The New York herald., 1877-09-09
"SHYSTERING."
Important Action Toward Purifying
Police Courts.
HOW PRISONERS ARE FLEECEO
A New Method Which is Likely to Interfere
With the Business.

Tho disrraceful system O! "shystering,n so long
prevalent In many OF the police courts New York,
yesterday received the most seriou- back has
ever encountered the aggressors being the Board CT
Police Commissioners and their weapons a we'll
planned system OF rules and regulations governing the
action of the force with regard TO prisoners.
Supplemented to the same are special n-
structions and q carefully devised method Of
detecting any iniractons. Every discovery
OF violation will be followed by the instant dismissal
ii the offender is member OF the police. II the
offender is 'lawyer'' steps will be taken with the
proper authorities have him dsbarrcd. Tne system
is Will eventually the effect OF Riding
the legal profession OF many unprincpled sharks and
OF throwing proper safeguards around unfortunate
prisoners 10 them IRON being eeced and swipdcd
'sHysTERISG" ANALYSED
''Shysterng' as science is but little understood
outside the pale OF its actual practitioner To the pub
lie large the word impresses vague meaning of
mode adopted by an unprincipled and incompetent
lawyer OF getting from his unfortunate client an ex.
orbiant fec and giving il return nothng-a species
OF obtaining money under false pretences But how
the shyster lays his plans and gets the unsuspeciing
victim in his tolls and how he manages
to bleed him when there secrets
OF the "trade' kept we'll guarded by the
ring The FIRST great object s OF course the
pr soner as a client. For this purpose the shyster"
whose office generally his hat or in neighboring
barroom lays wait near the police court nanked by
one or TWO OF his trusly runners He sees an officer
IN the distance coming TO court If he knows the
officer and the latter susceptible to his influence all
is we'll He Is allowed 10 converse with the prisoner
The latter IS much excited about his arrest State
Prison looms up before his eyes in awful prominence
The charge perhaps, is pellt larceny. The lawyer
nuclu a.
my TREND; very serious indeed You had better get
lawyer right away"
.'But don't know any lawyer" answers the pris.
oncr, quaking.
sThat's unfortunate. Now, If it wasn't for that big
forgery that must argue in the Supreme Court
this afternoon would take hold OF your case myself;
but as it is, Pm afraid couldn't undertake it.'
The sSuprcme Court" makes deep impression on
the mind OF the prisoner
''Couldnt-coudn't you, he tremblingly asks, ''ar.
range to defend me? on, please do will give you
every cent I've got IN the world.'
III don't know as | could manage IT, Pm afraid my
fees are above your means How much have you
gol?'
The prisoner fumbles in his pocket and digs out
81 60 in small change. The "snyster's" eyes twinkle.
Ho takes money, remarkng that his usual retainer
is 500 but l.wyer ougnt always TO be charitable
his 'lawyer'' appears, makes some ridiculous moton
and the prisoncr Is as matter oil course sent 10 JAZZ
to await trial.
HOW THE BLEEDING PROGRESSES.
The next day tho shyster waits upon him In prison
and tells him he is going sue out writ OF ccrtorari
aud Of habeas corpus out IL Will cost SlO
The poor means that be hasn't snge penny.
"But haven't you got friend?' asks the shark Inc
forthwith runner is sent with p,teous appeal to
the friend tor money. Again the shyster pockets his
ee aud the poor prisoner is e,t to MS ate M 10 oe
behalf but they are generally the efforts OF ignorance
OF the law, and the prisoners case is more damaged
than If he was represented by counsel.
In cases where tho police are lnvulnerabe to thcr
and the latter by far tho most numerous
the shyster puts hs the track to learn the
name oil tho prisoner the best way he can. That OBJ.
tanned the 'awycr" waits in the Police Court uatil
the prisoner Is arraigned, when he calls out to the
magistrate II retained in this case, Your Honor
the prisoner denies the statement the shy tor, moth
ins ubashcd. syys .sSeveral o. his friends were In
my Office this morning and retained me without MS
know edge" The prisoner becomes hopeful. moment
previous he was Of the firm belief that he did not
have friend IN the word DOW he is convinced that
life su b failure after all he trick OF being
retained by friends is also frequently played on the
police Should tue latter refuse and the sta ement be
true TOR great wne happens that u shyster
engaged in bona Ide manner) the snyser raises
howl about the officers tyranny and quotes the con-
sttuion that every prisoner has tue absolute
right to counsel ut any aod all timoa Tho oidcer
trembles Tor bis safety. He has offended against
the rule OF tue department that regularly retained
counsel must be allowed access to his Client The
genuine 'snyster" never allows lie 10 the Court 70
stand way the pocket of the prisoner Neither
does the smallness OF The clients means Keep MN
back Eases have occurred at the Tombs Police Court
wherein the "shyslers have stripped lhe studs from
the shirt client when the latter devoid Of
money Frequently fee OF twenty live or 6ity cents
is taken. Nothing IS TOO small TO be passed by.
FORMER EFFORTS OF THE POLICE.
The subject OF breaking up the system nas several
times been before the Board OF Police mmissoners,
and OCCASIONS steps have bOen taken to check
the shameless robberes. The most elective was the
court SQUADS. Innocent men, the Board admitted,
were Obliged suffer with the guilty IN beng trans.
fcrred other precincts, but some action was I'M
I.lAr han W nnn
many OF the police courts that me police acted
in COLLISION with the snysters. Since the general
transfer the Of corruption are much less Inc
matter was again brought up the Board by Commis-
sioner Erhardt few Gays ago, alter General smith
suppression OF the evil The result OF ther deIloera-
tions. which we're warmly lDdorsc by Commissioners
Nichos and Wheeler. is embodied IN tne following
rules, promulgated yesterday by superintendent WALL
THE NEW RULES
To OFFICERS CoMMANDISG CoURr SQUADS
Where ps Ia custody desire to employ counsel
MIL s S WIFI
vide paper and pencil for them on which they WIZ, wIo
~ ItS plsT,aST yasx oouIir
desire to employ to appear for me as my
attorney.
such attorney is accessible in court you will notify him
at Of fact nss AFFORD susn or VIII a
init Of In event Of eoaese Sc eced nsing A. A. M distance %
sene appointed Or Sy the Ha eoa rs IN
If however an attorney represents that he o-
~ ct the sss that to S To a yo ss
folows:-
- DISTRICT COURT.
NEW YORK -, 1877
I have been requested by friends of - -, now
waiting appear tor him counsel in the
offence which h is under arrest
tsigned) - - -.
You will then inform the prisoner Of this fact. and II ha
attorney will conform the instructions
aDove Tor who desire counsel Tor uch cases
In the Will write his request
him he mark. which will witness
After counsel shall have selected ~ the accused
he all times and psaces unuet
existing confer with the accused until tue relations
OF counsel ellie between them PROVIDED now
shall counsel De permitted 10 go IN
side the where prisoners are conhnei or communicate
with them except herein provided. You VIII forward
these of counsel and prisoner to the Superin.
tendeut OF Police through tho inspectors daily with
the morning lu case prisoner desires counsel but
does make selection. the officer VIII nouy the
Justice holding who Will take such action rs To him
Tnese rules will cease to Do operative on tho
the prisoner before magistrate.