National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-30
THE DISTRICT JUSTICES.
CONsrABLEs on THE ANXIOUS SEAT.

The Courts Not Rcsponsibie-uow the Con-
stables NfRuaze-Their Duties Made
Plain by the Law nlck .ier Azain In the
vocstiye-O. Kin,mcii Explains that A.
J. Thsma. i.ths Sewing sIachine Man
Ja.tice Mention Refuses to Give Time
to n Poor Briehiayer to Get His Wit
ncsses - Huntress Amer Reese and
Gstcheii Again.
Al the Legislative Hail yesterday, notwith- |
standing the rain, the attendance was large AMI |
The Long committee examined several witnesses, |
besides giving Interviews to q number OF the de-
Iinquent constsbles. TIE latter Affect 10 think
that the law oitel by the committee IL dead
letter, the provisions Of which cannot be en-
forced against them. In this they are unques-
tlonably mistaken. The tact that law has not
been enforced 10 certain OF Its requirements
during the past ten years does not invaiidate the
act. II Is the duty Of all ON jer. aud ministers
OF the law to Inform them selves Of their duties
under the law. II they are Incapable Of scquir-
Ing such Information, or fall to d. so through
Incidence or neglect, they are unnt for the POSI-
Hons they occupy, aui should be displaced At
the arst opportunity. On the other hand. those
who know their duties and fail TO perform them
are culplble In q still higher degree, and, Of
course, should DO ct once removed. IL Is mis-
take 10 suppose that It Ia any part Of thu duty Of
the Supreme Court to watch them aud set them
Alright whenever they 60 wrong or keep them
from going sstray. That tribunal would do wen
II IL would simply remove them whenever they
commit unworthy and illegal acts.
The excuse ofthe court, however. 10 that such
acts are seldom brought 10 its notice. Thev are
usually perpetrated against the poor people,
who are unable TO bring them TO the attention OF
the court They are the little. dirty, mean. petit
logging thefts and robberies which can easily be
committed under the color OF authority without
much danger Of exposure, from the fact that the
means Of exposure would involve about ten times
the amount OF the swindle. For instance It costs
about ten doliArs TO get into the Supreme court,
indie pendent Of lawyer's fee; your petty ju,-
"a 10 or Is IN costs with impunity, after he has
learned Just how much money you have ~ your
command.
THIS Information he Ia very sure TO obtain from
you or your household while he Il making his
threats OF suits and levies. Anxiety to avoid the
trouble. expense, and public exposure incident
to suit levy, and sale OF your household goods,
induces you TO lay before your tormentor the
exact condition OF your resources and expecta-
tons. Under pretense Of sympathisng wish
you. he worms from you all these little matters.
While Ia your house he looks carefully over your
| furniture and mantle ornaments, and coolly axes
10 his nina what article OF Article. he win seize
upon and carry away when he gets his execution
or ~ Jd.," rs he calls II, TOR your iterate con-
stable Is quite fond Of airing his Latin law
termsO
Having possessed himself Of all your family
secrets he sklllfully weAves his net In which TO
ensnare you, Ills principal Is pressing him TO
get the money, and he must sue. You are sum.
| acknowledged the debt, and your desire aud de-
termination TO Ray It a. soon a. possible; jude-
ment Is rendered against you either . ey def.ui,
have been led to believe time will be gwen you;
for the constable aud Justice both increase their
/ legal costs by each additional process against
i
After this the proceeding OF the constable is
governed by circumstances. II he fears to enter
-FOUR house on the sly, 10 your absence, and take
OF the exemption law, zs Il not very likely to be
the case, he will recall TO mind the name OF
some party that you have told him you expect
money FROM aud attach It IN his hands or gar
nishee your daily wages. By either process
some 8, 10 SIS will be added to the costs, three
fourlhs OF which Is q .ciean steal" You are
helpless, and he knowslt.
You caunot bulge an inch to stop him. u
would take more money than would have paid
the original debt either 10 replevn the property
| view. Hence you are obliged to submit aud eat
humble pie as the easiest way out OF your dim
Guilty, while YOU constable goes chuckling 70
your creditor over the "sharp" manner In which
be compelled you TO pay an honest debt, and a.
| much more to him In costs, three f0urths OF
which he had no legal right TO charge you; and
II you could be present at the settlement, you
| would ind, probably, that he kept back twenty
, per cent. OF the Original amount rs his commits.
| sion from the creditor.
such are the reasons why the Supreme Court
the appointing power, seldom hears Of the mis.
conduct of constables. Aud the Long commit
tee think they are some OF the very best reasons
In the world why this Investigation should be
thoroughly pursued and It's results spread before
| the court as well As the public. They are backed
, up in this opinion by the press, the court the
, Governor, the Legislature and the people. They
have already accomplished great good In theii
exposure OF the inpositions aud malfeasances
| prHctced In the name OF the law by It's minister's
and will complete their good work by Q report
: recommending their reformation.
Mr.. W. II. Chase, having seen q reference "a
| his name In the REPUBLICAN OF yesterday by
2 Constable Blcksler, In which the latter denied
! having been priyy to the arrangement for at
tachlnQ smiths money In Btcksers hanis
: called on the Committee to make q correct state
0 arete nayement for Cha,e which had proved "a
! ne worthless. and he refused 10 nav him for 4
D nntII he male N Qood. which he prolnlsed TO do
bnt diJ nor D1rnv Ihe Absence OF deponenl
, from Inc civ suit via brought ami Judgment
| TAKEN execution iasuei and a FANNY orgar
| saIzei ami taken aWAy nv COnsta, Blcxsler.
, | The oruan wa nor ma nroneTty az demon ant
| ami an ma retnrn bomr he Called Al BicSsler,,
| once To ace about tho matter Blcksler was moi
| IN and denonent haI acme onyersatIon with !
young man whom he supposei To he Constable
| kiinmeII Tine lattsr wished 10 he Advised when
| ns womb nav the 6monnt OF smlths execution
| n RIessIer as he wished 10 have the money Al.
tacheI In RIekal.r,s hands 10 saisfy balance al
execution he held or controlled AGAINST smlth
While they were taking Dlcksier came Ia and
| ,nas mari IN ina convsrssiion' ami agresd 10 H.,
pair " rno a9 Sban he pacs a Sns mnoav
/ |