5.  The  Defense  or  Prosecution  of  Those  Aecused  of  Crime.— It
is  the  right  of  the  lawyer  to  undertake  the  defense  of  a  person  accused
of  crime,  regardless  of  his  personal  opinion  as  to  the  guilt  of  the
accused;  otherwise  innocent  persons,  victims  only  of  suspicious  cir-
cimistances,  might  be  denied  proper  defense.  Having  undertaken  such
defense,  the  lawyer  is  bound  by  all  fair  and  honorable  means,  to  pre-
sent every  defense  that  the  law  of  the  land  permits,  to  the  end  that  no
person  may  be  deprived  of  life  or  liberty,  but  by  due  process  of  law.
The  primary  duty  of  a  lawyer  engaged  in  public  prosecution  is  not
to  convict,  but  to  see  that  justice  is  done.  The  suppression  of  facts  or
the  secreting  of  witnesses  capable  of  establishing  the  innocence  of  the
accused  is  highly  reprehensible.
6.  Adverse  Influences  and  Conflicting  Interests. — It  is  the  duty  of
a  lawyer  at  the  time  of  retainer  to  disclose  to  the  client  all  the  circum-
stances of  his  relations  to  the  parties,  and  any  interest  in  or  connection
with  the  controversy,  which  might  influence  the  client  in  the  selection
of  counsel.
It  is  unprofessional  to  'represent  conflicting  interests,  except  by  ex-
press consent  of  all  concerned  given  after  a  full  disclosure  of  the  facts.
Within  the  meaning  of  this  canon,  a  lawyer  represents  conflicting  inter-
ests when,  in  behalf  of  one  client,  it  is  his  duty  to  contend  for  that  which
duty  to  another  client  requires  him  to  oppose.
