t. Truth enters into the life
OIL a lawyer and into the diSpenSation
OF justice just as much as into ev-
cry other profession. No lie can per-
manently win in law or out of It,
It is against the rules of the Great
Force controlling the earth, and all
It's attendant parts, to lie for all is
punt and maintained upon the prin-
clples of law, order and truth So
that there is nothing for me to reveal
that would hOrrify you. All the mys-
terry with which the lay mind invests
the practice OF law is gone when one
enters the ranks, and the life be-
comes very prOsaic indeed. 1t is only
and ever that which lies just beyond
us That IS surrounded with mystery.
There are many today, l know, who
will tell you of the proper way to do
certain things-they will tell YOU how
to sleep, how to eat your breakfast.
how to breathe and how to walk. You
can't be healthy until you do as they
tell you.
you how to Go things; 1 did come. how
ever, with the intention of giving YOU
philosophical resume of law and ths
manner of its application. All law
like everything else, runs away back
into the realms of antiquity, and the
1nists Of ages, when no records were
kept. But l have been so long now
telling you stories that little time is
left, so 1 think I shall just keep on
and fill in the time with anecdotes of
legal life"
During the course of his address
Mr.. O'Brien told many stories per
tanning TO famous cases he had defend
ed, and received hearty aDpIaUse at
the termination of his remarks.
Miss Hildegarde Rendz played piano
solos. John f. Gehan was heard in
popular songs and +. L. Burns and
Charlie O'COnneu each contributed a
recitation and song. "