Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-28
THE INJUNCTION MANIA.
what IL Means in Certain Mempht,
Circles.

Circles.
There seems to be a mania as to in
functions among a certain class of peo-
pie in Memphis, and especially among
the ignoraRt class of citizens. This ma.
MIA originated in the ofiee-seeking ele
ment which developed its greed for Office
many years ago-that is, since the war.
1t originated in political contests known
as elections, in ballot box stuling and
fraudulent voting, which caused the de-
teated man, who had squandered his
money on professional voters by a sys-
tenn o. purchasing votes and " sailing
the leaders Of the gangs of " ~repeaters,"
naturally to feel sore at being beaten at
his " game, or at being defeated by
fraud. He looked around for a remedy
or some way to avenge himself on his CD.
ponents, as well as put money in his "
purse. The law seemed to be the only
remedy, and there were always attorneys
near by who never asked what side of
the case was preferable, the only ques-
ton being, How much is the feeY> con-
tingent or otherwise. The defeated told
his tale of woe; the lawyer condoled by
suggesting an INJUNCTION bill to restrain
the elect from entering into Office, and
thereby open up a contest. There are
many things which cannot be reached
by an injunction, but there are fewer
things of that nature in Memphis than
in any other part Of the world. We
knew a man in this city who had a bad
tenant; he got out an injunction restrain
ing the tenant from interfering with him
while he was repairing the house. The
injunction was granted and the
man went on, turned the house
around, moved it half a square.
tore the roof off SO that the rain came
through in torrents and compelled the
enjoined tenant to vaeate the building
in hot haste, fearing hat the next move
would be to turn the building upside
down. This last appears in the records
Of the old Chancery Court. This in
junction mania thus came down with a
halo of glory thrown around it until it is
now regarded as the Magma Charta of
liberty by the sore-headed ofice-holder
or ofice-seeker. You can hear this
remedy suggested every day for causes
which would make al cid English equity
Judge turn over in his coffin. A man.
damus is a writ also very popular in DO.
litical circles, but the injunction is the
sine qua non. Some judges grant in.
functions too freely, while others refuse
them when the proper legal and equita-
BILE grounds are not clearly set forth.
The principal thing, however, in the in
business is a liberal affidavit
maker = a fellow who will swear to any
of facts to the best of his knowl.
information and belief; a chap
who has an india rubber conscience, or
no conscience. When the necessary
number Of allegations are sworn to (al.
,hough each allegation may be false in
act the judge cannot refuse to grant
injunction on the necessary bond be-
ng given, and then the only redress of
he enjoined is to file an answer refuting
'ach allegation and have a hearing on a
notion to dissolve the injunction. Hum
ireds Of ~injunctiOns are dissolved in
his manner, a fact which proves that
he law as to granting ipjunctions is too
DOSE and flexible. You can hear men
ak Of injunctions who do not know
such a writ means, unless it means
a w%ell-known ward politician called
t, thing to put one fellow out and
'ut another fellow in by good swearing"
injl notion is, however, one of those
rand, incomprehensible constitutional
of right which, it is believed, is
.uaranteed to every citizen who can
the necessary affidavit and give
he required bond, and that is what an
njunction means in certain circles in
Iemphis.