The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-05-13
EVANS SUSPENDED
BY SUPREME COURT
Decision in Case of Columbia Attor-
ney-ConditiOn Stated by High
est Tribunal For Reinstatement
To PraCtice

DeclSlOn In Case OF Columbia AttOr-
ney-ConditiOn Stated by High
est Tribunal For Reinstatement
to Practice.
The Columbia State.
Barnard b. Evans, attorney of Co
lumbia, was Tuesday indefinitely
suspended and forbidden to exercise
the rights and duties of an ATTORNEY
in the courts of this state or else
where under his license, in a de-
cision by the supreme court of
South Carolina: .--.-..
1T is therefore the Judgment of
the court that Barnard b. Evans be
indefinitely suspended and forbid
den to exercise the rights and du-
ties of an attorney in the courts of
thls state or elsewhere under the
license OF this court, with the privi-
lese, however, to move before this
court for reinstatement after the
expiration of two years upon salts
factory proof that he has not for two
years Immediately preceding his ap-
plication used intoxicating LIQUORS
and that he has reformed his char
acter,' concludes the decision.
The decision of the court was
written by G. A. Woods, acting
chief justice, and concurred in by
Associate Justices Hydrick, Watts
and Fraser and Acting Associate
Justice S. j. Nichols.
The charges of misconduct were
brought against Evans by j. Fraser
Lyon, former attorney general. The
state of South Carolina was repre-
sented at the hearing of the case
Dy wade Hampton Cobb, solicitor
In summing up the court says:
REASON FOR FALL.
How did 1t happen that the re-
spondent fell to this low estate? He
had the advantages of rearing
gentle and refined; he has been en-
compassed from his birth with de-
voted affection; he had q brother
ready to come to his relief; he has
had all his life the stimulus of des-
cent from families on both sides dis
unguished and esteemed, in the past
and now, for manly virtue and pub
lie services. The court is of the
opinion that the reason for his fall
may be found mainly in the fact
that the respondent Is an inebriate
All men know that alcohol has made
liars OF the truthful, knaves of the
honest, and traitors of the faithful
Under its influence the respondent
has In mind and morals staggered
along the devious path that leads to
the abyss.
1t is true that he is now lust as
unworthy and incompetent to per
form the duties of an attorney as
II his offenses were due entirely to
inherent wickedness, and he will
remain so until he changes his
habits and reforms his character
therefore, the court can not permit
him to exercise the rights OF an at
torney or to resume them at any
time in the future until it has had
satisfying evidence of redemption
or habits and character. But there
is dlnerence in degree between
the debasement of the criminal who
plans his crime with deliberation
and that of the weak wrong-doer
whose character has been wrecked
by drunkenness. The probability
of reform Is also much greater in
the latter than in the former case
A license from this court to prac-
tice law is a declaration by the court
that IL has satisfied itself by careful
inquiry and examination that the
licensee is a person OF such attain
ments and character that he may
be trusted by the public Proceed
lngs OF this kind against a lawyer
are undertaken by the court for the
purpose OF ascertaining whether
the lawyer accused is no longer
worthy to bear the courts i'm
prinatur. When the evidence shows
he is guilty, the court can not es-
cape the sad duty of withdrawing