Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1958-05-22
| Am a Lawyer
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criminal. any act they see fit.
This is a handy way to suppress
opposition to the government.
OF course some people commit
acts which are criminal in all
cultures pretending to any de.
gree of civilization. Murder,
arson and rape are criminal acts
in any country. A recent excep-
ton to this was Germany when
such acts were committed by a
Nazi.
Frequently, / am asked to de-
fend people accused of these
kinds of crimes. I generally
take the case. The fact that the
act is repulsive to me is inmate
rial. / take this position because
of certain convictions / have.
They may be wrong, but they are
all have upon which to base a
course of action.
/ think that the criminal is so
ciety's greatest crime. l also
think that a child is born limo
cent and that he learns criminal
activity from those around him.
IT seems TO me that the criminal
is a product of society and that
society should not punish its
own creation. However, society
should treat him and segregate
him for the protection of all.
l question the moral right of
the state to punish drunkenness,
or the crimes which stem from
drunkenness, when the state sells
liquor and beer and thus becomes
party TO the forbidden act. ]
question the moral right of the
state TO punish gambling, or its
related offenses, when the Church
sponsors lotteries TO raise funds
and the state gets a illegal take"
from those who bet on horse
racing.
/ fail to see the moral distinc-
ton between placing bet at
Pimlico from placing a bet with
a boolSie. think that the court
does not have the moral right to
pass a death sentence. ! am con-
fused when judge sentences a
murderer to death for having
violated the absolute prohibition
Thou shalt not kill"
The distinction between the two
killings the defendants and
the courts = escapes me, but l
hope that He who handed down
the Commandment makes dis
tinction; otherwise, great mum
Der of judges are going TO be I'm.
pleasantly surprised at the color.
full companions forced upon
them hereafter.
/ am often asked, How can
you defend client known to you
to be guiIty2" Most of the time
the question is asked by some
one with highball in his hand or
by one who is impressed with
his own purity,
To those ! reply, ASK the
States Attorney how he can
prosecute a person known to be
innocent?" Sometimes the ques.
ton actually seeks information,
and is entitled to a serious an.
swer. Neither /, nor anyone else,
can know person is guilty until
a jury says so, and the right TO
appeal has expired.
may think my client will
probably be found TO be guilty,
but under our law he is entitled
to the benefit of every doubt and
of all extenuating circumstances.
He has a right to trial and
this means a right 10 a lawyer.
] find that the majority of people
presume the defendant guilty
until he proves his innocence,
and then they don't believe IL.
This is peculiar trait of human
nature.
suppose the longer and louder
one shouts for the conviction and
death Of person accused of per
verted sexual practice or murdel
the more convincing is the proof
TO himself and the world that he
himself is not a latent sexual
pervert or frustrated murderer.