The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-02-07

cials, physicians, hospital attaches, OF
>. others who may sncceed, under the
guise of giving disinterested friendly
advice, In influencing the criminal, the
sick and injured, the ignorant or 9TH
ers, to seek his professional, services,
A duty to the public and to the pro-
fession, devolves upon every member
Of the Bar, having knowledge Of such
practices, upon the part, Of any prac-
titioner, Immediately to inform there
Of, to the end that the offender may
be disbarred. .'.. "' ..
Lawyers should expose without
fear or favor, before the proper tri-
bunals, corrupt or dishonest conduct
in the profession, and should accept
without hesitation, employment
against member, of the Bar; who has
wronged his client The counsel up
on the trial of q case, In which per-
jury has been committed, owe 1t to
the profession and the public, to bring
the matter to the attention Of the pros
ecuting authorities:
"His appearance in Court; should
be deemed equivalent to- an assertion
on his honor, that in his opinion, his
clients case is one proper for judi
cial determination. 81,
1t concludes with this statement, as
to the. lawyers duty in the last analy-
sis: ~ ... ;. .. e
"No. client, corporate or individual,
however powerful, nor any. cause, CIV
IL or political, however important, Is
entitled to-. receive, nor should any
Lawyer render any; service or advice
invilving disloyalty to the law, or dis
respect of the judicial Office which we
are bound to uphold, or corruption of
any person or persons, exercising a
public office. or private trust, or de-
ception or betrayal Of the public. y =
But sboye all, lawyer will find his
highest honor IN deserved reputa-
tion for fidelity to. private trust and
to public duty, as an honest man and
patriot, and loyal citizen" = :; : !
=, In the case Of Price vs.! Moses, 10
Rich. 454, 1t was held that. an attor-
uey Is not an incompetent witness for
his client, because of his interest In
the costs, but that It. was proper be-
fore being examined, he should with
draw from the management Of the
case, have another attorney substitut.
ed In his place, and release his possi-
BILE right to costs. '.....:.:' Z: ::'-'.. ::
In that case the Court used this
language: "The advocate and the wit
ness, should not be mixed up In the
same case, and, in: all instances where
1t Is known, before the commencement
;of a guit, that an attorney Is to be a.
witness, he should. decline the POSI-
:tion of an. advocate This in 80 far as
we are Informed, ia In accord with the
canons of ethios,: announced by all the
writer's upon this subject. :; 81
The provisions of the Code of Laws
In this State touching the subject un-,
der consideration, are the following .
Section 2815: Attorneys, solicitors
and counsellors may be removed or
suspended, and, in aggravated cases.;
imprisoned not exceeding twenty-four
hours, by the several courts In which
they. have been admitted to practice, II
In the presence Of the Court, they are
guilty Of any diaorderly conduct, caus-
Ling an interruption Of business, or
amounting to an open and direct con
tempt Of the Court. his authority, or;
person; but subject to such removal,
they shall hold their Office for life." :.
|. Section 2s16: "Any attorney, solic-
;itor, or counsellor, may be removed
or suspended, who shall. be guilty OF
any deceit, malpractice, or misde-
m eanor"
Section 2s17: IF any attorney. SOL
icitor, or counsellor. shall enter into
any ispeculating practices, by purchas-
ing or procuring to be purchased, any
note or other demand, for the :pur-
pose Of putting the same in suit, when
otherwise the owner or holder there
Of, would not sue the same. such at
torney, solicitor, or counsellor, shall
pay a fine Of one hundred dollars, and
shall thereafter be incapable Of prac-
ticing az such in any Court, until res
tored by the Supreme Court" :, !.
We come now to what we regard as
the most important part Of this :ad-
dress. The subject Of legal ethics Is
usually discussed under the following
heads: Cd Those duties; which the
lawyer owes to the public or common
wealth; (2) Those which are due from
him to the Court; (S) Those which
are due from his professional breth-
rem, and, (4) Those which are due
from him to his client ..
Henceforth, we shall only discuss
those duties, which the lawyer owes
to the public or commonwealth.
His duties to the State or body DO
litic, arise from the fact that he is an
officer in the judicial department,
which Ia one of the three coordinate