Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-08-08
hostile atmosphere that renders his
task even more difficult.

hostile atmosphere that renders his
task even more difficult.
Sensations and Advertising.
These columns of publicity are well
coined by criminal lawyers not only
for the effect that it has upon a trial
but also for the personal advertising
and exploitation they get out of it.
They stage many small sensations
which have no effect upon the issue Of
the case simply to furnish their news
paper friends with something to write
about, knowing that they will reap the
benefit in notoriety and prestige as a
smart lawyer.
Although usually liberal with cigars
and other small favors they seldom
attempt to bribe reporters. 1t is not
necessary. The reporter holds his job
through his ability to turn in good
copy. 1t is but natural he should have
an unconscious bias ia favor of those
who furnish him with live stories.
There was a time when these law
yers were satisfied simply to defend
criminals after they were caught, but
now thy go further They advise and
often actively aid them in conspiring
to break the law. Judges and the
states attorney in Chicago openly
charge that the great criminal rings Of
hn nf
lawyers. Yet so powerful is the poll
tical influence of these arch criminals
and so great the timidity of their fell
low members of the bar that they are
seldom brought to book even before
the bar associations which are organiZ-
ed for the purpose of maintaining n
high standard of ethics in the profess
sion.
The bar can only be cleaned up by
its own members. AS long as it's men,
bers. are content to allow crooks to
pect to share the stigma. Those law
yers who have the courage occasional
ly to speak the truth about conditions
fail to receive support from their asso-
ciates.
On the contrary. they are made to
feel the weight of their displeasure-
socially and, when possible, politically.
They are called radicals and hotheads
and are ostracized by the profession.
Under present conditions there are
only two classes of lawyers who dare
to speak out. Those who have reached
the highest eminence in the profession
without furnishing their closets with
too many skeletons and those who
have failed to get anywhere in the
bench and have lost active contract
with actual conditions and the second
have no influence, their complaints be-
ing laid to envy and spleen.
A good example Of the timidity of
the bar associations is evidenced in a
recent case. A district attorney who
has ever been outspoken in his con-
tempt for crooked lawyers, was prose-
cutting a murder case wherein young
and beautiful woman was being tried
for the alleged murder Of her lover.
Attracted by the notoriety attached to
the case, a Jewish lawyer went to the
city with the announced intention Of
taking charge Of the defense. The dis
trict attorney looked into the ante
cedents Of this attorney and when the
latter applied for permission to prac-
tice in the local courts the district at
torney entered strenuous objection.
He charged that the lawyer in ques-
ton had the reputation in his home
city of being a suborner of perjury
and jury fixer. In support of his al
legations he read kilograms and letters
from attorneys, including one from the
former states attorney of the city in
which the lawyer practiced.
The presiding judge referred the
matter TO a committee from the local
bar association. 1t was first announc-
ed that the committee would hold q
public hearing at which the district
attorney was to submit his proofs that
the applicant was unfit to practice.
This public hearing was never held.
The committee asked the advice of
the local bar association to which the
attorney belonged, but it declined to
make any recommendation. Finally,
A.
visitor under the rule of comfy, a
courtesy between states.
Although the attorney was admitted
he had been unmasked and he threw