The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-29
HOLDS ATTORNEY CULPADLE
IN NATTER o. rs DOLL Ans
AND 20 CENTS.
IIaF Association Committee went after
Missing WItnrss and Got IIim and the
Missing WBness PtAyed Hob with the
defence Put ln by the NttOFnes

DeGeRec Put ln BY the Niorne'.
David Lsventritt Apo nted referee by
the Appellate Division Of the Supreme
Court in disharment proceedings brought
by the Har Association against David
W. RockmOre. reported yesterday that
Rockmore had been found guilty ct fraud .
malpractice and gross unprOfess ional
conduct in first converting to his own
uss money given him by q client 70 be de-
posted in court and then trying 20 put the
blame on a clerk Rockmore ~ under
suspension for rejecting ON the character
Of Municipal Justice Tierney in an affidavit
ON appeal from Justice 'Tiernevs decision.
in which he aaid that his opponent had won
because he had the reputation u he'rg
toe Attorney General Of that court.
In May 1893. Hartwell stafford a
publisher gave ROckmore a retainer u
SIS and engaged him 10 open a default
judgment in a suit brought against stat
ford 10y one Randall. Counsel for Randall
agreed 20 have the default opened Il Rock
more deposited in court the amount Of the
Judgment and costs. a total OF SI2s.27
The money should have been deposited
on or before June ? Stafford gave
check for that amount TO Rockmore on
June I and it was Cashed hut the deposit
was never made Stafford knew nothing
about II until july NJ. when he was served
with an order in supplementary pro-
ceedinEs A day or 10 allerward Rock
more sent him check for the full amount.
bat this check was protested. On Angus,
7 ROcl6mOre sent Stafford tiOO in cash
and various other Sums. including the
SIS retainer. aud on August 10 fi327 was
still due
stafford sent a letter giving a history
Of tho case 20 the grievance committee
Of the bar Association and tho letter was
returned 10 him 10 be sworn TO. Before
this had been done ROckmOrs had sent
stafford a check for the balance On
August ~ RockmOre was notified hv the I
AaF Association OF the charges against
h i'm. A second communication was sent
70 him on August Is. ROclmOre didn't 4,
reply until September - and explained I
that he had bsen under treatment for hts 4
eyes and that he had had no opportunity I
10 reply earlier The referee reported 4
that this statement was untrue
Before this tame or on September 10 /
Stafford had written 10 the grievance 1
committee that hs was satisfied that the |
trouble wan caused by a clerk In Mr. 4
Rockmors's Oliice and through no fault 4
Of RockmOre He said the money had l
baan refunded and wanted the charges
When he appeared before
the grievance committee Rockm0rs said
that his clerk. Joseph Jacobson. had
taken the money IN make up losses az
cards. that Jacobson had made a full
confession 70 Stafford and that the slOO
paid 70 Stafford came from Jacobson
when he confessed.
The referee remarks that throughout
the proceedings there was a consistent
attempt BY witnesses % shield ROckmore
which failed through tho unexpected
appearance a. Jacobson a. a witness
The hearings had been nAarly concluded
Whan after q three months search con
Quoted by the har Association Jacobson
was found IN PittsbuFg He was called
~ q witness half an hour after he reached
town 0ns day, and bic sudden appearance
caused Hockm0Eo 30 ash for a. immedi-
lte ndiouFnTnent because BE- he'd a pruaa-
Ing enRagamont. The referred wOnldn't
adjourn the hearing, and davidson testi-
red that Hpckmiore'a story was false in
almost every respect and that he had never
seen Stafford.