Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-08-31
The Money Brokers and Lawyers.

The Money Brokers and Lawyers.
How TO CArcH GULLs.-Should you be in want
of few thousand dollars, apply to one ose bro
kers whose advertisements make you think money
is as plenty as huckleberries on a mountain You
say, for instance that you want 5000 and ask very
mod stly what he will charge for procuring it 81
presume" says the cunning broker, "you will not
think two per cent too much :" "Wha,," you say,
$500, % You then look down and ponder
moment. Seeing you hesitate, and fearing to lose
the bait he rejoins-" Well, shall get it for you at
one and half" AT this you make a move, and say
that you shall call again. But here he is determined
to nail you by saying that he knows where il is, and
that, as he docs not anticipated much trouble, he
will charge you only one per cent, or $50. To this
yos agree, and give him plan and description of
your pr ,perty, which he enters in his book, and
chuckes at the idea OF his having caught another
gull.
Well, perhaps, after one, two, or three months
hummng and drumming, the broker gives you notice
to produce your papers that the attorney of he len
der may investigate your title. Now the
changes-you call the lenders attorney, produce
your deed and acc ompanyng documents, assure him
that your title is perfectly COED, that you yourself
would not cross the threshold of his door to know
sir, you may be satisfied, bat that will not satisfy
other people so must go into the Investigation,
and in about a week you may call again. NV
this dlly daily throws you beyond the time when
the money was required to meet your engagements,
and YOU are Obliged resort to other to meet
the present contingency.
The day, however, arrives when the attorney
gives you notice to produce your wife, IL you have
any, with view to 60 through the usual examina-
ton and sign the mortgage. Now, while this is pass
ing in his office, he may, perhaps, have one Of his
clerks at the county clerks Office watching lest you
should be rogue enough to have another man pass
mortgage on record before him 0 shame The
mean, distrustful, suspicious men. My son may
know the laws of his country, but never shall he be
a ssional lawyer, nor broker, which is worse
if possible.
But this is not all. The business being completed,
the attorney demands perhaps $50 for his trouble in
the investigation of your title, which done for
the benefit and security Of the money lender, and
not for you Well, Of course, you know nothing Of
your rights, and he spouts little Latin you are
dumbfounded, and pay it, whieh makes him grin from
both sides of his mouth to think he has caught
ther gull Now this assert to be the common
practice of New York, and no doubt throughout the
country, and, of course, particular attorney is
censurabe for it.
We think that the attorney has no more right to
this demand. than a bank or an individual has TO
the cost of protest Of your note the protest being
made for his own security, if it has any value at all
which no bank individual can compel GU to pay,
although the weak and unfortunate in many cases
comply as a matter of course This reminds us Of
DR. Frankln's necdote abont The Frenchman who
took the trouble TO heat poker, and demanded pay
from Ensishman for his trouble because the Eng
lishman refused to pc NIT him To use the poker
his person in such manner the Frenchman felt in
clined.
First VoL Rersed LARS page 700 TTLE-BrOkerase Stock
jobbing, and Parcnbrokers.
SIC. l. Declares that broker shall not take than
hall dollar every hundred dollars for any sum OF
money he may procure or for driving any bargain what
ever, than hiry-eght cents for making or re-
newing bond or note.
src . Declares that every person who shall have paid
more than thus half per cent may the back
within year. Or should he die, his legal representa-
tive do the same
SEC Declares that should the indy OF his repre-
sentative elect for it, the of the
poor may within one ear thereafter sue Tor II and reco-
src L. Declares that the broker shall be compelled to
oath any bill that may be filed against him in
over the lawful half per cent
The only case, IN our opinion, where you are
bound TO pay the attorney for investigating your
title is when he has done and you then refuse 10
take the loan for in this his principal is not
bound to nay, not having lent his money.
Look sharp for the brokers and wherever they
have levied "Ofdrk Wni IN tnis way, get " oach ,
or il the time has not exceeded two years, give IN
formation to the overseers OF the poer (Commis-
sioners Of the Aims House who are bound to bring
them up ia Chancery; and should they here deny
the fact., they next c me before the Grand Jury,
and will re tried for perjury. You yourself are a
com pe,ent witness. These are the fellows who
have been most furious in crying out black mail
But this is not all. After the charge made for IN
vesigatng your title, and when the papers are all
signed before the attorney lets you have the money
he insults you mot intending j. OF courte by re-
que sting you to swear that your property IS your
Ocn. for which oath there ~ no law whatever!
Now this course may take very well with poitroon
borrower F; but a man no knows the rectitude Of
his own intentons, feels himself insulted and de
graded by such a contemplate test The writer OF
this article is counsellor Of the Supreme Court 81
this state, hut Providence has been so kind TO HIM
as TO enable him live without pursuing the prac-
tice Of the law. We are surprised that Counsellor
Anthem, a gentleman Of such fine talents and high
standing, should descend to the same course Of of.
cial practice, and account for IL in other way
than that he has fall in with the common course
of the Bar
The sentiments Of every honorable lawyer should
be,
Mine be the conscience void Of blame
The upright heart, the spotless name.
As the doctrines II Bacon have swept those of
Aristotle from the earth hspe the time will yet
come when the principles of honor will sweep those
Of malpractice from courts. brokers, merchants,
and politicians. But James Gordon would say
Never-never-the lawyers, brokers. and polite ans
will never mend their evil ways. We must. how
ever in Justice say, far knowledge extends,
that Messrs. lie Roy & Robirson, brokers, are an
honorable exception TO the course Just described.