The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-21
TRICKS nv SERVING sUBPOESAs.
A Man who Took Delight in Circumvent
ing Elusive Defendants.


The best subpoena server that ever camc into
my Office was a scamp who was we'll educated
and well born and did the work because he
enjoyed IT," said an old-school criminal lawyer.
This fellow whose FIRST name was Dick, who
wns generally known as Slippery Dick, might
have achieved success In anything that he devoted
himself -, but his disposition was such that
he found pleasure only In bringing disappoint-
ment 10 other people He was thoroughly vicious
in this wsy. He would have been a good tor
turer In the days OF thumbscrows He always
asserted that he was a graduate OF big Eastern
college and think that ho told the truth. His
ingenuity was wonderful and because OF II his
career as subpoena server was ended.
dick had many OF the qualities which arc at
tfibutcd 70 Sherlock Holmes but he said that
the detective line didn't interest him The crimi-
nal was always expecting arrest, and when II
came he was not very much surprised. The
person who had avoided the service Of papers.
however, was always very angry when circum.
vented and In that foct was Dicks greatest re-
ward. My Office in those days was in Centre street
not far fr0nthc old Tombs and Ihad good many
divorce and nlim9ny cases which were frequently
difficult 10 handle. My clients were not from
the upper circles Of society. but as was not able
g. choose | took everything that came along.
| Tho first case in which employed Dick was thnt
| OF al actor whose wife mad obtained q divorce
| who had not paid UP his alimony. He had
| some property and 7 was anxious TO serve papers
his headquarters in New, Jersey or Connecticut
to SS I ,n nfsi sSs
| mighty good care. however, 10 leave the State
before midnight and l. Of course. couldn't serve
my papers ON Sunday. I tried every old dodge.
caught by them THIS hide and seek game had
Dick came into my ONCE and asked for .ort
| lie showed me letters from score OF lawyers
eommcnding him 10y work done and he asserted
been given Ia him. I considered this actors
case as hopeless and turned the papers over to
| him
III you can serve these papers said ]. you
will accomplish something that has floored every
Other sfE'f, and can give y2p other ether work
| next Monday morning II he comes TO town, he
Il had forgotten the case when a messenger
came e. ne early on the next Monday morning
and asked me- 10 come tO the Jefferson Market
when reached the court and looked over the line
. Of prisoners was amazed to see among them
my new ,suhprna server and the actor on whom
| ! wanted To- serve the papers The servers face
WAS scratched and the actors clothes were torn.
When they were brought before the police magis-
other The Justice talked to them and then
they Withdrew their assault, charges and got of
Dick followed the actor o ' Of co% and served
the papers on him in the street never saw
man rage as that nc'Cr, did He may haye been
Au,',"uB lIutl SuIhe CIV paIt pu' ur uiu " weli
INC Scrvct looked as Happy as ms vicious ,aco
| wo",u pr.nnt lie hhu mr' .hc ac.or AZ o CLOCK
w, ne nlrh, nel"'e. hurty'hg 10 Re' rnin az the
| Mwlahu enltaI tn lhE. MN UP 70 onncchcnt
| mmh"ul any warning VIC setvrf ptcned into MN
| mmlll aN"le'g uluW IN lhr lhCr anu IN nNe ninuts
All MI W. frn were tu,tounueu ny ctpwn 'ha'
n aI, w" n, re-, racn nfruIru ,nr n,net OF ~
Nhu' "h ~, VIC P"ilCe artlvcu anu op'n were ar
| rested Tn" actor could not get bail at that hour
| am we schenc 70 hnla MN over on criminal
! nm nm, x Nnrhru Az ght " was Simple do1go.
hnu " mas nern Workrn snsc, nu. y" 'n's p'ocesss
%rNet ~ que 'nc cfeah OF neNisine ". ne dd
~, oI Mn,h LOT TT ~ inc ,.nic ana nho.hei nhd
| I'uu'nun, NC ""u'u uechhe 'o "h me 'ho ne'hous
Oh M Sct'icr' L. =.
| i,i, IL! 80. ,>,Ek ~ Manc ne would 10y
,,,mmuHn nu" u ! CIV, snorh AWAY Sphe "'ner
| "i,W M''uil pacutr ,nem,