New-York tribune., 1905-08-06

thief said he had paid $40 in advance to a GER
tain attorney. When he did come he made the
astounding statement that he had got the case
through "steerer," and he specified how much
the 'steerer' got. He apparently let the truth
out inadvertently, He said he himself was
away when the 'steerer'' brought the case IN,
but that his clerk received $40. out of which
he had to pay $40 for getting bail and Sl1 10
the "steerer." The judge denounced such meth
DDS as outrage" and acquitted the prisoner
Many are the duties of the "adjuster-" Among
other things. according TO the confession or a
friend" of one. some time ago, he gets VIII
nesses and fabricates testimony. His speciality
is the fixing of accident cases" When Asa
Bird Gardner District Attorney of New
York County. he unearthed regular system OF
perjury schools. and caused the arrest OF one
or the teachers Implicated The man VINO
confessed Theodore Brown. and he SAID
that he had made the acquaintance OF one Cal
lagher, an "adjuster Gallagher told MN ne
wanted him To act as witness in the case or
an Italian lad who had been Knocked down bv
a delivery wagon. on his cOnsenting. ne went
with Gallagher TO a saloon. where typewriter
statement was given him. consisting Of the testl-
mOny he to memoTiZe. He also went 20 the
scene of the accident. where he observed as
closely possible all the typographical charac-
teristics of the place. Having thus learned MS
part, he appeared as witness before Justice
DugrO. who commented rather uIHaNOraDly OH
his testimony Gallagher he said. had his office
i'm his hat" that he chased ambulances' and
got lawyers for people. Yet. in spite OF all the
danger In the business he said there was little
money i'm il for the underlings. For getting an
affidavit an "adjuster'' got -, and for the ap-
pearanCe of a man IN court. SIU
Another field in which the "shyster" has re-
Gently been operating to greater extent than
ever is that of "luny cases. BY means OF
runners" who can gain access to the asylums.
he gets into communication with inmates VINO
are members of we'll to do families He repre-
sents that he can get them out; nor needs ne
argue long. for most times their weak minus
become at once frenzied with the hope OF liberty
AS he cannot enter into a direct contract with
a lunatic he trumps up some relative OF the
inmate, and contracts with him or her, 10 get
fftrff iona
He then brings an action in the courts. and ne
works upon the sympathies of the judge ana
jurors telling them that his client has been
''railroaded" into the asylum by persons who
want to get hold of his money, or he says that
il has all been done because OF some enemy
spite And if he gets the 'pitiable creature out
and has him adtudged sane. then the relative
and the "shyster" soon make short work OF lne
lunatc's property.
Two cases instiGated. it is said, for such rea-
son. are now pending in Brooklyn courts
That Tammany Hall is the friend of the
''shyster'' is shown in more than one way @ am
many benefits by their operations III tne i,0sPl 1;
tails and courts and il is said that the Tlser
also obtains good revenue from system by
which certain firms of criminal lawyers get lhe
first news of accidents and arrests Irolil pun -,
headquarters Whenever any sincere eii"rt lS
made to check "shysterism. protected pY po-
liticaI influence. il is generally beaten by the
power of Tammany. The Legal Aid Society mas
long been a thorn in the flesh of Tammany be-
cause OF its fearless championship OF the poor
and the oppressed and it's prevention of thou
sands from being heeced at the hands or
''shysters" Tammany has long plotted 10 sub
vert the sOciety's work, and when MI van
Wyck vas Mayor one high city official even
made proposal TO Arthur Won Briesen 10 u ant
manyize'' the society. The society tAen Was IN
sore need of funds 10 carry on it's work ana u
had asked that IL might have grant OF about
81 eco of the city's money that is set apart for
charita BILE uses. The answer that was returned
was that the money would be forthcoming II
Tammany might choose the sOciety's attorneys.
IL this incident. now for the INST time
made public, that MT Won Brieseh reIetrea , III
one os the annual reports Of the institution.
where he said:
Our society Is wholly dependent on private
contributions. and on an increase OF member
ship. II has refrained from seeking public
financial support largely because il would not
expose itself to party control. We wen know
that his honor the Mayor. has criticised the
practice under which charitable Institutions ap-
point officers and servants without showing the
proper consideration to the party In power IN
the matter OF appointments