The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-17
SCANDAL Or kSGLE OF JUSTICE
WHEREIN A FELONY CHARGE WAS
DISMISSED FOR $1,000.

Scandal about the sale Of decisions by
certain Police Magistrates Of this city has
reached such a stage that not only " it CON-
mon gossip in their courts that they can
he bought, but a scale Of prices IN mentioned.
One OF the Magistrates, according to this
talk, will turn out excise arrests for as low
a. $40 a case. A disorderly house arrest
u worth from $50 to 500. In the days
Of vice squad arrests the price used to run az
nigh as $500. Certain lawyers always
practise successfully before certain Makis-
trates. and in one case II il common scandal
that a bondsman who IL practically the only
one a certain Magistrate will accept always
divides with the Magistrate the fee OF $50
or more that he exacts. This matter isNso
notorious that ~frequenters Of the police
courts talk about il openly.
One story W hich Is something more than
gossip is that ore of the Magistrates now
sitting on the bench received within less
than a year 81 900 for discharging a certain
prisoner. The charge was a States prison
offence The case was adjourned and
adjourned time and again. All the wit
nesses for the prosecution were tired out.
Finally, after an intermediary, who sus-
talns Inc closest relations with tie Magis-,
trate in question. had come on the case was
dismissed and the Intermediary boosted
that he and the Judge got 81 900 out Of it.
The intermediary was a Broadway law
yer and a large part of his income. it in
commonly said, arises from his ability to
settle cases before at least one Magistrate.
In this 81 900 case a State employee had
intimate know ledge Of the facts concerned
and Just now he is keeping under cover
lost his knowledge be- dragged from him
- M
investigation in the case has reached a
stage where official action may he taken
soon, Certain connecting links need only
20 10 supplied. We're it not that it might
he considered a confession of guilt the
Magistrate has intimated that he would
be willing to resign. He was in that frame
Of mind until recently and let it be known
that if his scandalous record was not dug
up he would be willing to get out.
Those who are familiar with police court
corruption say that there is every indica-
ton that the famous pickle trust that used
TO exist in Essex Market police court when
a certain Magistrate sat there has been
revived. Why the combination for eX-
tracing money from prisoners was called
the pickle trust is not definitely known,
unless the name came from the expression
"a rod in pickle" and that certain men con-
trolled the rod. Those in the trust were
a Magistrate, a favorite bondsman and
two lawyers. It was notorious that il a
prisoner wanted 10 be discharged CT fined
lightly instead Of having his case sent to
Special Sessions or TO the Grand jury
there had TO be something put in the pickle
to overcome the rod that was already there
in the shape OF a Magistrates power to
make it uncomfortable.
The way to do business with the pickle
trust was to ask for an adjournment. Some
times the Magistrate would say:
This seems to be a serious case. Don't
YOU think you had better nave an adjourn
ment so as to prepare a defence thoroughly
The prisoner or his lawyer seldom failed
20 take the hint, unless the prisoner
was innocent. Those concerned scarcely
got outside of tho court before they were
approached by the right person and in
formed Of the existence of the pickle trust
and the best way of meeting the situation.
Tho result was that money rolled into
the Golfers Of the trust. The operations
lCCame SO fragrant some time ago that
there was imminent danger Of exposure.
The pickle works were shut down for a
tine and since then are said to have started
up in only one department actively.
MAJ department mas 10 10 WIN luIhlSh-
irg bonds for good behavior. Scores OF
these cases come before a Magistrate in a
week. Probably the commonest remark
heard upon the bench is: ,
We'll, shall have to put this man under
bond, If YOU insist on pressing the charges
or y -hall put you under bonds. Can you
Cct A h~ondsman?"
In most of the cases it is a hardship to get
o hond,nan. Although it was never known
that any Of the thousands upon thousands OF
these bonds were ever forfeited the ordinary
Tclice court prisoner has difficulty in finding
. man who will pledge himself with real
estate security 10 the extent OF $500 for the
prisoners good behavior. There Ia where
the professional bondsman comes in. He
knows that even il the prisoner does not
behave himself the bond will never be
forfeited. He charges from SIS TO $50 for
going on a bond. If the victim demurs
to the charge the Magistrate can help things
along. He can keep the mar locked up
until his friends raise the money. IL some
times takes two or three days, but the man
Etavs in iail until the bondsman's fees are
obtained.
Where the Magistrate can make his graft
is by dividing with the bondsman. The
Magistrate has discretionary powers as to
accepting bondsmen. By refusing every
one thai is offered and by giving finally an
intimation that a certain man would be
acceptable he can practically confine the
business in his court to one man, to the profit
Of that man and himself. In certain police
courts estimates are freely given as to the
sum certain Magistrates make. Tn pickle
trusts profits in the bondsman department
have been as high as from $40 900 to $4,000 a
year.
The legal department Of the pickle trust
confined itself to getting men discharged
or fined lightly. When one Of the attorneys
appeared in a case it meant that all the
terms had been arranged satisfactorily
That case mover went down to Special
Sessions or the Grand Jury. The charge
was changed from a felony to a misde-
meanor. perjury was introduced II neces-
sary, and the result was a disposition Of the