The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-06-30
NO. 755
Loo1x1NG UP GASES.
Busy Lawyers who Copy AN s1se Res
cords Prepared by the CORONER.


cords Prepared BY the Goroncr.
There are no public records more closely
scanned those in the Coroner's office. The
evidence and verdict In every inquest are
read with great care by people who have
strong motive for doing so. Struggling
lawyers or their employees come into the
office every day and copy the records in the
newest cases. 1t might be imagined that
this interest in the record of sudden and
violent deaths on the part of the legal gen.
tlemen was mere curiosity or philosophic
desire to gather statistics, but such is not
the case.
The object of their search is to find
grounds for damage suits and thus put
money in lawyers purses. The report that
a man has been killed by railroad train
very frequent occurrence-or run over by
grip car or o wagon is sure to bring lot
of lawyers into the coroners Office to look
at the evidence and see if there is not good
grounds for an action for damages.
Yes" said an old lawyer to a reporter;
the action of tort, or suit for personal
damages, is great thing for the young and
| struggling attorney or the snide' old one
who has failed to get business in the regular
way. OF nearly 1000 lawyers in this county
there are a large number who constantly
watch the newspapers for accounts of acct
dents, fatal or otherwise, because such
things give them chance to drum up bust.
ness. If man gets hurt they go right to
him and try to persuade him to bring suit
against the owner of the wagon which ran
over him or the railroad company owning
the engine which struck him. If man is
working on new building and brick falls
on him dozen jackleg' lawyers will be
sure to be after him within twenty-four
hours to get permission to sue the contrac-
tor.
:" 1t is an easy thing to get an ignorant
man into damage suit when the lawyer.
offers to put It through on shares. He tells
the victim 1t won't cost him cent, and
then, after he has filed the papers, he strikes
his client for $40 or so, and the client,
rather than lose what seems the prospect
of q big stake, will generally give 1t to him.
In the case of n man killed on arailroad
or by street cor there is generallya chance
for damages because there is popular
prejudice against corporations. Hundreds
of worthless suits are compromised every
year by the railroad and street cor com
panies rather than go to the trouble of fight
ing them in court.
To give you an illustration of the
methods of this class of lawyers will relate
an incident which occurred not long ago.
man was run over by cable car ON State
street and was carried home. The body
had not yet been put in the coffin when q
Clark street lawyer came along and Joined
with the widow in weeping over the corpse.
& Poor Jim - sighed the mourning Black
stone.
His name was Henry said the widow.
ooh, yes / forgot. Poor Hank !
had not known him long, madam, but he
was dear friend of mine. y
Before leaving, tho attorney slipped his
business card into the widows hand. Sab
sequently he went to the funeral, and Che
upshot of II all was that he persuaded ghs
woman to bring an action ofdamages."