1. "Why isn't Melvin Honorable?"
Posted by harry on Sep-7th-02 at 6:29 PM

On the official trial transcript the prosecution and defense are described as follows:

"The government was represented by Hon. Hosea M. Knowlton, District Attorney for the Southern District, and Hon. William H. Moody, District Attorney for the Eastern District.  The prisoner was represented by her counsel, Hon. George D. Robinson, Hon. Andrew J. Jennings and M. O. Adams, Esq."

Everyone has the "Hon." in front of his name except Adams. He has an "Esq." for Esquire, at the end of his.  Does anyone know why his status is different?

I am willing to show my ignorance here and say "No, I don't know...BUT"... .. I always thought the designate "HON." meant a JUDGE, and "ESQ". presumed an attorney.

I was thinking it may have something to do with elected offices but it's just a guess. I checked the biographies in Rebello.  Knowlton, Moody and Robinson, either held, or had held elected public office at one time.

Jennings, as Kat pointed out in another post, was Justice of the Peace. I don't know whether that was an elected post or an appointed one.

Adams had held the title of Assistant District Attorney before the trial but had resigned to pursue private practice. That was probably an appointed post.

I was wondering what the designate was as to MAYOR?  Do you know?  It may fill in a gap...may point toward an elected official.
PS:  Justice of the Peace was appointed (or bought?) depending on the population in a district.

Mayors usually get the "Hon." designation. Going to have to check the rules of etiquette on this one.

A contemporary dictionary defines "honorable" as a title of respect for a high government official.

A dictionary dated 1893 provides a definition  of greater elaboration: "It is a title of courtesy bestowed upon those who hold or have held higher public office; governors, judges, mayors and members of the Congress and Senate"

Robinson was an ex-governor. Knowlton was the DA for the Southern District of Massachesetts, and Moody held the same title for the Eastern District. Jennings served in the House of Representatives, and in the Senate.

Adams, the appointed assistant DA, had also served on the staff of the Governor with the title of "Colonel," but I guess they felt his credentials were of insufficient merit to warrant the title of "Honorable."

(Message last edited Sep-8th-02  1:38 PM.)

Thanks Bill, saved me the trouble of researching it.

One point of clarification, for those interested, Jennings served in the State of Massachusetts House and Senate, not the Federal government. Still, these were both relatively high offices.

Poor Adams, it seemed to me, had the heavy duty work to do in questioning the medical evidence.