John Marshall Law School - Abstract Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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M lawyer J broad - fk In January of 1937 while on a Meditteranean tour I visited Syria and Lebanon which had, the Sep- tember before, signed a treaty with France by which they were to be granted independence in 1939. Syria was before the great war under Turkish rule. After the war France was selected as Mandator) ' and a Syrian Mandate was declared by the Council of the League of Nations. The people of Syria were poor but happy under Turkish rule. Under French rule they have been more progressive and as a result, they have encountered the problems of taxation, new customs and governmental policies. The political and social life of the Middle East has for centuries been unstable and inse- cure. The Easterner is a good thinker and phil- osopher but in contrast to the inhabitants of the upper European countries, he is a dreamer and indifferent to system and systematic progress However, the Syrians have been able to assi- milate the teachings of others and under the guidance of France many of them have been found adaptable, and capable of successfully participating in the responsibilities of govern- ment. Today Syria presents an example of a well-mannered, educated, industrious people, well on its way to being a successful independ- ent State. It is natural that on a visit to any foreign land, the attention of a lawyer should be at- tracted not only to political and social condi- tions but also, and especially, to the courts of justice and their procedure. My observation was limited to the court of Beyrouth, one of the capitals and a seat of the high courts. The palatial court building is a two stor ' stone oval structure with huge arches leading into an in- ner rectangular courtyard. Entrance may be had to the surrounding chambers through the spacious openings between large columns. Some of these chambers are used as courtrooms and some as Judges chambers. At least one window in each courtroom opens on the courtyard and is equipped with a. shutter but is not glazed. The Clerk, or Secretary, has his desk on the same level as the Judge ' s bench but his seat is some distance away and next to the window. Witnesses are summoned by the Clerk or his assistants calling through the win- dow into the court ' ard which provides a con- venient waiting place for the participants. At a desk in the corridor sits a man who is well versed in languages, his duty is to help the ig- norant who cannot read or write and who have no lawyers. A George N. Cardozo Class of Feb. 1936 Judges and lawyers wear dignified black robes of the same kind. The lawyers are not as active in the con- duct of the trial as they are in the United States : the participants are questioned directly by the Judge. They are allowed to say anything pertinent that they wish without in- terruption. The Lawyers remain in the background, their main function 13 the drawing of pleadings. After testimony is taken and the judge has made a finding, the participant is asked to swear to the truth of his testimony upon the Bible represent- ing the faith he fo ' Iows. There is no hurrying in the conduct of the trial; participants are given plenty of time to talk and there is an air of genuine fairness in the adjusting of dis- putes. I was introduced to the President of the Court of Appeals, which is composed of three judges. We met in his chambers and, by means of an interpreter, v ' e exchanged views. He is a very intelligent man about forty-five years of age, speaks French and Syrian fluently. After we had some delicious Turkish coffee he per- sonally conducted us through the building, a most gracious host. He invited me to be pres- ent the next day at a criminal trial, which was to take place in his courtroom. The trial proved to be very interesting. In Syria any young man who is to be married tells his parents of his intention. If he selects the girl himself his parents consult the parents of the girl and negotiate the wedding; if he does not choose his own bride his parents choose for him. The young lady is frequently not con- sulted. And so it came about that a young mountaineer had selected his bride to be, but she was in love with another. The lover and the prospective husband met, argued, fought, knives vere drawn and both were seriously wounded. The lover died and the prospective husband was now the defendant in a murder trial. There was testimony that the murdered man drew his knife and that the defendant was obliged to do the same in self-defense. The young man was freed and, I suppose, went back to his mountains, pleased at the change that justice and circumstance had wrought in his life. I was impressed by the competency and hard work of the judges and the dignified conduct of counsel. My stay in the country was short and I did not have time to inquire into the mat- ter of fees, retainers, and the financial position of prospective litigants, therefore I cannot ad- vise any of my fellow alumni regarding possi- bilities in practice in Syria. Page Ninety-five

