Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-10
How the Shystering System has
Been Carried on in Memphis
Under the Habeas
Corpus Act.
The Respectable Lawyers CT the City
Should Protect the Profession
aud have the Shysters
Disbarred.

of Blackstone, so far as law
knowledge is concerned, but he is sharp
ia the worlds ways, 80 far as reaching
for a dollar when it is in sight and range.
To the sbyster q fee represents no specific
Of money; his soul aspires to no
SUI than twenty-five dollars;
that is considered a big thing. a bonanza
not often captured. He will go for any
fee ranging from fifty cents up to five
dellArs, or will take stolen chickens, hogs,
goats, mules, any article OF value, an old
watch, pocket knife, a dirty shirt, in fact
nothing is of too little value n his eyes.
The shyster generally presents q
shabby genteel appearance. He watches
everything and everybody; is always IN
easy, prowls around all the time, and
can be seen holding private and mystic.
rious conversations with diSreputable and
suspicious looking white aud black men
in alleys, halls, doorways or other shady
places. His scene Of professional ope.
%rations is at the recorders court, the
magistrates courts, the county Jail and
the Criminal Court.
HOW HE FLUsHEs GAME.
Some poor devil, white or black, is ar
rested by the police for committing som
misdemesnor or light felony. He ia
tried and fined, say FIVE dollars, and is
bound over to answer before the Crimi-
nal Court, and ia default OF bond goes to
Jail. The shyster lawyer knows that the
fellow has been tried and committed,
and he also learns hat seven dollars
and a half we're found on his person,
from which amount the five dollars city
fine is taken, aud which leaves the two
dollars and a half to the credit of the
prisoner, the amount being in the station
house ssle.
How to capture or gobble up the two
and a half dollars is the great object Of
the shyster's life. He visits the county
Jail and calls for some negro who is a
XII nd of regular client Of his, and is
also, sub rosa, his confederate, or cap.
per-" Hetakes his client into a private
room, 0stensibly TO consult with him as
to his case, but ID reality to inform the
client that a prisoner has been or will
be sent TO jail, and he wants his client
to talk to him and secure him as a client
for him (the shyster). The prisoner il
brought in and locked up, and the
shyster lawyer that he il
through with his man. The jailer takes
the man back and locks him up. The
shyster now sits down carelsssly, anC
engages the jailers in conversation, Of
reads a newspaper. 10 the meantime
the "capper" is working at the late
prisoner, and tells him that that mar
outside is the best lawyer in the city, snC
can get him out Of Jail on writ of habeai
corpus for q few dollars. The prisoner
Of course catches at the straw and agrees
to employ the great and sharp lawyer
Immediately.
About this time the shyster gets W
and says carelessly, but in a loud tore
Of voice, well, | must go up town anC
attend to some business" AS be strolll
up slowly toward the Jail entrance tht
voice Of the capper is heard issuing
from behind the grating, "Mr. -,
gentleman back here wants to see you.
The shyster turns iercely around as i
indignant at being hailed, and asks
What does he want2' He wants you
to take his case," replies the capper
The shyster scratches his head, as if il
doubt whether or not TO take the case
but at last he says to the %jailer: PLEASE
bring that nan out for q few minutes.
H sPIDER N TIL FLY.
The new prisoner is brought out auG
taken into a private room by the shy
ster, He tells the prisoner that he vii
get him out on a writ Of hsbeas corpus
that he heard his Ease tried before the
recorder and there was nothing in it
but he must have a fee. The prisoner
protests that he has no money
no friends, but if be gets ouI
he will hunt up some friends who viii
give him the money. The shyster get,
from the prisoner an order for the two
dollars and d half, and agrees to get him
out of Jail provided he will pay the bal
ance Of the ten dollar fee as soon as pos
sible. The thing is settled, the prisoner
is put back and the shyster looks happier
as he leaves the county Jail en- route fol-
the station house in order to draw thai
two dollars and a half. He gets it, takeI
a shoe fly beer at some saloon, and visit
ing the Criminal Courtroom borrows {
sheet of paper, pen and ink from one o
the clerks aud proceeds to write out a pc
tition for habeas corpus. He follows Thu
usual form, alleging that John Smith il
illegally detained Of his liberty by thu
sheriff Of Shelby county, who holds hin
by virtue of a mittimus issued Nv thu
recorder Of the city Of Memphis, before
whom the said John Smith had a trial ant
by whom he was committed. That Johl
Smith is notguilty Of the oifense charged
that this is the first application for a wri
N -. 1T. Lt.-I