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

English Judge, to one in which the
trial is largely conducted by the chief
counsel for the defense, and those
present in Court are made to feel that
the question at issue is not SO much
whether the defendant violated the
law, as whether the Judge is violate
ing it."
Mr.. Williams In his work entitled
Legal Ethics" pages 216-217, thought
it necessary to use this language:
"Some criminal lawyers set themsel-
yes deliberately to work up defense
when there is none in fact. They be-
come what Judge Gibson calls the
tmercenaries' of the thieves and rob
bers who employ them. They procure
men to dog the footsteps OF Witnesses
whose testimony is supposed to be
most unfayorable to their clients, and
win them over, II possible, into SYM
pathy for the prisoner. II this cannot
be done, they then ply them with
questions, for the purpose OF entangl-
ing them, in web Of petty contra
Jdictions. They provide the friends
OF the defendant with copy Of the
jury list, well knowing their purpose
to corrupt some Of the Jurors, II pos-
sible, so as to secure Disagreement,
If they can not secure an acquittal.
They put witnesses upon the stand to
establish an alibi, or some tact Inn
porant to the defense, whose testt-
mony they are morally satisfied ts ur-N
true; and, in the argument, they press
upon the jury, as unworthy OF belief,
evidence which they do not believe.
and treat as creditable witnesses
those whom they know to be perjur-
ed. - . Their object Ia not
to aid in the just administration OF
the law, but to defeat 1t; and the re-
suit to them by,a certain class OF un-.
scrupulous practitioners, who infest
the criminal courts of the cities, has
driven the ablest and most upright
lawyers wholly out Of this depart
ment of the practice. =, @
= When a community that has been
recently shocked by the commission OF
some great crime in Its midst, sees
the criminal, about whose guilt they
have no doubt, acquitted OF tha of
tense, and turned loose once more mp
on society, as the result OF rhe mala-
droit practices Of his lawyer, It ought
not to be wondered at If the unreason-
ing men and women of that communi-
ty loose faith In the integrity OF the
bar, and come to regard Its members
ais the foes Of good order, and the ac-
completes of felons."r "a. &; IL. 81
Mr.. Archer saw flt to make these
observations in: his, book entitled
ethical Obligations of the, LAWYER
page 1876: "1t is a dishonorable act to
assist a client to secretly violate e1-
listing laws. It is scarcely less dis
to assist him to circumYent
the spirit Of the law, while obeying i
to the letter.
Many wise and Just laws have have been 9.el
rendered nugatory by some crafty
lawyer finding waylwhereby a veal
thy client might still carry on With
impunity the, very business that the
statute was aimed to remedy. Sucn
things cast2thef profession OF the law
into disrepute,: and foster aNppublic
distrust of all laws and judicial insti-;
tutions. - - - =. -
: This contest between lawmakers
and law-breakers Is much the same
as that waged between safe-makers
and safe-breakers." .-~..f.... 2. s.ssJ 4
On the ninth Of June, 1910, Hon.
Pliny L, Sexton delivered an address
on. legal ethics, before the Albany
Law School in which he said" while
the great majority Of the members OF
the bar are 'hfgh-toned, honorable
men-none more so, there are those
on the roster-roll Of attorneys. VINO
discredit the profession, and whose
mdsdeeds have made it's members gen.
orally, objects of suspicion In the
minds of the people. Demonstration
or explanation Of such we'll known
facts, can not be needful.
And too often, indeed, have lawyers
who would scorn to do evil for them
selves, lent the aid Of their powers
for the furthering Of rsprehensibte
purposes of unworthy clients, and IN
them from the consequent
ces of misdoings. . ,...:.r\
There has been so much departing
from the paths of propriety by mem
bers of the bar, that it has cast re-
proach upon the whole profession
and 1t is high time for the legal fra
ternity to purge its conscience, and
drive from It's ranks those Who' at
once discredit their manhood and
their calling. The profession must
purify iteslf, and should be relentless
In 80 doing, both for self-defense and
the good Of society. .
Much has been done OF late years
in the way Of raising intellectual
standards for admission to the learn