Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-14
LAW TESTS FRAUD
REVEALS GENERAL
PROBE INTO RUSES
Supreme Court to Hear
Charges of Aid to
Students
LAWYER FLEEs CITY


bar. AS soon as this evidence is in shape
| u will be presented TO the Supreme Court.
Announcement Of the investigation was
made by Charles L. McKeehan secretary of
the State Board OF Law Examiners, today
after It became known that Edwin X
Adams, young lawyer of this city. had i'm
personated G. 6. A. BaldL Jr City Coun-
Gilman. In his examinations for admission
TO the bar.
Since charges were made against Adams.
who had an Office in the Real Estate Trust
Building. he has left the city. Bald has
made a clean confession as to the part he
played
Several weeks ago" said Mr.. McKeehan
Il received Information ot improper con-
duct on tho part of a number Of persons
Ia connection with the examinations con-
Quoted by the slate Board of Law Exam
iners, | have been investigating the whole
matter carefully. and when tho evidence
IS In shape it will he submitted to the
board and Supreme Court. Meantime I do
not desire TO discuss the matter. As for
this mornings publication regarding Mr.
Bald and Mr.. Adams, 1t did not emanate
from me-"
II was reported today that the Law AS
sociation OF Philadelphia would take up
the disclosures in the Bald case at its
next meeting, to be held in the early part
of October.
Bald is member of Common Councils
from the Second Ward and candidate for
the State Legislature. He is the son of
Chevalier c. c. A. Baldi. prominent bank
er and leader In IN Italian colony. Young
Bald is said TO have declared that Adams
had told him 1T was a cinch TO become a
! lawyer"
| EXAMINED IN PITTSBURGH
Baldi who is 26 years old and one Of the
| youngest men who ever sat in City Coun-
| ellis, attended the Law School of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania for two years fol-
lowing his graduation in 1910 from the Gen.
| tral High School, where he was president
| OF his class and an honor student. He is
now associated with his rather I'm the
| banking business OF c. c. A. Bald &
| Bros. 92s South Eighth street
II is alleged that Baldi accepted the serv-
| ices OF Adams after he had made several
unsuccessful efforts to pass the difficult
examinations imposed by the State ex-
amlners. Because of the fact that both
| adams and Bald were known locally IL
was necessary for Adams to go to Pitts
| burgh, where Thomas Stephen Brown
western member Of the board, conducted ex-
..minations. Baldi managed to get permis-
| sion to be examined" in Pittsburgh al.
though he naturally would be expected to
appear before the examiners in this city.
1t is said the reason he gave was that
he travelled for his fathers bank and would
be in Pittsburgh at the time of the ex-
aminations.
FAILS IN TESTS
According to both the allegations and
Baldfs admission. Adams said 'It was a
common thing" for young men TO gain ad.
mission to the bar In this State by sending
into the examination room a man who could
answer the questions correctly. Baldi said
ne paid Adams nothing. although he admit
| ted that Adams said the financial part
could be fixed up after the thing was
over" But I'm both the examinations Ad-
ans failed to pass.
Vito Bald, brother of C. c. A. Baldi
Jr., said today that his brother was tutored
by Adams.
MY brother said that Adams suggested
this plan for the examination" said Vito,
He wanted TO please my father by passing,
so he willingly agreed 10 the proposition.
But my father or none of the other mem.
bers of the family knew anything about IT,
Its all a great surprise to them At the
offices Of the Bald banking establishment
II was learned that c. c. A. Baldi, Jr. was
out OF town.
Bald registered as a preliminary law
student on December 8, 1912 He passed
the preliminary examination successfully
This examination embraced general aca.
demic subjects. on January 21, 1914 he
took out a certificate for final exarnina.
tion From that date forward he faced
the necessity of passing the rigid legal ex-
animation before achieving his ambition to
become a lawyer.
After obtaining permission to be exam.
ined I'm Pittsburgh, Bald and Adams went
to that city In December Bald last night
declared that Adams paid his own ex.
penses there. Bald remained in Pittsburgh
during the two days examination, but did
not appear in the room where Mr.. Brown
was conducting the tests.
So carefully, II is said, was the scheme
operated that Bald had Adams sign the
certificate for final examination in order
that the handwriting upon that document
and the handwriting upon the examination
papers would be Identical.
SECOND ATTEMPT
The December examination was a defeat
for BaldPs hopes. But Adams persuaded
him that he could pass the next examina-
ton I'm July. Bald again arranged with
the State board for permission 10 be ex.
amlned in Pittsburgh.
Together they made second journey
there. Again Adams went into the exami-
nation room as c. c. A. Bald, Jr, and
again the examination marks were too low
to permit OF Baldi's admission.
Shortly after this second failure a mis-.
spoken word resulted In the detection Of
the scheme by members OF the State Board
OF Law Examiners. who conducted an In.
vestigation II is said that II was neces.
sary for Mr.. Brown 70 come 10 Philadel.
phia 10 look at both Bald and Adams be.
fore Il was certain that there had been an
actual impersonauon.
Bald admitted last night that he had
visited the Offices OF Charles L. AfcKeehan.
secretary OF the State Board OF Law Ex.
aminers, where he made full confession
Of the whole business and implored Mr..
Mckeehan TO guard his secret He further.
more said he had offered 20 write ana sign
full confession as well as a written pledge
that he would never attempt to enter the
bar OF this or any other State in the Union
II his name could be shielded But II was
regarded by members Of the State board as
absolutely imperative that steps be taken
to inform the Court Of the conduct OF
Adams
Adams then appeared with confession
and an appeal for another chance. lie not
only promised. but made II good. that he
would leave the city at once go into bust
ness In another city In the West forget
entirely his legal aspirations and never
appear before any court again.
Bald Is a handsome youth and is en-
gagged 70 be married In November.
John Adams father OF Edwin X Adams.
said last night that he knew nothing OF
the affair. but confirmed the statement that
his son had gone West. He said he did not
know IN what city he had located Adams
IL unmarried.
Edison 10 See Fleet Practice
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