The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-08-26
WHAT A "SHYSTER"IS
From the Open Court.


1t has been judiciously decided
that 1t is libelous to speak of a
lawyer as n 'shys,er," and yet ii
has never been legally determined
exactly what "shysIer" is. In
The slang Of popular contempt the
word has usually been applied TO
a tricky. unfair and unscrupulous
lawyer; fellow of strategem and
deceit who gaDlbles with lies and
perjures for a fee; a creature void
of conscience, who tor money glori.
fies lhe guilty side, and in the Ian
guage OF the Scripture "taketh re-.
ward against he innocent )" an I'M
scrupulous hireling casting fire.
brands, arrows and death" at any
thing or anybody 10 gain a case,
without the excuse OF madness for
doing it. A lawyer.like effort is
now being made in Chicago to give
the word "shyster' limited and
SPECIAL meaning, and TO apply it
only to those irregular pleaders
who practice in courts of Justices
of the Peace, without having been
admitted to the bar. The illegal
methods adopted by the Justices
in some of those conrts having
been exposed by lawyer. in lec-
ture, professional and public dis
cussion wa, aroused, and the whole
wlckedness conveniently fastened
,, upon those self-appointed advo.
Gates who have never been admit
Ted to the bar; or in the classic
language of one OF The Justices,
"lhe men of The 'shyter' class, the
men who defend prisoners in my
ccuit without having a license 10
practice law" This was turning
the whole subject to The left obli-
qne, Tor the point in issue was the
shysl+ring of the courts and not
the character of the unlicensed
bar.
Whether or not a barrister is a
'shyster" depends entirely upon
his own character, and. not at all
upon his license. There is an aged
superstition still believed in, that
admission to the bar is a sort oil sa.
crament, like baptism, comforting
grace and wisdom by force of di-
ploma, an error that has done
much wrong, besides making fools
of men. Some of The most accom-.
plished "shysters" that | have ev-
er known have been lawyers OF
high standing at the bar, and such
lawyers abound in history. Lord
Coke was a lawyer OF some stand
ing in the profession, but in his
practice at The bar he was a "shy.
sler," especially in The office of AZ
lorney General, where in the pros.
ecution of persons charged with
crime, he was unscrupulous, and
unfair, ready, and sometimes eager
to take reward against the limo
cent. Lord Bacon, believe, had
his diploma, and was considered a
lawyer in his day, but as counsel
for the crown in The trial Of Lord
Essex, he proved himself ''sby
ster," putting false meanings upol
facts, perverling The testimony, re
Wiling The prisoner, and twistln!
The truth out Of symmetry 10 Sc,
cure Il conviction. TO the credi
of Coke, be it said, he was 10 "Shy
ster" on the bench, but just ant
fearless judge, while Bacon was
, "shyster" even in The great oliic'
of Lord High Chancellor. And il
this day, and IN our country, W
have some licened shysters emf
nent at the bar, and there are som
of them on The bench, which is
. much more serious matter. Di
plon,as confer neither knowledg
? : nor wisdom, although they do ere
ale castles, which, BY the way, wa
the original design Of a license I
practice law. To require q ma
10 obtain a license to earn a Twin
at anything is a usurpaiion b
J government of 4 power to divid
: The people into classes, and to pu
: fines and penalties upon industry
! | cannot think of any justiflcatio
: tor it except in the case OF doctor
: and drug sellers, and am M
!, ', sure that 1t is justiGable eve
!, there.