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Congnitulations to M. A. Rush, semi-iinalist in our Squash Tournament. It was only a year ago that he was a novice. The reason he sat in the front row is not tor knowledge but to rest his feet. The two best heads — of hair in our class arc Bernard B. Jacobson and Bigelow Boysen. Bill Louder Dreycr missed his vocation — should have been a cartoonist — the notes in his hook are expressed in pictures. If he can draw pleadings as well as he does cartoons, what a lawyer he will be! Ben Kanter is considered one of the leading pianists on the air — he is also Music Director of W.J.J.D. Herbert E. Schroeder is in his ninth year in the legal department of Standard Oil Co. Bill Powell IS not a screen star, but is that handsome chap who once recited in Contracts. The reason J. Wilfred Olson, George E. Tver- sen, Franklin Chino and Milton Lorens sit in the front row is that they want to see that which IS usually over their heads, which is very little. Congratulations to Bert Hankel. He ' s the proud father of a bouncing baby. . ' James Kemp is a newspaper magnate on the South Side. Whenever in doubt about court procedure, see Lester Goldstein; he is an authority. The reason Irwin Sedlacck chews gum is not bad breath, but the noise keeps him awake. Just because this is a law school is no reason for Jess Wagner and Marion Filson, Louis Cer- mak and Miss Freida Spencer, G. Ray Dahl- berg and Miss A. Keller, A. Gorton Smith and Ruth King, to go a-courting. Bernard Sweet and Maurice Adams are cou- sins, but aren ' t bragging about it. Frank J. Friedman, the Valentino of our class, claims he feels great because he gained an ounce since he started law school. He will be married in July. If Albin V. Punar wonders how he looks when he is asleep in school, let him take a good look at the handsome face of — Abe Lincoln. Arnold E. Hoeft, after he passes the bar, will go back to his favorite hobby — racing pigeons. % Charles Seda is the Blond Bomber of Ber- wyn, and has a double in Leo Johnson. Arthur Zimbroff will be m.irned in June — congratulations. ♦ Raymond Williams is a law clerk for Lloyd Heth and only received a G-plus in evidence, which goes to prove that politics doesn ' t work in our school. You have never really enjoyed a class unless you have sat near George B. Boardman and listened to his humorous interpretation of a professor ' s lecture. When you meet a fellow with a big smile and outstretched hand, that ' s Ben Schneider. He recently bought a sailing boat called the Ola. Watch out for the law firm of Amedco A. Yelmini and Robert Bellamy, if conscientious- ness is an omen. No wonder George D. Shaffner is such a bright light. He is employed by the Common- wealth Edison Co. Have you ever tried to figure out what the X stands for in Henry Dietch ' s name? The secret ' s out — it stands for Xerxes. Page Ninety-four

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£ast ill and Testament (Or Strange Interlude in the SubConscious Mind of a Senior Class). We, the Senior Class of this the most Honor- able John Marshall Law School being of sound mind and disposing memory (Conclusive pre- sumption, having passed 111. Govt, and the like), and realizing the uncertainty of this frail and transitory existence (and of ever getting out of this hole!) and desiring to make disposition of our worldly possessions (after paying tui- tion?) do make, ordain, publish, and declare (Whew!) this to be our last will and testament (Mr. Hayes, what have we omitted?). 1. We hereby direct that Ed Lee, Jr., as administrator of our estate tear up, destroy, convert and dissolve all our just (?) debts and pay our funeral bills as soon as possible after our decease (who wouldn ' t pass out, when he gets a diploma from this place) . 2. We hereby give, devise and bequeath: to the lucky hombres who will get corralled into Wilkie C. (for cowboy) Ham ' s evidence courses: 1 pair of hip hoots; 2 six shooters; one plug of tobaccy and a Yippee-e- . 3. To the unsuspecting wretches who re- main alive after Illinois Government : a Palm Beach suit and a fan. 4. To the future class in real property: the most damnable conglomeration of mental cal- isthenics and ballistic tests that any bunch of stooges ever used a pony on. f. To the poor prisoners who are in line for the loving and caressing Max Liss and his delightful Landlord and Tenant: Fifty (fO) pages a Night! (Your Own briefs!) 6. To the undeserving parasites who will be privileged to sit in on Reuben (What a Lover) Freedman ' s nightly shows: 1,000 laughs and a new appreciation of humor. 7. To the Common Law Pleaders: a Latin dictionary and two aspirin tablets. 8. To the Cocky young brutes who will swagger into future interests secure in the knowledge that they are nearing the big day: a copy of Laugh, Clown, Laugh , a good job in South America and plenty of firewater to help them forget. We give, devise and bequeath to all those pink cheeked illusioned young things known as Freshmen: All the rest, residue, and remain- der of our estate namely, four years of Pur- gatory (some dare to call it lower) which strangely enough they will regret leaving after all the burning and roasting are over. Witness whereof our hand and seal on this graduation day, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred Thirty-seven, A. D. THE SENIOR CLASS Page Ninety-six