The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-09-18
Y. Judges Roman and Gutenberg


framed a set of rules which, covered the
whole matter, file most important being
one which required all attorneys at law
to present to tine court their diplomas or
licenses as prerequisite to recognition
as legal practitioners, SO that at present,
no matter who the lawyer is, he can
not appear and plead in the court unless
he has had his license to practice law
registered in the Clerks office. This is
indeed an admirable system, as it is not
only protection to members of the bar,
but to unfortunate prisoners as well, for
it secures the complete suppression Of the
pestiferous shyster. Many of that class,
finding their occupation gone, have ia
ken to making an honest living.
The first to respond to the call of
Judges Roman and Nuremberg was Re
corder Miltenberger of the Lower Dis
trict. This gentleman, since he has oc-
cupied the bench, has always shown him
self to be an upright and conscientious
man, although he, like the best Of us,
has his weak points.s His first step was
to issue an order prohibiting any officer
of his court from interfering with law
yers' business, on pain of dismissal. 1t
is a good order, for lawyers have often
complained of being sbandoned by eli
ents at the instigation Of court officers
The next rule was that court officers had
no right to demand fees for services per-
formed in the discharge of their duty, a
custom almost immemorial, but never
theless contra bona mores. Another rule
was that none but attorneys at law and
attorneys III fact "shall be allowed to
practice law in this court" There is no
doubt such profession as attorney at
law, but it will be vain work to try and
find in the law books wherein attorneys
in fact are regarded as professional men.
We know that there can be such person
as an attorney in fact in cases pointed
out by law, but i'll the rule mentioned
the idea is conveyed to the public that
all attorney in fact is-well, l can only
say sort of amateur lawyer. In truth,
attorneys in fact around these courts are
but mere shysters. But Judge Milten
berger, although 10 lawyer, understands
what is right and just, and in spite Of
| the ambiguity Of his rules has forbidden
even attorneys in fact to practice. My
young friend Edward S. Whitaker, law
student who, before the PRONUNCIATION of
the rules mentioned, had quite a nice
practice before Recorder NJ, was invited
to take back seat, although fully pro-
vided with a power of attorney to repre-
sent mis- client. Of course that was
wrong, for the law is too clear that an
accused can appear either by an attorney
at law or attorney i'll fact. The Recorder
of the Lower District has made two ex-
captions to his pronunciamento, how
ever, in the persons of an ex-Recortler
anu all ELECTROMAGNETIC VOScluOl, F" ilO All
making living by practicing law in
the Recorders Courts.
Now let me give my country friends
three morsels of advice as to what to do
if ever they get on a booze while i'll this
city, and are SO stupid as to let a police
man lock them up:
l. Tell any person who comes to yon
to offer his services to go see Aunt Susan.
2. Keep as cool as cucumber, and All
eye on your pocket book.
3. Send for tho correspondent Of this
paper, Epsilon Mu, who will always be
happy to assist his country friends.
Cut these rules out, young man, and
paste them in your hat when you visit
the city.
Your correspondent is under particu-
lar obligations to Staub, the renowned
newsdealer, corner Exchange Alley and
Canal street, where the CHIEF was post
ed up conspicuously and read with inter
est by hundreds.
devote my whole letter of this week
to the Recorders Courts because I>be-
lieve that the sooner the people are ac-
quainted with the true facts of the case,
the sooner will the evils existing in those
tribunals cease. My next letter will be
OH general topics.
Yours truly EPSILON MI.