, 1874-04-29
1NJUsfICE IN JUSTICE COURTS.
Landlords Cheated Ont OF Tl1ctr Eeont
BY RAG1ket{ ,J11rIeMs


by Packed .J1lriex.
This paper has frequently caElad attention to
the disgraceful mnnner In which law is doalt
out III what nte called "Justico Courts" not 10
much through tho Justices themselves, who arc
generally good men, but On account Of tho 1u-
rors who aro inlpanoled in those cases where a
jury trial is demanded. INSTANCES have fro
quontlY been given Of tho way In which,
by private arrangement betweon Constablcs
and complainant or defendant, bought
up jury has boon impaueled, and a
verdict rendered contrary to Law and to equity,
Most OF these casos which have beeu thus main-
tained relate to petty suits between employer
aud employed, or between individuals whore tho
amount involved was very small. But several
cases have recently happened which are Of so &C.
rious nature. and calculated to do such griev-
GUS injury to tue business OF Chicago, that thoy
doeorve special attention.
Two or three years ago several individuals
began In this city the custom OF building cheap
houses, which thoy sold upon monthly payments.
Tbia system was ono which hold out great nd
vantagcs to mechanics or people Of small In
comes generally, who were thus enabled to
DUY A HOUSE
With What they would otherwise have spent In
rent. They contracted with the owner to nay a
certain sum Of S20 Or $50 or $40 a month until
tho whole amount had boon paid, tho owner
giving them contract for deed ut tho tinao tho
nnal payment was made. BY tho tornss Of theso
contracts 1t MAS stipulated that, in caso default
was made in any monthly payment. Tho pnr-
chnBor should DO liable to penalty Of twice tho
amount Of tho payment for each month that he
continued in default. For year or two every
thing Went OH well. Capitalists from abroad n,,-
pea1ed, invested large Gums Of money in the pur-
chase Of unimproyed land and tho erection OF
these louaeB. aud tho purchasers, as general
thing, paid With exemplary promptnoss Within d
comparatively recent period, however, some Of
these men have fallen into the hands of elysters,
who have persuaded them TINT there was d loop
hole IN the contract large enough to ouable
them to sl'p through, and keep from paying any
rent, although retaining the houses for all time
pron.'Hedt provided he was paid Il fec OF from
= - THE LAWYERS ADVICE
to his client WAS very simple: " Stop paying"
Accordingly they stopped. The first step Of
Il TIE % owner n ro was to send notice to
paid no attention to 1t, aud the notice WIS re-
paated. Since it Is not to tho interest OF tho
owner to press the purchaser, ho keeps OH wat-
s 70 Ss1eq IL as he an dooa
open to him, Ho can begin suit direct in tAo
Circuit Court OIL his contract. The only ob]cc-
tion TO doing that is that, owing to the crowded
condition Of tho docket, It Will tako him about
ho Gnu briug SUIT IN q Justice Court On tho
contract to recover tho amount OF the peualy,
Even though, after getting tho verdict III u Js.
tico Court, tho defondAnt Should appeal the caso,
guarantees tho complainant against loss but
THE CHEAT DIFFICULTY
about suits in Justice Courts iH the fact tint 1t
IL impossible for o lanllotd to get
its adyeraarioa and brlbeai the Constable, and
through him, tue turY This inability to sccnro