What is a pipeline? Chief Morrison cracks down on shyster lawyers and informants Page: 1 of 4
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WHAT IS A PIPELINE?
CHIEF MORRISON CRACKS DOWN ON SHYSTER LAWYERS AND INFORMANTS
The average reader may think that the word "pipeline" had something to do
with the oil field industry, but recently when Chief Morrison begin an
investigation into the activities of a select group of ambulance chasing
lawyers. It developed that three lawyers were getting practically all
of the business at the Houston Police Station. It seemed that these lawyers
were down to the Plice Station to get "clients" out of jail even before the
ink was dry on the stations blotter.
The ethical lawyers of the city after numerous complaints from clients,
as to the Police tation activity, lodged their protests with Chief Morrison
and the Ber Association. It seemed that these shyster lawyers would go to
the jail without being called either by the so-called client or a relative
or friend of the client and after introducing themselves to the prospect,
would offer to get them out>tased with the possibility of staying all night
in cur filthy and antiquated jail, &he deal would be ma e and out would
come the client for an exhorbitant fee. The mystery grew as to why these
small select group of lawyers would always? be on the spot when these choice
clients would get into jail. An investigation showed that one particular
lawyer would get a carbon copy of the jail list at 2s00 o'clock in the
morning and would be at the jail and interview practically everybody in
jail at the crack of dawn. In this way every person in jail with any amount
of money or security would be bailed out by this particular lawyer. On
being interviewed by a Houston Chronicle reporter, he claimed he had con-
nections and friends. The connection that he spoke about from the Police
Station is what is known as a "pipeline". The lawyer did not cl&im to
personally know the people in jail or a relative, which is neces sary accord-
ing to ethical conduct amoung bona fide lawyers before an attorney should
contact a prospective client. Going to the jail to solicit a stranger for
business without a call from the prospect or a relative is also known as
hustling.
It was Intimated in the Houston Chronicle article that possibly a "leak"
was coming from the jail as to the choice morsels waiting to be eaten by
these hungry shysters. lour editor is reasonably informed that a down-
town office building, chiefly rented by lawyers is thick with officers
after each shift at the Police station when these officers go to collect
their cut for the night's activity. It is deplorable to think that a man
that is placed in jail by an officer has to depend on the very same officer
in order to get a lawyer before he can get out of jail. In other words,
the same lawyer that will defend him has to fight the very same "friend"
that gives him the tip to the "pipeline" It has been discovered that
the very same lawyers that get all of the business out of the Police Station
place the greatest amount of guilty pleas in the County Courts at Lav/.
In other words, these very same lawyers are afraid to fight a case against
their "pipeline" friends because they do not want to lose their lucrative
source of business.
It is hoped that Chief Morrison will continue his investigation and fire
any and all officers guilty of this type of conduct of selecting lawyers
for arrested persons and that they will allow all persons arrested to use
the telephone immediately.lt is constitutional right and no officer or
jailer has a right to deny an arrested person that privilege. A person
has a right to choose his own doctor, dentist or lawyer from his acquaintance
or from the louston telephone directory. He should not be ma e by pressuee
to accept a "pipeline" attorney who is not ethical or scrupulous and who is
exhorbitant in his fees because he must pay for the "pipeline" privilege.
It is hoped that the Houston Bar Association will work together with
Chief Morrison remove this deplorable practice of a few members of an
honorable profession. Your editor in his years in tTouston has known and
is friendly to practically most of the lawyers in Houston during his course
in his life as a newspaperman. All revaders of this paper are given this
advice, If It is your unfortunate luck to |$e placed in jails (l) Do not
let any of the officers on duty advise you who to call, you have a right
to use the telephone yourself and can call who ever you want. (2) Do
not make arrangements with the first lawyer that shows up if you do not
know him. (3) Call several lawyers if necessary, and be sure and find out
what the total cost will be for vour case. (4) Above all do not get panicky
or scared because in the words of 01 Henry, "some of the best people in the
world have been in jail", so make the most of it, be level headed and do not
be stampede into hiring a lawyer you do not know and to accept a price you can
not pay and above all if any officer attempts to force a iawyer on y0U$ report
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What is a pipeline? Chief Morrison cracks down on shyster lawyers and informants, article, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth249626/m1/1/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hoston History Research Center at Houston Public Library.