The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-28
LEGAL SCOUTS.
Peculiar Methods Of Some
Lawyers to Secure Ex-
tensive Practices.
THE "ADJUsTER" cRITlzEp.
Jersey City Lawyers Think He
Hurts Their Business BY Ap-
proaching Their Clients.
THE "ADJUsTER" CRlTlzED.

1uefS are a UuMpeI VI ldWSSiS Ia VSi
sey City, more or less prominent, who
appear frequently in the courts and are
reputed to have large practices who Sc
cure most of their business through the
agency of regularly employed runners.
men who make it their business TO search
for persons contemplating legal proceed
ings or who have the slightest ground
on which to bring a suit and secure them
as clients for the men who hire them.
In spite of the fact that most lawyers
are opposed to this system of securing
patronage no less distinguished lawyer
than Mr. Flavel McGee assured a re-
porter for 1.-The News that the run
ners'' or "adjusters,'' as they are pleased
to call themselves, are an established in
stitution, and that the lawyer who does
not recognize this fact and employ them is
apt to lose much business and especially
damage suits in cases of accidents and
violent deaths.
This custom was brought to the atten-
ton of reporter for "The News" by ex-
Judge Thomas f. Noonan, who has lost
number of clients through these legal
scouts who it is alleged offer induce
ments to clients to change their lawyers.
One of his clients who was approached
ence in his hands. The client is Henry
Tietz, of Bayonne, whose. child was kill
ed by a Baltimore & Ohio train at the
Twenty-second street crossing of the Cen
tral Railroad of New Jersey early in
June last. The day after the story of
the child's death appeared in the news
papers Mr.. Tietz received the following
letter.
CHARLES GALLAGHER,
Special Agent and Accident Adjuster,
-i'i'e7 New YORK. June 4, 1897.
Mr.. Henry Teeths (the name was spelled
wrong in the newspapers):-
fered aa in "a a late accident has come t6ssny
sfsnt II wytSoua y4So he wa eou9 fe deiags
and uncertainties of a law suit, and will
call or send a representative to my office,
facts cts be able to effect a satisfactory set
tlement for you, If you have not already
employed counsel.
Yours very respectfully,
CHARLES GALLAGHER.
P. ST. will call and see you. When
calling please bring this letter.
Stamped on the letter, with rubber
stamp, is the following
iSi Hon. ION FRANK McDoNogem; g n !
Chief of Police, Hoboken, N. J.
CHARLES GA,LLAGHER. ),
Care of Mc(See, Bedle d Redle, NO. /
Exchange place. Jersey City.
Following close upon this first letter,
the body of which was in reality a cir
cular printed in imitation of typewriting,
came second, which read
Having heard of your affliction, and
i,7l<i <ir1o IA VII tn effect
tlement for the damages to which you
may be entitled, offer you my services
to bring about a compromise without the
trouble and delay of long and tiresome
If the claim is entrusted to me I will
give it special and prompt attention.
member of your family to call at my
office, notify me at once, and / will call
and advise. as to your legal rights, free
AS you can commence az suit at any
time within three years, if you so de-
sire. do not be lhasty IN signing a con-
your injuries, whether temporary or per-
manent.
To this letter was appended, in addition
to the stamped ALREADY quoted, the
information that Mr. Gallagher has an
Uptown Office. S54 18th St., n. y. City,"
There was also this enclosure
ARTICLE OF AGREEMENT.
hereby authorize Charles Gallagher
to act as my agent and attorney in fact
to employ one or more counsellors-at-law,
the child of Mr.. Tietz, of Bayonne, against
Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company.
And I hereby agree that Charles Gal.
money received either by suit or compro-
mise, for his fee and to pay counsel.
No settlement to be made without my
consent. This agreement to remain in
| force and Is not reVOkable