In re Knott

The Couet.

This is a proceeding to disbar the respondent for making what is claimed to have been a false affidavit in a proceeding to obtain a patent at Washington.

Apparently the affidavit was one which the respondent' may have believed to have been literally and technically true, but which was morally false, and was, in effect, an imposition upon the secretary, with whom it was filed.

We have before had occasion to condemn the practice which is too common, of making affidavits to what the affiant may claim to be the legal effect of facts not stated. They are often simply impositions upon the…