Gaffney

This is a proceeding to review a recommendation of the Board of Governors of The State Bar that petitioner be disbarred from the practice of law.

By a notice to show cause issued in June, 1940, and later amended to conform to proof, petitioner was charged with the commission of acts involving moral turpitude and with the violation of his oath and duty as an attorney. Hearings were had before a local administrative committee of The State Bar at which the complaining client, his wife and others testified. Petitioner, who was represented by counsel, testified in his defense and called several character witnesses, all of whom testified to his prior good reputation for truth, honesty and integrity. The committee found that the petitioner had made false and fraudulent representations for the purpose of deceiving J. I. Lowthian, his client; that by reason of such false representations he had received and improperly converted to his own use $1,050 of the client’s money; and that for the purpose of concealing his misconduct he had failed to prosecute an action instituted on behalf of Lowthian. The committee concluded therefrom that petitioner was guilty of acts involving moral turpitude…