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-A. CARD.The lollowiug communication was handed us i.y Mr, Jo!111 W. I.cwis wi'h request to publish:Editor of tKe Clarion:— I have read with surprise and some i mils nation your editorial ciiti-eisinjj my course a* one ol the a ttorneys for the accused i.i State vs. Bio win on trial under a hill of Inri cnuent for murder. I eoutider that you l'ntvo transcended the limits »f your prerogatives ?.$ a puhliojouriiAlisr in undertaking ro^yensnre mo for tiling a technical plea in eofjrt. ba-ed upon the Constitution of the United Hiates stud the laws .f The State of Louisiana especially when it is admitted hy the Distrlet Attorney that the plea is well foumleo and must be sustained.In undertaking to defend that accused party «iioso life or liberty whs at slake, my duty and oj'.ii as an attorney at law obliged me to interpose in hl6 behalf every legal plea tliar would aid In his defense, and no man w tli a proper appreciation ol right, or the least knowledge of professional ethic-* would eonden 11 me for so doing. As far aslkuow.no one iu ihis State ever heretofore attempted to bring into question the conduct of an attorney tor filing that plea in behalf of In a client except, yourself and your onnonymons correspondent who signs b lOftfdf Always a White Mali.”Jr. tiling the plea in question. : am simply following ihe example of no less eminent Democratic authority than Judge Story ar.d lion. P. S. l’ogh of Acadia, of Judge Wilkinson and H011. J. C. Eagan of lied Liver, of that hrilliant young advocate of tho New Orleans bar Thomas F. Maher, as you will see if yon take the trouble to reter to the fol owing cases reponod in our State reports: State ot' Ln. vs. Joseph, 43 A.. 803; State of I„t. vs. Murrv, 47 A., 1424, aud the ease, recently reported from Acadia, but not yet published, wherein Hon. P. 3. Pugh aud Judge Hampton Story appeared as counsel for The accused. ’Thc.Suprcme Court in the case ol the State of La. vs. Murry nlmve referred to, 111 passing U|on this pica look occasion to eompllment Mr. Maher In tho following words:Having examined this ease with the care required involving rlie ille of a human being. «•© have reached tho conclusion that there jh no error in any of tno rulings defendant has cohrp aUicrt of. Km wo. cannot refrain from applauding The zeal and vigor with which counsel for the defend’*nt has defended the accused.”I do not send you tins explanation by war of excuse or explanation, for I nnikw neitfier. Though I did not originate or frame the plea referred to. I joined jii it and assume u«y full measure or responsibility for so doing; Iu the pursuit of my profession I will eonllour to be guided bv my own sc. 11 so of right and duty to niyclient, undeterred l»y :oar of such criticism xud appeals to prejudice as appears 111 file editorial in question and tlui conimmu-cation of your correspondent above alluded to.JOHN W. LEWIS.
Newspaper Details
Opelousas Courier
Opelousas, Louisiana, US
Sat, Nov 09, 1901
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 05 Jan 2025
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