Salt Lake Telegram | 1923-07-20 | Page 16 | They Must be Honest

) They Must Be Honest A IN INSTITUTING proceedings Bgalnst Ber-A Ber-A frand N. Matthews, which resulted in bis disbarment, the Utah State Bar association sets a wholesome precedent The disbarment of Matthews, who was held guilty of appropriating appro-priating money belonging to a client to his own use, should serve as a warning to other attorneys who may be given to sharp practises. The legal profession rests on public con. fldence and for its own protection it must see that this confidence is not abused. The average aver-age individual who becomes involved In the processes of the law must of necessity trust his attorney, if he were fully Informed of his rights and qualified , to protect . himself in conri, he would not need professional services. The average individual is more or less at sea when it comes to selecting an attorney to advise hini. Permission to practise laws in the courts of Utah should Imply that the attorney is fundamentally qualified for any professional trust. It should be assurance to the general public that the man, above everything every-thing else, is honest and worthy of his hire. it will never be. possible to make one attorney as good 'as another, and yet the public pub-lic can be Insured against shysters who are not adequately schooled In the law and, whal Is worse still, not to be trusted In business relations. The disbarment of Matthews tenders ten-ders scant satisfaction to his client, who loses Ji500 as a result of a misplaced trust. It may, however, save some other citizen from a similar misfortune. . The legal profession must ever be watchful watch-ful of the character of its membership. To retain the public confidence it must keep Its ranks clean, For this reason it cannot hesitate, hesi-tate, to institute disbarment proceedings gainst any arid all who abuse the public confidence or stoop to -methods which the profession as a whole cannot sanction.