Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-26
THE CITY PRISON
And Laws Governing It Explained by Chief Me-
 Donald-Why They Are Enforced.

The rights of attorneys to have free access to their clients was again brought up before his honor, Judge Feagln, yes terday morning when Lawyer Meade asked his honor to transfer Charlie Sul- liyan,. or Ray, to the county jail until hial case would be called. When pressed for his reasons for the transfer he stated to the court that he wished the transfer to take place because there was no trouble to see his client there, as at the city jaiz Attorneys could see their clients when they chose without having to hurt up ais officer upon each oecCGion, as is the case with the city jail, where no attorney is permitted 10 see a client without a special permit upon each occasion, and S for himself he wished to know what the rights of an attorney were in this matter, and asked the judge to give an opinion on the subject. If he was allowed to go In and see client as a favor of the chief he did not. wish to go and would not go, as he had no tavCrs to ask Of the chlet and would not lay himself under obliga- tions to him. He demanded his rights and would not take as favor what was hls by right. MT. Meade was getting quite vehement in his remarks on the subject, when Chief Mcdonald, who was sitting in the window, smilingly informed hlrn that Warden Donovan had instructions to allow him to see the two clients he was representing whenever he had occa- sion to. MT. Meade was partly appeased at this, but is not satisfied and will push the matter to a final issue.
 Chief Mcdonald was seen by an Age Herald reporter and asked to give h.s reasons for the order. both as to the clos ing of the docket, heretofore open to all, and the denial of free access to attorneys and others to see the prisoners He gave for his reasons that he gave the order and was enforcing it for the protection of the prisoners and not, as was made to appear, for their persecution. He claimed that a few lawyers were in the habit of coming in daily and looking over the docket to see who was arrested, the charge and the amount of personal effects of each arrest, an entry Of which is always made in the docket. These law yers, seeing that the arrest is credited with having a certain sum Of money, e watch or other valuables demand ad- mittance to see the person, claiming that he or she is their client. They gain ad- mittance, see the party and generally make arrangements to gobble up all the poor fellow has and then in nine cases out of ten the party is convicted and the fine has to be worked out while the lawyer pockets the fee. This order was not made to debar any one who has right to see the prisoners and the docket, but simply to protect the prisoners. Any prisoner can say what lawyer, if any, he wants and he has only to notify the warden, who has instructions to imme- diately see that his wishes are com piled with.
 When asked why this order has just been enforced, when the contrary rule was so long in vogue, he said that he had but recently taken charge of the jail in a manner that gave him authority, as under the old law he had no author ity, and as fast as serious wrong is seen and the power given him it is rem eded The laws of the police commits sion give him authority heretofore de- nied and therefore the orders have been iSSueQ