New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
BENCH AND BAR.
GATHERED AMONG LAWYERS AND IN
THE COURTS

| GATHERED AMONG LAWYERS AMI iN
THE COURTS.
The close connection OF the courts with odd incl
| dents OF city life Is seldom more Closely s"o"'
than 1t was by the various court proceeui"s' "
last week. The chance meeting at theatre. ie"u
| ing to an infatuation and to groundess oeieis u,
reciprocal ted affection and all the other comic anu
tragic features OF the Daniel Levy examination
| before Judge B.schoff might alone form the SUD-
| ject Of a romance. An action by man VINO "as
struck In the right eye by live electric WIRE anu
the suit to recover damages for false imprisonment
| in which the plaintiff was passenger VINO was
charged by al elevated railroad tranman Win as
orderly conduct although he asserted that ne was
committing disorderly act. both bring 20 mnu
some of the not unusual dangers OF travel along the
city streets The request for an injunction 10
restrain the police authorities from exnibi.ns y
picture In the Rogues' Gallery and the attempted
prevention OF interference with the performance at
Chinese theatre because 1t was sucn soien, n
among tbe peculiar cases on the equity side OF the
court. Then Their. the question as 70 VINE tner
II was reasonable to ask that new clothes snould
be furnished TO insane persons before they were re-
cevod at an asylum. a habeas corpus case, II.
which the father OF an italian young woman sought
to obtain possession OF his daughter. ended by
the production OF a marriage certincate pe.wecn
supposed be improperly restraining her liberty
nnd ere eta 1 we're l mf e on
told on the trial OF still another action Inc
arguments In some OF the appeiate courts are -
nersons Who are NOT lawyers but the developments
In many OF the rals and IN some c S He Illustrate
human nature In Its peculiar phases tnat !, ~ not
remarkable there men who. having no business
to transact wander from court to court In search
OF interesting or exciting court proceedings
The Legislature continues to make little progress
bills OF especial interest to lawyers There have
thus far been few changes in procedure. OF the
several bills relating to jurors one has become
law. Some of the others are opposed by Com
missioner Plimey, as they add TO the already large
number Of exemptions from jury duty. Among the
Page allowing the attachment OF property In suits
affects only domestic servants small dressmakers.
ml!ners and others whose claims are usually rec,
be popular among lawyers There is a close watch
funess lest especial privileges should be grantee 10
ants and others to whom small amounts are due
entitled to especial protection from the courts
The term Legislative lawyer may have good or
bad meaning. 1t is sometimes used as polite
phrase for lobbyist" but II has come 10 have a
better and broader meaning since the mass OF egls-
lation has increased so rapidly within the last few
years. There are lawyers who watch legislation In
the interest OF municipal governments and OF asso-
Citations OF various kinds and who make n speciality
OF preparing bills we'll promoting legislation
Of value to the communities which they represent.
No other OF these lawyers has so arduous task
as the representative OF the NewYork City govern
mcnt at Albany The number Of bills which he has
to watch runs up to several hundred at each session
on almost all Of these there are hearings to be at
tended and investigation will sometimes develop
There special matters OF legislation In which the
city Itself is tereted and the bills on these sub,
through the committees and both branches OF the
legislature has to be carefully watched Bis are
has to be exercised In selecting the persons to in
h nm ana %he these ara caeu
and consci ,ntorsly performed ~ they have been
vovei is extremely great. and only the most con-
slant care and watchfulness IL effective In preserv-
Ing the city from the many attacks upon It's treas
ury by those who have public interest to serve.
peculiar circular has been received by some
lawyers recently from firm which offers to give for
a certain monthly compensation. n statement OF tho |
value OF The personal and OF the real property OF
every person whose will Is filed for probate Mt the
surrogaics office. The financial value Of such in
formation Is not at once apparent. but II IL asserted
that considerable sums OF money may be made by |
those who particularly delicate In taking ad
vantage % THEFT knowledge OF tho facts. II Is sug-
gested that in some cases an examination OF judg-
ri.nts might lead those who had the Information to
md that the heirs had legal claims outstanding |
against them. which were OF no value before. but |
which became valuable on account OF the legacles |
which they would receive. In other cases where |
there was liiilc personal property but much real |
estate the persons having the knowledge might use
to buy property which must be sacrneed to settle
such way any considerable amount Of money could |
be made, but evidently some one believes that the
information may be OF pecuniary benefit IL Is |
doubtful however whether the originator OF the In.
for any great length OF time
The apparently lnexcusable delay in removing the |
Sherffs office to the brownstone building still |
keeps the Surrogates Court In It's crowded quarters
The lesurcy In which the work in the |
brownstonc building goes on is annoying 10 those |
who know the necessity OF the change which Is to |
be carried out. A few carpenters working slowly |
put together some boards into the shape Of desks
and partitions but no attempt is made TO push the
worn forward TO a speedy conclusion. The quarters
TO DO provided for the Sheriff are large ana pleasant.
and the deputies az well as those having business
with the office. will find the transfer decided i'm
provement. Even with the additional room OBJ
lained by. the removal OF the sherrs office the
aecominotated for The transaeion OF the Immense
A reading Of the opinions which Justice MacLean
is delivering at the Special Term shows that the
readers OF New-York judicial opinions have new
blessing to be thankful for. lie is possessed Of
literary style original as that OF either Justice
Pryor Justice McAdam and an even greater
terseness and crspness Of style than either OF these
Justices. What could be more delicate than this criti-
cism Of some afndavits made by wife and some
friends to show that a man was OF insane nina:
Even II amIable perjury be not TO be predicaed OF
any OF them the circumstances and purpose or
their making allow a suggestion Of colorng." The
Justice gees to show that before he fed from
the country. the man may have been excited by
knowledge OF his evil deeds to excessive drink
ing and to a condition OF apprehension which led
persons to believe him insane. alcoholism
now attributed to him. Collapse may have come
In aid OF both drink and fear. when once the ship
was free from the dock whereon were appearing
the very creditors he must escape. In refusing to
continue an Injunction TO restrain the police from
Interfering with the performance on Sunday at the
Chinese Theatre, Justice MacLean said that the
allegation that there was performance on the
stage OF the Chinese Theatre was mot disproved by
dispositions that the piece is very dismal one: nor
that IL is n task to watch II through; nor
that financially 1t Is failure; nor that II Is unin-