Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-27
Police Court Lawyers.

fHE CONTEST OVER SMALL CAsEs-SoNE INTEREST
ING FACTS REGARDING THE DIGNIFIED COUNSEL
LoRs, WHO PRACTICE AT JUDGE SMELLS EAR
Although we have small police force and our
city covers great many square miles OF terri
tory, we have as quiet and orderly city as can be
found In the country, and there is little crime
committed here as in any other community OF the
same SIZE The police reports show that there are,
on an average, about twenty arrests made daily,
principally for trfiing violations OF the law, such
as loud and bOiSterOuS talking on the street. pro-
= aso sn ocaSons S arr for th more
charges Of assault with intent TO kill, grand lar
ceny, burglary, &c. Nearly all or these violations
Of the law are committed in two or three small
neighbOrhOOds that have almost entirely given I'D
20 the lewd and depraved classes
THE SANE FACES.
A constant visitor at Judge SHELLS court will see
that the majority OF the prisoners are coored and
the same people fill the dock day after day, and
when hale old BaiIir Barton Is directed by the
prosecuting attorney to call prisoner from the
cells below to the dock-raIl &c will be known Just
what face Will next grace the dock. One singular
feature OF the trials at this court is the large
number OF prisoners who have lawyers to defend
them This may occur because there is so large a
number OF lawyers in this city that the competition
Is great, even for the smallest kind of business.
There are innumerable classes OF lawyers, and 1t
Is Impossible to tell Just where class ends and
the next begins. Our bar has many eminent ex-
Founders OF the law, and possesses as sound legal
talent as can be found anywhere IL Is true some
important cases come before the Police Court, and
able counseOrs are called TO defend clients and
expound the law here. But also the most undigni-
ned class OF the counselors can probably be found
among the multitude OF attorneys who strive to
make living out OF the poor ignorant wretches
great for even this small business, that some OF
these able counSellors some times nearly commit
breaches OF the peace IN cOnteSting for client
who Is claimed by two attorneys,
WAITING FOR THE ''MARIA."
As early as Z O'Clock In the morning some OF them
can be seen standing on the spacious pertico OF
the dingy Old Police Court building at the corner
Of 9Th and streets, waiting for clients, OF which
the "Black Maria" invariably furnishes plentiful
supply. And within few minutes after the ar
rival of the ''Maria" every prisoner who raise
even the smallest sum can get an attorney TO de-
fend him, no matter what the evidence is against
him The majority OF the cases that come before
this court are charges against ColOred people for
violating the District ordinances by cursing and
swearing, or loud and boisterous talking on the
street, or some other trivial charge. for which
1ne OF s. is the only penalty that the
court imposes, and as this penalty is invaria-
bic. the lawyer generally does his client
no good But to impress his client with
the idea that he is In earnest, ard doing his
best for him, and earning his fee, he crossexam-
Ines and recrOSS-examtnes the witnesses, and then
MAKES speech In his behalf, which is more re-
markable for length than cogency. After taking
up great deal OF the valuable time OF the court
ne submits his case, the court imposes the usual
nne, and the prisoner walks into the dock wishing
that he had not employed the attorney, for then
nne. This has been carried 10 such an extent that
Judge smell has more than once I'm open court
explained 70 these ignorant people the utter use
lesSneSS OF employing attorneys, and has threat
ened IN send the lawyers 70 Jail as Migrants n
they persisted IN soliciting business among the
prisoners
SCENES N COURT.
Sometimes ridiculous scenes occur between the
attorneys and their clients In this court. On one
occasion, a eolcred woman who had been fined by
the court, and becoming dissatisfied with her at
torney, thinking he had not benefited her, un-
tremendously demanded him to return her tho
dollar she had given him, which he reluctantly
did Then again client viii innocently refer (to ths
disgust OF the attorney TO the nifty cents she paid
him Sometimes two attorneys, One white and
the other colored, Will get up to defend the same
client. when the court will demand 70 know which
OF them is the authorized counsel II one OF then
has been fortunate enough TO have received his
fee IN advance then he gets the preference but |,
Dot, then IL Is left TO the prisoner 70 choose be-
tween them.