Lawyers Get No Fee

Article taken from The Mansfield News, April 11, 1911

Columbus, April. --- The joke is on John C. Milner and Oscar Newman, the two Portsmouth attorneys appointed by Judge A. C. Blair to investigate whether C. Homer Durand, attorney for the Personal Liberty league, was in contempt for what he said about Judge Blair. These attorneys get no pay for their services, in spite of the fact that Judge Blair issued an order directing that they be allowed $75 for finding out that Durand was not in contempt for what he said about the judge. Attorney General Hogan today handed down an opinion that such a payment would be contrary to law and he advised that the money not be paid. In giving this ruling at this time. the attorney general insists that he is not taking any advantage of the day. He said that each barrister performed this service as amicus curlae, which is latin and means as a friend of the court, and that the honor of doing this is the only compensation each gets. The ruling was given to the prosecuting attorney of Scioto county. It upholds the refusal of County Auditor Fred M. to pay out the $75 as called for the Judge Blair's order.