Puck — June 18, 1879 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Puck cartoon satirizes corruption in New Jersey's legal system. The central image depicts Lady Justice (identifiable by her classical robes and blindfold) operating a "Court of Errors" where "Justice for Sale / For Cash Only" — explicitly labeling the judiciary as corrupt and purchasable. Two figures on the left appear to be wealthy clients or politicians conducting business with the corrupted Justice figure. The right panel references "New Trials Granted / To Cash" with nooses visible, suggesting that wealthy defendants can literally escape execution through bribery. The caption reads "Your Life or Tour Life," implying that justice outcomes depend on financial resources rather than law. This is a damning critique of New Jersey's judicial system as fundamentally compromised by money.