The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-08-28
Baltimore City Maoistrates.

A movement is on foot among the pro .cticing
attorneys of Baltimore city to abolish tie magis.
trates and the magistrate system of jus ice as now
practiced in the city. The mode proposed for
t his change is by a bill before the next Legisla-
ture abelishing the magistrates oficss-forty-
four in number-and substituting in their stead
two judges-one in the eastern and the other in
the western section Of the city, These two judges
will sit every day as many hours as may be re-
quired for the transaction Of the business before
them. 1t is proposed to give them three thous-
and FIVE hundred dollars per annum and thus
make them entirely ind epeudent in their Offices
One of the chief evils existing at present among
the magistrates is that they work in conjunction
with "shysters'' calling themselves attorneys,
who bring business to them for division of fees
These magistrates decide in favor of the attorney
who brings them the business, right or wrong,
and very frequently the case goes up to the city
court on appeal, where the attorney will make
another fee. In other instances the magistrate
decides a case net according to its merits but in
that way which will be most likely to secure his
costs.
But perhaps the most pernicious practice con-
nected with the magistrates jurisdiction in the
city is that in conjunction with disreputable con-
stables. These constables make it their business
to make arrests on fimsy pretexts and sometimes
on none at all, and subject the prisoner to COM
mitment for which the magistrate and constable
both get fees frem the city. The poor fellow is
sent to Jail or the station house, unless he hap
pens to have money enough in his pocket to buy
them off, Some time ago we were informed by
Baltimore attorney that while he was present
| in magistrates Office one of the Industrious
constables came in with Virginia gentleman in
charge asa prisoner. The Virginian was accused
| by an accomplish of the constable of having
stolen his-the mplice's-dog. The Virgin
| ian had just returned from the Eastern Shore
where he had been on a hunting tour and had
his dog with him. He had not been off the boat
| long before he was arrested. The magistrate
asked what the charge was against him, when
the.accomplice stated his grievance. The Vir-
gilman demonstrated that the dog was his and
that if he could have the opportunity he could
prove it by competent testimony. But he was
without friends in Baltimore and if allowed the
opportunity it would give him considerable an
noyance and expense to do SO. He would be
| obliged to bring his witnesses all the way from
Virginia. The magistrate told the gentleman
that he "had better go in the back room and settle
the naatter' with the accuser. They retired to the
back room and twenty dollars were demanded as
a compromise. This was more money than the
gentleman had about him. A settlement was
finally arranged for ten dollars when he was al
lowed to proceed with his dog. Any gentleman
in such situation would rather pay considerable
blackmail than go to Jail and run the risk OF
having the reputation Of being arrested for steal
ing dog. This sort Of thing is disgrace to
civilization and some steps should be taken to
Prevent it The mode proposed seems to meet
| the demand.