The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-20
CIRCUIT JUDGES
DIsBAR RADFORO
Counsel for the Attorney Says the
Case Will Be Taken To the
Supreme Court.

against whom charges OF dishonesty
and conduct unbecoming lawyer,
were made several months ago, has
been forever disbarred from the prac-
tice OF law.
7. A. K. Weadock, attorney for Rad.
ford, stated to The Times, that he
would at once apply to the supreme
court for writ OF certiorari.
Il do not care to discuss the de-
cision In the newspapers, but / am
confident that II will be reversed he
said.
This decision was reached Wednes-
day morning by Judges Mandell, Muir
! fin and Rohnert, who recently heard
the evidence presented by the friends
of the court, Attorneys Fitzpatrick and
Kent. Radford is severely criticised
for his conduct, especially In his
handling OF trust funds.
The opinion, In part, follows:
For years George w. Radford has
been a very prominent and success
full lawyer in Detroit. In January,
1900, he was appointed and qualified
as executor OF the estate OF John IL.
Oxnard, an estate involving several
thousand dollars. In March, 1908, no
report of his doing ever having been
filed, he was ordered to file a report
and inventory. After considerable de-
lay, this was done In SeptemEa-. This
report, his subsequent examination
concerning 1t and his alleged explana-
tions constitute the basis for the con-
clusion we have reached. AS a skill
full lawyer he knew the duty OF an ex-
ecutor relative to filing inventories
and reports. No satisfactory expiana-
ton has vet been offered as TO why,
covering a period OF eight years, THIS
was never done by one who knew II
was his duty 80 10 do.
Repeatedly since the first report
was called for he has disobeyed the
orders of the probate court made IN
connection with this estate. When
the court ordered bond filed Tor the
protection of the estate, he Declined
to comply with this order, and wheh
the court found there was due from
the estate the sum OF $2l,6ll.34, ne
neglected to comply with the order Oh
the court relative 10 paying TINS sum
into proper hands, and he stu ne
elects so to do.
"The methods he employed In hand
ling this estate leads to the lrreslst'
ible conclusion that his entire conduct
was disgracefully dishonest. Alter
he had been executor OF the estate TOT
two years he put the estate BANK nc
count into his own name, and from
that day to the present drew checks
against this account for any purpose
he saw At, either for his personal uses
or for the1eenefit OF the estate, with no
record kept anywhere as to when a
check was for his personal use or
when Il was for the estates. He Kept
no books OF this estate In which any
thing could be discovered, and such
property as he now claims for the
benefit OF the estate he took apso-
lutely in his own name"
After a detailed description OF MT.
Radford's handling OF the Oxnard ami
Cheesebrough estates, the OPINION
says:
;.His claims are most unreasonable
and improper and his claims, as well
as his accounts, have changed from
time to time In material matters as &C.
casion made such changes appear
necessary. Hits method OF handling
the estate Is explainable only upon
one OF two theories, either he had
framed up a design In his own mind
to appropriate practically the entire
estate TO his own use. or he expected
TO do what he Is now apparently try.
ing to do-charge TO the estate his I'M.
fortunate investments and to himself
his more successful ones.
For an ignorant person, or one I'M
skilled in business to have done as he
did, might be explained. though never
justified. When such a course OF con-
duct has been carried or, however, by
man OF experience, lea ming and
brilliancy, Il cannot be exp, aimed In
any way consistent with honest mo.
tives.
THE practice or the law is a most
honorable profession. While 1t re.
quires skill and learning, IL requires,
perhaps more than any other profess
sion, honesty and integrity.
| II follows from these observations that
we have reached the conclusion that
George W. Radford has disgraced his
profession. and has been guilty OF con.
duct which shows conclusively that he
Is not to be trusted. and is not ut
person 10 continue the practice OF law.
An order may be entered, therefore,
forever disbaring him from practice"