The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-22


of peace, we are armed ana equipped
for war. A pistol like IlloI tsase Is d
reflection and a. stigma. In my pocket
a pistol as /, reelection upon my cour-
! age. and q. stigma upon my morals;
publishing to the world that L am
afraid of men. and, in heart and in
purpose. a murderer, if provoked or
attacked; and that / am still abiding
in that old faith-'an eye ZOE an eye
and tooth for a tooth.
Speaking of lawyers, L nave otten
wondered if the lawyer, VINO KNOWS MS
client is a rascal and his case is inn
moral. as we'll as a violation of law,
really sympathizes with his client and
rejoices, if. perchance, the verdict is
in his favor; when the rascal escapes
and the innocent has to suffer? Law
yers have to undertake some very bad
cases, and it seems but reasonable to
suppose they can but loathe the situa-
ton, and feel a hearty contempt for
the beings with whom they have to be
even professionally associated
While that may be true as d general
rule, / have seen, or, at least. known
of instances in which lawyers, in or
der to gain their cases and secure
their fees. assailed the characters of
people whom they knew were upright
and innocent; even SuDJectlnS umld
and shrinking females to moss cruel
and embarrassing croSS-eNamlr atoms,
for no other reason than TO break the
force of an honest, truthful state
ment; to the end that the wrong
might prevail instead of the right. A
conscientious. high minded lawyers
will not descend to such methods. He
will not brow-beat, nor try to intimi
date a witness; and in the long run,
his gentlemanly department and just
treatment of witnesses will gain for
him Il far better standing as man
and a lawyer
At this point ! am reminded of an
anocdote 1 have either heard or read
some time in my life, which illustrates
what | am writing. concerning the
proper treatment OF witnesses. the
story was as follows:
A lawyer had very bad case, but
he thought he might probably clear
his client, if he could break down the
testimony of a country boy who had
told, in a straight forward way, very
damaging story. in the way of evil
dence. against his client.
With a great deal of dignity and a
self-righteous air that was intended
to be appalling, even to the court, the
lawyer arose and said: May it please
your Honor, L have my doubts as to
whether that country urchin, who has
been allowed to testify in this case,
understands the nature of an oath;
and especially am / in doubt as to his
mental capacity to be a witness in a
case of SO much Importance; | there
fore pray your Honor to allow me to
ask him few questions. Certainly
said the Judge.
Turning to the boy and bestowing
on him contemptuous. whitening
scrowl, he asked: boy, who made
you ?"
Moses, 1 speck." answered the boy.
stand aside" said the lawyer in a
tone of triumph, and turning to the
Judge and also to the jury. he said:
May it please your Honor. and gen
tlemen of the jury. 1 have shown you
by asking only one question, that that
boy is not competent witness-dou' t
even know who made him" Just
then the voice of the boy piped out:
Mister Jedge, can 1 ask that lawyer
a question:
Certainly" said the Judge.
well, them" said the boy, "who
made you, Mr.. lawyer" #
The lawyer, affecting a great deal of