Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-27
WHAT e.SHYsTERo MEANS.
The Word was introduced by "LOng
John wentworth, and he ought TO


rFrom the Chicago Times.
The werd "shyster" has, it appears,
been difficult one to define. Its mean
ing is at present question in court OF
law, and lawyers are wrangling over it
in the settlement of case founded upon
its use. 1t has been attributed with a
variety of applications, but, as yet, none
of them have been fixed upon as abso-
lutely correct. Dictionaries do not con-
tain it, and the time and circumstances
of its coinage have been matters OF ex-
treme doubt. 1t has been considered in
its application to contain opprobrium
and insult, and to be very hard word,
indeed, to use in connection with any
body.
Learning that the Hon. John Went
worth first made use of this word at the
time when he was mayor and proprietor
of the Chicago Democrat, reporter OF
the Times. last evening, repaired to the
gentlemans quarters at the Sherman
House, and was put into possession OF
the full facts regarding the parentage OF
this disputed title. The explanation OF
the circumstances which gave rise to it
shows conclusively that it never has
rightfully borne the opprobrious inter
pretations that have been given it by
some, but is used more in the way OF
playful ridicale.
The following account is IN Mr.. Went
worth's own language:
"Shyster is derived from the English
adjective shy When I was mayor, the
lookup and the police court were under
the courthouse. When we would make
any arrests OF gamblers, harlots, etc,
there were class of lawyers about the
courthouse that would look over the
books and see whose names were regis
tered. They would, unbeknown to the
policemen, get inside and see if there
was anybody they knew who had been
arrested. Then they would climb up
and peck through the CRATES. They
would carry messages to their friends to
come and get them out on special bail.
When we made large arrests these fel
lows were so officious that we could hard
ly tell them from the criminals. Some
times when we had a large number of
arrests, they would steal into the lookup
before the prisoners were sent in, so as
to be better able to get client.
They were always very shy OF the
police. If policeman came anywhere
near them on such occasions they would
run. They were always sitting around,
and in the way, watching, carrying mes
sages, and trying to find out when raids
we're going to be made, and then go and
tell oft before the police could get there.
One day | saw one of these fellows talk
ing to some gamblers who we're arrested
through the CRATES. l pulled him away,
and he sued me for assault and battery,
before Justice Hickey. Hickey gave
Judgment by default for $25. Never
heard what became of the Judgment.
From the police calling these men the
shyest in the world, came the word shys-
ters, given by the German policemen,
who did not know the meaning OF 1t. l
was down in the church one evening, and
one of them came to my pew, and SAID
there was a very nice gentleman had
been arrested with some gamblers, and
wanted to leave with his family who
were at the depot waiting for him, and
couldn't find him. he wanted me to
write an order in the pew for the man S
liberation, or else go out myself and lib
crate him. told him his talk was too
thin, and that he had better sit down
with me and get religion He wouldn't
stay After / got home, l sent for the
policeman in charge of the lookup, and
asked him what the matter was. He
said, just nothing at all, except that a
friend of one of those 'shysterous' kind
of fellows had got into the lookup. This
was the first time l ever heard the word
used.
after that the word shysterous was
frequently used by the policemen. Then
came the word shyster to designate the
whole class of lawyers who are out of a
Job. and do not care where they get it.
1T was never used in a criminal sense.
1t has got now to apply to all that class
Of lawyers who take cases upon the con
dition that they shall have no pay If they
lose, and shall share largely in the prof
its if they win. 1t would apply to all
that class of attorneys who hunt haws