Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-05
CALLED ON THE JUDGE
Lawyers Who Objected to the Term "shys-
ter"
Judge kimball Snys He Did Not Use
the WOrI-The Protesting
Lawyers.

Shortly before the adjournment Of Judge
Kimbalrs court today a number of colored
lawyers assembled in the court room, and
Lawyer Martin, who was to act as spokes-
man for the party in dropping a harmless
bombshell in court, was frustrated in his
plan by the court, and prevented from hav-
ing an opportunity to make speech where
the audience Of spectators could hear him.
He announced earlier in the day that he
desired to call the courts attention to a
matter of interest both to the court and
lawyers who practice before it. Just what
that something was Judge Kimball had not
the slightest idea. It may have been one
Of the many squabbles which take place
about the courts when lawyers are troubled
over which one shall get particular client
for all the judge knew, but he waited pa
tiently for the adjournment of court and
then told the lawyers that he would see
them in his private room. Lawyer Martin
preferred to talk in court. but as he had
said that the matter was of private
nature the judge declined to listen to
speechmaking unless they went In his
room. And so the colored lawyers soon
afterwards assembled in the judges pri-
vate room. and then Lawyer Martin, as
well as others, was heard. Those Of the
colored lawyers present were Messrs. Mar
tin, Peyton, Kicks, Hewlett, Jones, Bacon,
Langston and Holland. :.
The Term Shyster.
1t soon appeared that they objected to
the term "shyster," which 1t was reported
one of the judges of the court had used
in connect ton with lawyers about the court
1t was not claimed that any names were
mentioned but, as Lawyer Martin said,
they wanted to ascertain first, whether
or not the term "shyster' was used by
Judge Kimball, and If SO, whether or not
1t applied tC them.
Mr. Martin explained that there was a
meeting of a church lyceum held at a
colored Baptist church Sunday, and at this
meeting a paper was read by Mrs. Jesse
Lawson in which she attacked the man
agement of the Girls Reform School. She
said among other things so Lawyer Mar
tin said that she had occasion to call on
one of the judges of the Police Court and
ask for the release from the reform school
of colored girl. The judge, she said,
treated her with every consideration and
terest in the child. She also said, so Law
yer Martin told the judge, that he uhe
judge was glad she mad come to see him
and had not sent one of the "shyster
lawyers" to him.
The Conclusions.
Lawyer Martin here told the old story of
the monkey who had admitted himself the
Lgliest in a crowd of animals when the
question of beauty was under consideration
Giiu Stlu lie OlO HOL WANT the court pre-
sumo for an instant that they thought the
term ''shyster' referred to the colored
NE mbers of the bar.
Lawyer Peyton disclaimed that they had
come to make the inquiries because Of any
color line feeling, and said that the term, if
used. reflected on the white lawyers as
we'll as en- the coored ones.
I'VE like to be mixed up with the white
lawyers he said.
Then some of the others spoke, and still
others were anxious to speak, but there
were too many of them, and Judge Kimball
did not feel that he could waste the day
about such a matter.
The lawyers complained that they were
so frequently referred to as Police Court
lawyers" which. they did not like, because
they prl etice in all the courts.
Judge Kimball laughed at Mr.. Martins
alleged joke about the monkey, said he did
not concede the right of the lawyers to call
him to account for what he said, and de-
led that he used the word "shyster," which
satisfied the lawyers. He said he did re-
member having had a conversation with
Mrs. Lawson several months ago. This
erded the matter.