Noted Criminal Lawyers
One of the most noted criminal lawyers of the New York bar for thirty or forty years was the late William F. Howe, better known as “Bill” Howe. I have often heard him plead eloquently at the bar, and with great success. Howe was a typical advocate, and put his soul into his client’s defence. He was humorous, pathetic and magnetic before a jury. When he understood the case thoroughly he became a powerful pleader. It is said that he frequently was moved to tears by his own eloquence, and was always able to draw tears from the most unsympathetic jury. He was called by a certain District Attorney “The Weeping Bill Howe.”
A story is told of Howe’s tears in connection with a case in which he appeared for the defendant, before Recorder-Hackett. Mr. Howe had just succeeded by his eloquence, aided by his tears, in obtaining in rapid succession the acquittal of several men charged with homicide. The Recorder was somewhat disgruntled. Howe entered upon the defence of a woman charged with homicide. She was seated with her child on her knees. While Howe was pleading for her acquittal, he was seen to scowl at his client. She gazed at him in blank amazement. Howe moved up closer to her and the baby. Suddenly the baby began to cry. Howe wept as the baby’s screams suddenly ceased. Recorder Hackett looked up with a smile and remarked: “Mr. Howe, you had better give the baby another jab with a pin.”
Stories are told around the Criminal Courts Building of lawyers who received retainers from well known crooks in the shape of stolen jewelry. A lawyer who used to be a frequent visitor at the Tombs defended a crook in return for a diamond pin which he had received for his services. After he had convinced the jury that his client was innocent, he wore the stolen pin in his necktie.
John F. McIntyre is one of the best of our criminal lawyers. He always puts up a strong fight for his client. This is the one thing that appeals to a jury. An intelligent juror can easily tell if a lawyer is simply a “hired attorney” or a real advocate. Moore, who defended “Doc” Kennedy, is another of that kind. When a lawyer appeals to a jury as if he meant it, good results are sure to follow. Among a score of noted New York criminal lawyers might be mentioned Abraham Levy and James W. Osborne.