The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-21
MAGISTRATES DEBTS
SAID ORULECOURTS
Inquiry into Alleged "Rinr-
Points to Lawyer Who
Holds Notes,
ONCE UNDER INDICTMENT

At least one City Magistrate, wross
name has been mentioned in the Ear As
ISOLATION Inquiry into former Judge VII
lard H. Omsteds conduct a LAWYER yyn,
was once under Indictment and has boon
known, especially on the East side, as Oh.
counsel OF an alleged "pickpoclc' trust"
and a civilian official close To- the BulfJ
OF Magistrates are involved In an invest
cation OF a system said to surrourt 'la
Magistrates Courts in this city which v..
be prosecuted as soon az the grievance
committee OF the Bar Association rcac.a,
a conclusion In the Olmsted case.
The need for certain amount OF house.
cleaning In the Magistrates Courts, It wa.
learned yesterday. has already been dts.
cussed with the heads OF several depart.
ments of the city administration As THs
SUN said yesterday. many of the Magis.
trates themselves have tried TO do away
with some OF the unethical practices but
their efforts have been balked by Others
both inside and outside the courts
The whole matter will be threshed ON,
II Is promised, In d meeting OF tho Board
OF Magistrates at the end OF the month
The inquiry into alleged unprofessional
conduct on the part of former Judge DIN.
sted. II Ia fe!t, has paved the way for
sweeping reforms in the procedure OF tho
Magistrates Courts Also the alleged lent
ency of some of the Magistrates In certain
cases will be considered.
The lawyer whose activities ara 20 be
Investigated. II was said yesterday. has
until recently been under Indictment for
grand larceny, but the Indictment has
been dismissed. Az a result OF tho case
out of which his indictment grew three
men are now In Sing Sing prison, two
OF them for grand larceny--thoy were
pickpockets-and one for perjury The
two pickpockets, II Is said, were ed.
vised 10 skip their bail IN a disorderly
conduct charge. which happened 20 come
before hard" Magistrate; but when they
returned TO appear before an easy" Mag
istrate they found that the District A.tor-
neys office had secured indictments
against them.
1t was learned yesterday that this law.
yer holds notes made out by some OF the
Magistrates and By means OF these Sc
cures light sentences for his clients. Some
time ago he found himself Unexpectedly
facing a hard" Magistrate, who threat
ened TO report him to the Bar Association
when he refused TO 20 on with the case
and finally gave his client six months lie
had sought an adjournment because one
OF his friends on the bench, whose nots
he held, II is alleged, was TO sit In tina,
court the next day.
Another interesting discovery made yes
terday was that OF q system of espionage
said 10 be kept on the happenings OF the
MaRistrates' Courts by an official who Is
associated with the Board OF Magistrates
one OF the court officers In each court is
said TO be in touch with this person and
10 supply him with useful information
about the conduct OF the court for the
benefit OF his Clients" among other inter-
ests in the city which frequently becoms
involved in court actions. This alleged
espionage system, IT is said, has often
been brought TO the attention Of various
Magistrates but they have found 10 A.
most impossible 10 do away with ,is head