The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-10
A Case of Elastic
Conscience.
IorigInal.l

When Truesdale Scott, prominent
banker and promoter. was convicted
of misrepresentation of funds every one
said that the eloquence of the prose
cutting attorney, Rowland Ruddock, had
done the trick. Scott had been caught
in big commercial panic with too
great a load on his hands and had to
go under. indeed, to save himself be
had placed himself under the ak of the
law. Ruddock had political scheme
marked out for himself, and Scott's con-
viction was a great card for him with
thousands of voters who hated "the
plutocrats" Ruddock was to be gov
ernor of the state, then senator. Scott
was convicted just as the gubernatorial
contest was coming on. But Scott had
succeeded in getting new trial. which
came on just before the election. 1t
was expected that Ruddock would
make the effort of his life in this Sec
ond trial. for whichever way the anti
monopoly vote was cast so went the
election. What was the establishment
of every one when he made SO weak
an effort as to be accused of pandering
to the plutocratic interest Scott was
acquitted. and Ruddock was defeated
in the election.
About the time that Ruddock left the
law school he met Margaret Cushman.
girl of very strong character. She
had conscience of cast iron. Moth
ing could swerve her from what she
considered the right. She was much
pleased with Ruddock. as he was with
her, but she feared that his sense of
principle was not as strong in him as
1t should be. He strove to convince her
that she had mistaken certain elias
ITCHY for something worse. citing the
Puritan as an example of a too rigid
conscience.
They were engaged, and the engage
ment lasted until Ruddock defended
notorious rogue and by his brilliant
legal tactics acquitted him. Margaret
knew all about this case and could not
see how her lover could make his &C.
ton accord with his conscience. In
vain he attempted to show her that
there can be but one duty of a lawyer
toward his client He must do his
best. This" said Margaret, makes
courtroom mere legal arena. 1t is not
Justice that decides questions. Victory.
irrespective of guilt or innocence,
perches upon the banner of the most
brilliant legal knight" II regret re-
piled Ruddock. that this Is too large.
ly the conditien~ of our courts, but 1t
doesn't absolve me from doing my best
for my client. and do not see how it
can be different" Margaret called this
devil reasoning. and, not being willing
to tie herself to a man who would
clear client who was a rogue, she
broke the engagement.
Twenty years passed. Ruddock was
in his prime and was elected prosecut-
ing attorney in a large city His cleo
ton went with one of those waves of
reform peculiar to our people. 1t was
said that convictions could not be pro
cured on account of political pulls Of
prisoners. Ruddock was put in by the
best men of both parties to see that
rascals were sent to prison or the gal
lows. After his entry upon the duties
of his Office there was perceptible
difference in the amount of crime per-
petrated till at last 1t reached a mini
mum.
The night before Truesdale Scott's
second trial was to come up Ruddock
was sitting in his rooms-he was a
Notwithstanding plans to crush the
banker. Suddenly the door opened and
woman entered. Ruddock looked up
at her in surprise.
1.-The district attorney. l believer
she said in choked voice.
II am"
Tomorrow you are to try Truesdale
Scott?r
yes
81 come to ask your forbearance. Mr..
Scott is in no way a guilty. man.
Caught in a maelstrom as he was
swept along, he grasped methods some
of which were not within the law.
Upon you rests his conviction or ac-
quittal. Is it your duty to make one of
your brilliant efforts against him."
"a lawyers duty is to do the best
he can for his client A prosecutors
duty is to send the accused If possible
to state prison"
"Inexorable as ever"
81 inexorable?"
Yes. You and talked over these
matters when we were but half our
present age am Margaret Cushman,
Truesdale Scott's wife,"
Margaret
Then you spoke of an elasticity
that you said mistook for something