The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-01
Razor-Baok Lawuers.

Atlanta, it, seems, is afflicted with a
number of razor back lawyers. The grand
jury of Fulton county regard them as
pestiferous individuals and would like to
find some way of Kidding the community of
them. They don't wait for business to
come to them, but hunt up excuses for
bringing lawsuits, and succeed in annoy
ing the business community
The razorback lawyer is not only a
great nuisance to a community, but he is a
positive injury to it. Out of little quarrels
and business differences that would never
get into court if it were not for him he
manages TO make living. His aim is not
to help settle disputes that could be easily
settled without litigation, but to stir up
strife. He hunts up people who think
they have been damaged, and gains per-
mission to bring suits in their names.
The greater part of what he RECEIVERS, if
he RECEIVERS anything at all, goes into his
pocket. He is breeder of strife and
thrives on the litigation he encourages.
Another thing that the Fulton county
grand jury commented on at considerable
length is the hasty appointment of re-
CSANCAS III NOiul idhlCS3 NuIpOEdblOuS ana
individuals that have become financially
embarrassed. And the compensation of
receivers is, according to the Fulton county
grand jury, much greater than it ought
20 be- BY the time the affairs of the
broken bank or embarrassed business firm
are wound up there is little or nothing
for the creditors. The attorneys and re-
ceivers have got about all of it.
Judges are to blame, first, for appoint
ing receivers before there is any neces-
sity for them, and, second, for allowing
compensation to receivers altogether out
of proportion to the services rendered by
them. 1t is a good thing that grand
juries throughout the state are paying
more attention to the abuses and evils
that afiict their respective communities.
1t appears from late mail advices re-
ceived at New York from Hayti, that
there was some reasonable excuse for the
advice our Minister Smythe is alleged to
have given the black President Hippolvte
as TO how to run his government Minis
ter Smythe, it seems, criticised the HAY
tian decree forbidding ships to enter har-
Dor at night. and protested against the
long delays caused by the examination of
goods shipped from the United States.
under the preteXt that such goods might
contain concealed contraband arms and
ammunition. II is also said that Minister
Smythe suggested the formation of a con-
sular court for the trial of cases in which
Americans and Europeans were concerned.
This was brought about by an appeal
from an American merchant to the minis
ter. The merchant had had certain deal
ings with a Haytian native banker which
resulted in a lawsuit. At the trial of the
case it was necessary to have the testi-
monv of negro lawyer. The trial Judge
refused to put the lawyer-witness under
oath, because he said it was unnecessary;
that no member of the Haytian bar would
tell lie. Nevertheless the lawyer-wit-
ness told very one-sided story. and the
American merchant was mulcted in
heavy damages, which he was forced to
pay TO the banker Meanwhile, it is evi-
dent thatMinister Smythe has placed him
self in such position towards the gov
eminent of Hayti, that he will be unable
to bring about the concession of the Mole
St Nicholas TO this governmental mat
ter he was especially charged to look af-
ter before left Washington for Hayti