The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-26
HTNRICHS DEFENDS LAWYERS.
PRAISES JEROME FOR SENDING
BAD ONES TO JAIL.

There Are Those, He Admits, Who Accept
Conflicting Retainers and Desert a
Poor Client for a Rich One-He'd Even
Argue for the marlborough Company.
Frederic w. Hinrichs, who ran for Comp
troller on the fusion ticket two years ago.
in q talk last night before the Peoples In
stitute in Cooper Union praised District
Attorney Jerome for his prosecution OF
dishonest lawyers, disagreed with him on
insurance questions and attacked the law
yers who accept retainers from two oppos-
ing interests or who desert their clients to
Use the information gained against them
Mr.. Hinrichs's subject was THE Moral
Standards Of Lawyers" When he finished
his talk he said that there were enough
lawyers of high moral standards to make
it certain that he would again become a
lawyer If he had his life to live over.
I'VE have heard of a great many dishonest
lawyers Of late, although l know
whether there are more than formerly
be said. "Our attention has been drawn
to them by the fearless prosecutions by the
District Attorney here AMI the one across
the river.
when | was preparing my talk for to-
night l wrote Mr.. Jerome asking for q
list Of the lawyers who had been sent TO
prison and were about to be sent. Within
twenty-four hours he sent me a long List
After reading it | said that any one VINO
told me that Jerome was not a brave, con-
soientious and successful District Attorney
would have a big job proving it.
Il admire Mr.. Jerome in every wayi
.iLLz,,n1 IL ,,t n orc, Nth him fn "a r6in q
his legal opinion on the insurance matter.
I believe that the question OF criminal
intent in relation to the giving of campaign
contributions Is one for the jury to decide,
as Judge Parker says, although that does
not diminish my respect for the DlstrlTI
Attorney. Give Jerome the law and ne IL
punish the offender ~ matter De-
There is considerable discussion over
the stand a lawyer should take IN a question
affecting big public interests. do not
believe an honorable lawyer should hesitate
to accept a fee from any reputable corpora
ton, provided it requires him TO DO notnlng
more than go into court and present as
strongly as he can the law in defence OF
the stand he is paid to take.
Il have never hesitated to say that | do
not believe the clause in the Rapid Transit
act which permits the lease of the subway
to be renewed at the end of fifty. years for
twenty-five years more. is valid, because
OF the Court OF Appear decision on tnS
validity of the lease. At the same time, II
the railroad should retain me, which isn't
probable, l would do my best to try to
prove that the twenty-five year renewal
clause was valid.
Charles Spra que Smith wanted TO know
If the m%onopolies could be prevented from
hiring the best legal talent for the purpose
of controlling the lives of the people,
I'VE are often led to believe, because they
are before the public so much in the press
that the ablest lawyers are in the pay OF
corporations" said Mr.. Hinrichs. Some
of the most distinguished and ca BILE men
are not those who are most talked about.
A trickster is often Of more value than an
honest lawyer, because he can accomplish
more for the corporation which hires him.
I'VE all know OF a lawyer who is counsel
to the Rapid Transit Commission and
holds a retainer from the Pennsylvania
Railroad at the same time, although the
interests OF both are often likely to clash.
l do not think the highest type OF lawyer
would accept such a retainer. Every
lawyer knows OF a so-called great lawyer
who gave up one retainer to accept a greater
one, which obliged him to oppose his former
clients, but that kind of lawyer ID not COM
mon"