216 A.D. 173 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1926
The petition charges that Benjamin A. Smith, referred to as the respondent in this proceeding, was admitted to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in the State of New York at the February, 1907, term of the Appellate Division, First Department. He used the name Benjamin A. H. Smith at the time of such admission and since that time he has practiced as an attorney.
The answer of the respondent states that he was convicted of a misdemeanor of petty larceny on the 18th day of April, 1925, and sentenced to serve fourteen months in the New York County Penitentiary. This conviction being for a misdemeanor and not a felony does not automatically require the disbarment of respondent as provided by section 477 of the Judiciary Law. (Matter of Robinson, 140 App. Div. 329.) There are minor infractions of statutory provisions classed as misdemeanors, conviction for which would not involve moral turpitude and require drastic action of the court. This misdemeanor, however, does not come within that class. A conviction of a member of the bar for petty larceny of thirty-five dollars evidenced by obtaining the money by the giving of a worthless check upon a bank in which he has no account demonstrates his unfitness to remain a member of the honorable
The respondent should be disbarred.
Dowling, Merrell, McAvot and Burr, JJ., concur.
Respondent disbarred. Settle order on notice.