Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-02-05
JAIL REGULATIONS.

The Bbyster business I'm Memphis
The late escape of a number Of pris
oners from the county jail has lead t.
some investigation as to the manner in
which these prisoners, headed by Captain
White, could be supplied with informa.
ton, money, pistols, etc, from outside,
These Investigations, while not develop.
ing anything Of especial moment, have.
however, caused the w%ide.awake Sheriff
Anderson to issue a series Of rules and
regulations as to the government Of the
Jail and to regulate The intercourse be.
tween the prisoners and the outside
world:
Rule No. ! sets certain days for visit.
ors and regulates the issuance Of special
permits for admissions.
Rule 2. Attorneys desiring to consult
with clients will designate the client with
whom consultation is desired, and he
will be brought outside the bars.
Rule 3. No attorney will be permitted
to seat himself outside the bars, calling
up such prisoners as he may wish to
consult with, such practice being in the
nature Of running and drumming for
business, and unfair to those who will
not descend to it.
The last rule is intended to cover such
practice heretofore INDUCED in by GER
tain attorneys who stands outside the
bars and called the roll Of such prison
ers as he saw fit to interview, and this
practice developed q system Of running
and drumming for business, a thing sb.
horrent to the true lawyer who feels a
pride in his honorable profession, and
who is disgraced by the cheek and NAL
practices Of the "shyster." Think Of a
person protesting to be a lawyer
walking into the Jail and lounging
up against the iron bars and indulging
in the following conversation with a
prisoner who is walking bis weary rounds
within: Come over here, | want TO
talk to you" The negro thief lounges
up. What are you in fer?' I'm
excused Of taking q coat, boss" Have
you got any money!" mo, boss"
Have you any friends who will help
you, aud pay a lawyerY' No, sir"
Well, I'll see you some other time"
And 80 the shyster goes on picking out
his men until he secures a client whe
has a few nickels. This kind of legal
practice is disreputable, and is severely
and justly condemned by every respect
able lawyer. Not only is the county
jail haunted by these legal ghosts,
materialized into shsrpers and shysters,
but they also haunt the sacred precincts
of the Recorders Court. When an
unfortunate was arrested his name, age,
ETC., with the amount Of money found
upon him, was generally put down in
the record book. The shyster soon fol.
lowed upon his track, and after reading
the record and discovering how much
money was to his credit, be boldly called
to see his client 1.-THE prisoner) and gen
orally secured the amount so credited.
Next morning a little bogus defense
before the Recorder wa the quid pro
quo furnished by this disciple Of Black.
stone. Now this plan is changed, and
the amounts Of money found upon
prisoners are not designated upon the
record book, the authorities hav.
ing interfered to prevent this
legal plumber Of prisoners. Horrible
tales are told by the station-house author.
tiles az to the practices Of these limbs Of
the law. Some have been known to take
a fee Of fifty cents, others to get money
and never defend the case. Aud SO on
through a long train Of unprofessiona
conduct. We have been intending 10 do
justice to this subject for some tine,
having been personally cOgnizant o.
many unprofessional acts committed by
these fellows, and we thank Sheriff An.
derSon for breaking the ice, and hope
that The bar of Memphis will adopt some
rule so as to draw a clear distinction
between the learned and honorable law.
yer aud the bird Of prey known as the
shysler."