5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE LOWDOWN (Continued from page 6) In the same category as the am- bulance hound is the shyster who, like the sly fox he is, stalks down the jail corridor to your cell to see if he can get some money out of you on the pretense of helping you out of your trouble. He will have as little charity for you as his namesake in the wild. So when this fox puts in his appearance, act accordingly. To clinch the shyster angle, it may surprise you to know that the fellow probably learned first of your predica- ment from the police. You will then have even more reason to beware of him, because he may well have a stake in the cops, and as a return favor to them for their tip-off about you, will be- tray you to them! Play safe by getting an attorney of your own choice. In this, your friends can often be of help to you. Get a Good Lawyer Another important thing to keep in mind is that regardless of the nature or circumstances of the charge placed against you, you have the right to a trial by jury, unless, of course, you chose to be tried otherwise. As defendant, you can not be compelled to testify unless you wish to do so. : It is here that the services of a repu- table barrister of your own choice will be of the greatest value to you. As your attorney he will not only advise you but will see that your rights and privileges 8 are respected as the law allows. If it is possible for you to obtain bail, he will help you with that. He will also provide you with a copy of the com- plaint or charge against you before the trial. He will interview your witnesses and see that they appear in court on the day of your trial. Beware the Public Defender! What if you haven’t the money to hire an attorney? Then the judge who is to hear the case must appoint one for you —without cost. This brings us. to the Public Defenders. Keep away from them, for they can give you an even worse deal than a shyster would. Remember that you can not be forced to accept a Publie Defender’s services. There have been instances where, seek- ing to further his own selfish interests, a Public Defender has thought nothing of delivering a client-victim right into the hands of the prosecution. There is more than one person languishing in prison who could testify to a P. D.’s black treachery. Of course not all P. D.’s are dishonest, any more than all police- men are grafters. A last thing you should know is that if you are reasonably sure the police have done you a rank injustice, police- men are not exempt from criminal pro- secution. But here, it is well to have a you. About all that can be said here is that experience seems to bear out the fact that it is better to seek redress through civil action than by criminal prosecution. —Wm. P. Schramm AMICLOOO@ (Cl QO) (C(O) mM