The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-11
POLITICS IN POLICE COURTS.
MMANUS SEEMS TO BE THE boss
OF ONE or THEM.

81 IkIAUICs III ~ DV -
Tain Lawyers Favored Justice Is SUBJ
verified at the Demands Of Politicians.
One of the scandals in the conduct OF the
police courts of this city has been that dis
trict leaders and political heelers nave been
able to subvert justice when the machine
seemed TO den and it. Many of the Magis-
trates who would scorn any suggestion
OF bribery will listen to a subtle form OF It
and discharge prisoners when politicians
whisper in their ears. Some Of the coul To
have been run practically by district leaders,
even when Magistrates with whom poll
ticians have no influence whatever are
sitting on the bench.
One of the courts is now in practical con-
troll of The MoManus and his followers.
They have control OF the police in the court
through some mysterious power. They do
a large part of the bond business and they
are allowed to nave the privilege, to a large
extent, Of forcin lawyers on prisoners who
have money enough to pay and who wish to
secure the utmost leniency. That court is
the West Side court in West Fifty-fo, nth
street. II is a matter Of common gossip
that. despite Magistrates and clerks who
may be honest. what the McManus follow
ing a y there usually goes. The scheme is
worked largely through the police.
The head policeman in the West Side
court is Sergt. Hughes. He likes to oblige
the McManus people. Nearly all the men
under him, whether they like to do so or
not, fall in line. There are two or three of
the police squad who rebel inwardly and
say nothing. The others are able to take
o hint. The result is that the MoManus
lawyers are allowed inside the rail and
have free access to the prisoners who are
lined up before the Magistrate waiting for
their cases to be called. These lawyers
and their runners are also permitted to go
freely inside the little hallway running
back to the court prison. The prisoners
are marshalled in the hallway before the
Magistrate comes in. Ordinary lawyers
have no such opportunities.
Some of these who have business daily
in these courts complain that so potent
is the influence OF the McManus clan with
Sergt. Hughes that he frequently stands
by the door leading to the court prison
and beckons to certain lawyers. They are
admitted to the enclosure and go down the
hallway, What takes place there is not
known to those who have observed what
has already gone on. Frequently these
lawyers appear later as counsel for certain
IN DflkODtISs Inc BtlthkNh VI NhO
Influence is attributed to nothing more
than a desire to oblige the district leader.
whose word is practically law in the dis
trict in which the court Is situated.
The activity of the police in behalf OF the
politicians has taken on a new form lately,
practically that Of INSTRUMENTATION to the
court officials. A few days ago the chief
clerk of the court called to Sergt. Hughes
and said to hin that he wanted certain
policemen who had had cases in the court
3. - ~ bod nat mazda rnYnRfo RI fha nlnrL
Of the disposition made OF them sent for.
The CLERK had sel eral blank spaces in his
books. No one could tell by looking at
them what had been done with the cases.
Only the policeman who had made the
arrests knew. When the commissioners Of
accounts should examine the books they
would how faulty work unless the spaces
what do you want Of those mem" asked
Hughes.
made OF cases they had here was the
reply.
aWeII, ! won't send for them said
Hughes. Il tahe my orders from the Com
missioner and no n else. l Nont take
orders from you"
Il think YOU had better send for them,'
said the clerk. "orIu see about It,"
You had better see about il. When l
get the proper orders Ill send for Them
and not until them
mi RSJ The OTueTb, VII Tie CieTh, duu
when they do come from the Central Office
they'll probably come through me-"
@Iknow no other superior than the Central
Once" said Hughes, and there the matter
rested. The chief clerk he's not yet taken
up the matter with the Police Commits
sfoner.
The chief clerk is the representative of the
Magistrate in keeping the police court go
ing. He is supposed to have the police at
tached to the court under his control so as
to preserve order and keep the machinery
running smoothly. 1t wa in difference to
routine court business that be asked that
the policemen who had beer negligent in
their duty should come to court. The
Magistrate sitting at the time heard Of the
INSTRUMENTATION, but took no steps to jack
up the sergeant.
Not long ago a woman who had been ar
rested for keeping a disorderly house was
committed under bail. IN hour or so after
the case was disposed Of a clerk looked up
and saw the woman still In court. He
called a policeman and asked why the
woman had not been sent back to the prison.
The reply was that he had got orders to
allow the woman to stay where she was
until a bondsman should arrive. When
further inquiry raj made as TO why special
favor should be allowed to the woman,
while all the others had to comply with the
rules, the reply was that one Of the McManus
clan had made the request and the police
deemed IL necessary for obvious reasons to
ob1ge the man.
The police said openly that they feared
transfers, and there was nothing else to
do but let the Nom anuses have their way
when such a request was made. The sit
uation has been reached In the West X
court that a MoManus request b now re-
garded az an order bv the police. Sergeant
Hughes NAV be able to explain why this
10 so, and there is a rlmor that Commits
sioner BINGHAM Ia likelv to ssk him about
It. The Nom anus clan has not been friendly
. the present adrr inis'ration.
Some OF the Mem lawyers In the
West Side court now 20 TO the extreme OF
scolding certain Magistrates whose places
have been secured solely through rolitics,
Thev scarcelv ever 20 through the old form
Of ask ing to soc the MAGISTRATE privately.
When thew don't like what the Magistrate
decides thew ave been heard to exclaim
that thew will see about the matter and to
give hints hat thev will bring the Ma1is-
trates TO terms. There are three Ma9is-.
trates who Rave sub~ tilted TO this in silence
Those who are fam liar with the poings on
In the West Side court are horin9 that
some wav will be found to check the in
fuence OF the McN nus clan and the APP
A parent police particir alton In II.