Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-09-04

IN tne ponce court Judge Mills, this morn
ing, the case OF Judge Louis Dent, charged with
assault and battery on Henry Reed, one OF the
editors OF the Capital, was taken up. The com
plainant was present in court with his left eye
confused, accompanied by his counsel, Mr..
Riddle, 70 assist in the prosecution of the case.
Judge Dent, when the case was called said he
would not deny the offence, but wished, after
the testimony was taken, TO have the privilege
OF making a statement in Justification of the
assault.
Judge Mills suggested that he plead not guilty,
which he did.
MR.. REEDS TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Reed testified that he was sitting at his
desk in his office, when some one came in and
asked, "Are you MIR. Reed?" He replied that
he was. The person then said something about
what business the editor had TO use his name in
the Capital, and asked ii the editor was respon.
sible tor the article. Witness replied that he
was as responsible as editors generally are for
extracts from other papers. The person then
sslu, you - scoundrel,' and COM
for few moments surprised witness, but he sue
eeeded in graphing his assailant and defending
himself, when Others came to his relief and
separated them. Witness saw when the man
first came in that he was somewhat excited but
thought he looked too much like a coward to
strike.
SCENE IN COURT.
Judge Dent object to such language, and
appeal 10 the court for protection. The mans
kDowlege of the law must tell him that such
grown gray in his profession, and knows bet
ter"
Mr.. Reed said he was explaining what were
his impressions of the man.
Judge Dent Did not tell you that my
name was Dent"
MIR. Reed presume you did"
Judge Dent" Did not call YOUR attention
to an article in your paper?'
Mr. Reed believe you did"
Judge Dent then produced a COPY of the
CAPITAL and asked witness to read il 10 the
court.
Witness.-"The judge can read it himself if
he likes
Judge. Dent" Did | not say that I went
there not for child's play?"
Witness" You might have said so, but am
not in the habit Of playing with children, ami
did not charge my memory with it,"
Some cross questioning occurred about the
size OF the cane used, and the officer was sent 10
the station house for il.
Judge Dent asked that the article published
be put in as evidence, as it was the origin OF the
whipping.
was here produced. 1t was broken in two in
the middle. at knot, and is a small walking
stick, of some kind of hard wood.
THE NATURE OF THE WOUNDS.
DR.. Buckley testified that he was called on to
see Mr.. Reed. Witness explained the nature of
the cuts on Mr.. Reeds head, one of which was
about three-quarters OF an inch long, near the
left temple. Witness dressed the wounds, and
pinned up with silver pins the cut above the
eye. Several bruises were made on the top and
back part Of the head, from which blood was
OoZing.
Judge Dent asked witness if such a cane
would be
A DANGEROUS INSTRUMENT
in the hands of such a man as himself.
DR.. b. replied that such an instrument might
produce death; it depended on the condition of
the person struck with it.
Judge Dent" So might cut with physi-
clans lancet, or the cutting of corn, | sup
pose" Judge Dent said he did not want tue
public to suppose that he went there to take a
mans life.
OTHER TESTIMONY.
Officer RodericO testified that he heard of the
Ind
Dert, who gave himself up to Linn.
Mr.. Stafford testified that he was sitting in the
Howe, when he heard a noise overhead, and
went up there, when he found this man beating
MIR; Reed, and on offering to separate them
through you" He held half the cane in his
hand at that time, as if to strike Mr.. Reed who
was bleeding When he said that he would put
ball through him, witness told him that he
would smash his head if he attempted to.
Judge Dent.-"Did say that would put
ball through your"
Witness-''You did,"
Judge Dent.-"Was [ standing near enon oh
to lit Mr.. Reed had desired to?''
Witness "Not at that moment"
Judge Dent.-"Did you threaten me?"
Witness.-'sNo, sir; said it was q cowardly
act to strike an unarmed man."
Judge Dent.-"Did you not all surround me
in a tumultuous manner"
Witness.-"NOt at ALL"
Some OF the compositors testified to hearing
the scrimmage down stairs, and to running
down to see the cause Of it, and other circum-
stances above related.
After the above testimony had been taken,
MI. Riddle rested the case, and Judge Den
asked leave to read the article in question from
last Sundays Capital. He handed the paper to
MIR. Dawson, clerk Of the court, who proceeded
to read it.
JUDGE DENTS STATEMENT.
Judge Dent said there was another insinua-
ton in the same paper connecting him with the
McGarigban claim. He went on to say that
this was the first time in his life that he had
ever been arraigned in a cOrTt He had been
in this paper and hadisubmitted -
IL till patience had ceased to be a virtue. Thi>
man thought that AZ he (Judge Dent) had no
replied to these cowardly attacks that he was
coward. To charge him-the brother in-law OF
the President of the United States-with buyipp
out the President, was most infamous and h.
could not and would not stand it any longer
He went TO see this man and was treated as IT
he was an impudent fellow to question him as to
what he should publish. He went prepared
with his cane for the emergency. AS Crom-
we'll had advised his men TO trust in God and
keep their powder dry, SO he had prepared him
self with his walking stick to take summary
satisfaction i'll case he was not met fairly. He
was not coward; if he had been he wonld have
taken his pistol with him. He thought all gen
tlemen would bear him out in his course. What
remedy had he for satisfact ton by the due pro-
cess of law In such cases as these examinations
in these weekly sheets Could he find satisfac-
ton in suing Don Pratt? The common calum-
niator could not be reached but by the walking
stick. The common calumniatOr who follows
the Presidents daughter to Europe to make
some base insinuatiOn about her could not be
reached by law. He appealed to the court that
he cared nothing about the amount of fine ex-
cept as the measure of his guilt.
THK DECISION OF THE COURT.
Judge Mills said he had listened with interest
to the eloquent remarks of the Judge, and he
had been somewhat affected by them. The law
provided remedy for such offences az had been
committed by the editor OF this paper, which
should be recognized by all gentlemen, and
such means availed OF Tor redress. He was
aware that newspaper attacks upon gentlemen
were of common occurrence, and the courts had
frequently been called upon to settle such at
tacks. He did not feel called upon - impose
heavy fine in this case, but would make il com
mensurate with the intelligence and high posi-
ton OF the accused. He fined him
slO0 AND COSTS OF COURT.
Judge Dent thereupcn paid the amount to the
marshal and took his departure from the court,
and the large crowd who had gathered to wit
ness the disposition of the case left the court.
JOHN ROBINsoN's SHOw.-In reference to
this exhibition, which visits Washington this
week, the Boston Transcript says:
"Old John Robinson the famous Snowman.
has buided canvas city OH the fair ground, in
which he has crowded probably the greatest va
riety of attractions ever exhibited by a travelling
IN tsSv alf-,,