New-York tribune., 1898-01-23
HARPIES OF MULBERRY-ST.
THEY DESCEND ON VICTIMS OF ACClDh'N .
FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BRING
ING DAMAGE SUITS.

The business OF the men who are e'nposeu
a certain class OF lawyers who make d sPoO"''s
Of taking up and settling actions Tor oa'laseS Va
a contingent fee has been materially ihcreas'"
,,,dor ,bo new rule that all accidents OF any I'M
portance occurring In the territory OF ,ho e"'''
New-York shall be at once reported at Ponce ne"'
quarters at No 800 Mulberfy-s..
These men who act as solicii.Ss LOT .he 'H ~,
make their headquarters on the side"ahs o. Mo
berry-st opposite Police HeadC9arttrs ana ""''.
closely all reports received at the police TELEGRAPH
bureau relating to accidents. Nhon & &Wha' ,,rn, NV.
consider be good case comes ln rg' and try
10 obian the case for their employer, the Iu"
interested in thaI lme o' h been repudiaied 10y
the leading lawyers Of the cy ana % .ri'i,' mot vc
Citations have tried to stop IT, out "ANo "0'
For time this business vas reduced d,i 10 ,nc
solic,tors In full force The met bod emplo!eu -,
these men is Is [OG%S is Ed'A al once reported
the station and from there telephoned 10 ioiTf On
place a sip giving the details of the accid9n ,
Is posted on the buletn-poaia ~ J, ,,on ~ on md H.
watches the board closely As soon as nh, ne ,''HS Us
case the board that he com,ieerS I i.ln .nnloV
ProthSeles e, 10 to- himself nfser "a ana 'ne 'a"'''
With the person who had just beea injured 6areIY
out OF the surgeons hands after having ms an az
yyusSes In upon his intended victim. and while the
is still gIoanng win pam UoSiNS ..''Y,lT Fcrfunt
him. In glowing terms ne 2Gb5iu'ii bis injury. lie. on
hehalf of the lawyer he represents OuefS 10 WNI
the case nOthng-;hat Is ne te.iS ~ ,"
that the lawyer vii not cAlfse MN a' an ,1s xllcn
the legal work, and that ne stands an eHsSig, eS,ia
show Of getting large damaes rom o1 ,or,er how
remotely be responsible for he accident. o,,
Often the solicitor is told 10 leave me hUuSe, ai
the friends Of the injured person become indsram'
at his presumption in talking DLs.H[SS ~ the
solicitor gets opportunity - uS htShat' thnt' ,he
usually lands the case ba1, @ eS8ehSe to the IN
iured person or his family mas great "S1s'., l,,
his lawyer has obtained damages. produced at IT, IT,
right moment, usually seil-s matterS tneX When 9
eioned and sealed. shows that the laWyer Is 70
receive 20 per cent OF the i9un, be con-
efrued in favor OF the lawyer in sucA way As -
aaiow MN MN ., tor nominal sam or the person
or corporation thai was the a"eseu Gauss u '"'
@Compromse settlements are usually arranged 6y
these lawyers II the injured i'rsuh NJ 9, a ~
evn eTn negisence then an effort IS made to tIeh'eK
The persons from whom damages ar are Sied ~ tn
t,r,S and fh.n every EFFORT IS made TO Oiui,r,
large sum from the defendant to the acton 81 nS
amount ne would have 10 pay o%u, on "s ,ss ~ case
that the ability Of the lawyer ana ms SonGilo' a.
financiers made apparent They a my ling rea
60 hat his claim is not Of the strongest SO ne
signs stipulation for the ibe % mount ob,
ed rhis he does not get. as he finds ina, ac-
cording 10 oov NE a costs to be deducted from his
share OF proceeds. and ne hilis tA@. s,ore %
,..,s
little value. Object he does. but MS nsiec"'e"' "
shown him and he subsidies. 49,. ~, NO.
more fhan FIVE or six that engage in TINS inel"o% %
ns i,s0' work and employ regular solicitors one o.
.ha rnost successful Of these solicitors mas pee. ~
The business for number of years ald ne @ M u,
docs not know about the proper nethous ~, ui az
proaching people who are injured Is iealy no no
worth knowing lie is al headquarters carry "'''
late - A.. ,,ohos,. vas injured "
ts his usual lament II the slips snow no SCI .I
cdents He thrives on the mstortunes OF Oticts ~
ord * IN narficulary happy frame OF inlin w
IL. i ~ casualties for the day Is large All sorts
OF methods used by these soil itorS 10 i;,il d M
mission 10 tho house whore an injured man i y
ing The solicitors in their daring pose a. OoIoleiS
clerks pol cemen in plain clothes or as nlesI1n IN,
gers from some friend. once Inside the mouse W.!
begin their work. one Of the solicitors after try-
In all other schemes, bought surgeon lhSIi u
,rsnt bar but instead OF having 1t filed with III,
struments lint and handages. the bag Cohtal.eo
na ners showing the work of the lawyer ne repre-.
sented. The solicitor would rush to the scene OF
The accident or to the home Of the injured person
CARRYING mis- bag and would by his actions. lead
the people 10 believe that he was surgeon sent ny
the Individual or firm which might be charged win
causing the accident