Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-23
shy.ser Lawyer. and straw Hail.


Shysser Lawyers and Straw Hail.
HOW DEFENDANTS IN CRIMINAL CASES ARE PLUCKED
AND JUSTICE IS DEFEATED.
"You have been publishing in your paper q good
deal that Judge Smell has been saying lately about
the runners and straw bondsmen' around the
Police Court, /" remarked colored man to q STAR
reporter to-day, "but you don't begin to know the
tull extent Of the business was in the business
myself, but cut loose from 1t when Judge Smell
made It SO hot for Us some time ago Then. too.
these shyster lawyers-some OF them my own
cOlOr-Were getting so mean that they beat us out
OF our mofety, II we were not pretty cute, and
consequently there was, and IA, constant wrang-
ng ,, Seeing possibility Of learning something OF
the reporter induced the ex-defeater OF the ends
justice, with an offer OF as much watermelon as ,
could eat. to tell his experience as 'capper" and
prccurer Of "straw bail"
WHAT ''CAPPERs' ARE PAID.
when the Police Cour;, p he said, "was moved
up here where 1t Is now-Saveral years ago-there
were only two Of US runners who worked for
lawyers At that time the lawyers only paid their
runners twenty-five cents for each case they got
for them, and we made good wages at that. Now
the runner gets halt of the fee no matter what it
Is, and can't make much at 1t either, because there
are so many in the business. have seen the time
when could pick UP $50 week around here. The
fee Of runner now is $3.50 out OF S., but II q
fellow don't watch and see the lawyer get the
money he don't get cent You can see a crowd
OF them On the corner opposite the courthouse at
O'Clock In the morning, with their lunches They
have TO work hard now to make $40 a week. They
have their headquarters in the law building mex
to the court, where they eat their lunches and
compare notes. have often been asked by the
shyster lawyers to take care OF their rooms. as q
mere blind for hunting up cases for them: bat l
preferred to sell my cases to the party that gave
me the highest price for them, and be under obil-
cations to no one. There was fairer dealing when
'three-card.monte swlndle Sometimes we would
get the best Of tie lawyers for cheating u.s. We
would find customer and tell her-for we Ere
ferred females to deal with.that we could get her
lawyer for g, ii she would give us s. for our
selves When the case was tried we got IS cents
out Of the g. and then had So 70 for our services
and the lawyer 81. 25 for his"
HOW THE VICTIMS ARE FLEEcED.
"Wbat was your general mode OF procedure -
inquired the reporter. "Tell me just how you
worked case, from the ground right up"
Well, was the reply, 1--WE generally approach
call her sister, II young fellow, we say ''helo
Old fellow: and If an old man. show do you do.
my brother Then we say, 4 suppose you are
they tell us what they are charged with. We
feel them to see If they have any money, and If
I'll get an old friend OF mine who used to do bus-
hess Tor me to defend YOU They generally agree
to this, and then we Introduce the victim to the
lawyer, who receives him with all the courtesy
imaginable, and we wait around to see the fee
paid the attorney SO that he can't deny that he is
paid when we ask for our SHARE"
STRAW BAIL,
snow about straw bonds; how is that part of
the business done?"
"There is not much business done In the straw
bond business b. the runners now" was the reply,
"because these lawyers are giving bail for their
vagrancy bond OF $50 and made big money out OF
1t. colored man who goes On so many bonds
here Is hard fellow to deal with; he won't divy
we know all the policy men and all the other
crooked men, and have got as high as 500 for a
straw bend In this court, and then saw the party
on at the ,,na depot and knew he was not coming
$500 month, but haven't got any OF 1T now.
The fellows we got to go the security were not
collect any forfeited bail bend here; but they used
to swear that their property was not encumbered
when it was. hut they were never taken up for
"YOu wouldn't object to making 500 on bond
YETI" suggested The STAR man.
business yet, but don't 90 any Gaping for
lawyers"
Discussing Civil Rights.
FEW OF THE FAITHFUL MEET AND DETERMINE TO
HOLD ANOTHER MEETING-soME REMARKS FROM
MESSRS MOSS AND CARSON.
The meeting OF cOlOred citizens which was held
last week in the Virginia avenue Baptist church
to consi er the subject Of civil rights, adjourned
until last evening There were, perhaps, a half
dozen who made tHeir appearance at the church
last evening at the appointed hour, but none OF
those who were prominent In the last meeting.
Those that came waited patiently, and about
nine O'clock the sexton OF the church stated
that Rev Mr.. Laws. who was ore OF those
called unexpectedly to Pittsbulg. Upon this infor-
nation 1t was suggested that they had better not
past nine before we got together, so let us wait a
little longer" urged patient brother. few more
came In the church, tnclu1ing some women, and
at halr-past nine O'Clock Mr.. John A. Moss called
the meeting to order and asked that 4 secretary
be appointed. several names were suggested, but
those named declined the honor with much persls-
tenIe.
PERRY CARSON ACCEPTS.
Finally Perry Carson was nominated.
"Ohl he won't accept" called out discouraged
member.
Since have been put out OF Officer responded
room, II suppose that viii accept anythipg.v 'n'
Thereupon Mr.. Carson was nominated, elected
and quickly located In large armchair near the
presiding officer
COMMITTEE TO ARRANGE FOR A MASS MEETING.
The chairman said that 1t had been suggested
that the best plan would be to appoint commit
tee 10 arrange Tor grand mass meeting, and o
motion to this effect was made and carried. The
following were appctnted:-Perry Carson, chair
man; A. T. Johnao II. E. Brown, G. M. Arnold,
Rev r. r. Laws, VIM. osborne. Charles II: Mar
James Garner, T. 3. Warwick, C. w. Davis, John
N. Shipper, David Grimes.
MR.. MOSS EXPLAINS.
After this business was disposed Of the chair
man extended an invitation to any one who wished
to speak to address the meeting. A man in the
rear arose and asked II any one could explain the
purpose or this meeting or what was done at the
last. MI. Moss Obllg1ngly furnished the desired
Information and then went on to correct some mis-
statements OF what he had been reported to have
said at the last meeting. He said that he hoped at
the next meeting that the subject of the political
condition OF the c0l0red people would be consfd-
cred. He thought that his race ought not to re.
main any longer as the wards OF any political
party. He regretted the fact that as rule the
color OF their skin was index OF their political
opinions. AS for himself, he considered himself
bound by party, but would vote for men.
Mr.. CARSON BELIEVES IN STICKING TO THE REPUBL1-
CAN PARTY
MIR. Perry Carson followed in a speech in which
he labored 10 correct what he considered the
heret!cai ideas advanced by MIR. Moss. He said
that Mr. Moss had reason to complain, but it WAS
not Of the republican party. but OF some OF the
men In the party. 'If the President OF the United
States" continued Dir. Carson, ''Should appoint
men to Office who prescribe US because we are
black, the republican party does not 1n1ure US
but the President, and he Is not the party. be-
leve IN sticking to the old party. If you wake me
up at half-paSt in the morning." exclaimed Mr..
Carson in conclusion, Il can tell what party be-
long to-"
When Mr.. Carson had concluded Rev. Mr. Smith,
who is the hero in the recent civil rights case,
made brief address, and then the meeting was
adjourned.
FINED FOR DEFACING PRIVATE PROFERTY.-This
morning IN the Police Court a boy named Harry
Newman pleaded guilty to 0pfacinp Ortvata nrOn.