The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-26
VULTURES OF PETTY COURTS.
Methods Of Shyster Lawyers and Men Who
Make a Business of Becoming BOndsmen.

The shyter lawyer does not flourish here, as he
once did. He still fingers about the Mayors
and justices courts, but his methods have been
somewhat improved. At least, he does not carry
things in the high and staggering way he once
did. At one time this class of lawyers owned
the Jail and station-h house, and the turkeys
were subsidized by them to get clients from
among the prisoners The late Sims Colley was
famous man in his day in criminal practice.
Called to the Jail one day by culprit, he was
asked how much of fee he would require to de-
fend the prisoner 1.-TWO hundred dollars, sah,"
was Mr. Coley's reply, with broad Kentucky
accent The poor culprit raised his hands in
holy horror, and protested he could not raise
such amount and pleaded the attorney to
abate the fee. Mr.. Colley rose to his full
height land what was more to the purpose. his
full width, and he was of great grthl, and re-
marked, IF you want a second-rate lawyer like
Mr.. Porter Mr. Harrison or Mr.. Hendricks, you
can get one for fifty dollars, but if you want
Sims Coley, you have his price, sab, and out
he stalked
It is a rule now at the station-house and Jail
that attorneys are not allowed to see prisoners
unless they are sent for. 1t used to be that the
shyster would get hold of the Jail list and, sin
Cling out name, tell the turnkey he wished to
see that person. When admitted into the prison
he would seek employment of all the prisoners he
came In contact with, taking whatever remuner-
alton he could get. Sometimes the
shyster goes so far to solicit business of a
prisoner after the criminal has been placed in
the dock for trial. This is probably more prev
alent among the justices than in the Mayors
court.
The professional bondsman is another charac-
ter met about these minor courts. He is a free
holder who makes it business, for considera-
ton, to go upon stay or replevn bonds, and
"puts up" for culprt's appearance in court.
Some of these own only little piece of property,
valued at $1,000 or 81 200, while others are
worth well up in the thousands. The
bondsmans fee depends upon the character of
the crime, the risk taken etc. and especially
upon the character of the collateral the man Gin
trouble" as the phrase goes. is able to place in
the hands of his surety. Their usual fee for
going upon bond in an assault and battery or
similar case is from So to $10 sometimes as
much as Sl5, which gives a very respectable
profit on their investment, as they run no risk.
The professional bond goer is often handy to
have round, especially when the person who
falls into the hands of the law "opens to be
traveller or without friends or ACC laintances in
the city In such cases the bond -goer takes
good collateral in watches or jewelry, and
makes thrifty charge for his service.
A few weeks ago there was a man here who
made it practice, for a consideration, to be-
come stay bail and bondsman in appeals making
oath in each of these cases that he owned an
incumbered real estate of the value of one thou
sand dollars. He left suddenly short time ago,
and it is not likely that he will return in time to
have his name In the next city directory 1t has
been found that he never did own any real
estate. He had way of collecting fines from
those upon whose bond he went that has. it is
thought, been practiced by other professional
bond goers He collected $40 from one defend
ant in a case, for whom he was stay-bail, and
never paid a cent of it into court This defend
ant will now have to pay that money into court,
TINS paying second time, or 60 to the work
house and stay the judgment in that way.