National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-11
POLICE COURT SKETCHES.
FRIDAYS ENTERTAINMENT AT TIL
POLICE COURT

-EhlDA1.S ENI Al ThE
POLICE COURT.
John Key is 3 large, brosd-shouldered, burly
Englishnaan, of welch extraction. Two weeks
ago this man sat on the steps OF Mr.. O'Rourke's
liquor and grocery, in q state OF animated drunk
| enness, and while sitting thus James Peake hap
pened that way, and stopped, for amusement, to
watch the curious motions Of the staggering form.
This was mistake on the part OF Peake, for Key
is q sensitive man. He felt that he the object
of ridicule and, suddenly rising to his feet, he
started for Peake, and caught him firmly by the
collar, and then, with astonishing quickness, he
kicked himself loose, and at the same instant
drew q large bowie-knife from his side pocket,
making violent thrust at his antagonists throat
but missed his aim, and reeleI into an adjoining
tree Peake, in his efforts to dodge the blow, lost
his hat, and the enraged man. snatching 1t from
the ground, decroHned 1t with his knife. He was
now ready for any degree Of ferocity, and as
Peake was darting up street, followed by pair
Of streaming coat-tails, he sought for something
else. on which to vent his uncomfortable rage.
He staggered 4nto the store OF O'Rourke, and
commenced Q series Of threats and menaces to-
wards MI. 0Rourke, which Immediately attracted
the attention OF Mrs. O'Rourke, who came out from
behind the counter and urged the drunken man to
leave the store. He backed himself up against o
saltbarrel, and talked to Mrs. ORourke IN q
manner that made o'Rourke's hair raise with sus-
Sepllple qulckueeb On MS neao, aQQ the cnllls OF
| insulted honor shoot with lightning energy
through every fibre Of his body. But Mira
O'Rourke has the clear grit and, never once fall
tering in her purpose to force the man from the
premises, she laid her hand firmly on his shoulder
| and violently pushed him, simultaneously say.
| ing "Get out" He was lust drunk enough to
strike O woman, and, raising his hand, he was
just in the act Of administering powerful blow
on the woman's person, when her husband, seeing
aalr hnn, r..
which was lying on the counter, rushed up to the
scene Of action, and, filled with righteous wrath
at the indignities and dangers through which his
wife was passing raised his right arm, and hurled
the weight with deadly velocity at the head of his
Wife's abuser. A piercing cry Of "John, am
| dead" came from the lips OF the woman as
she sank uneonsciously TO the floor, with
bleeding and CHASTITY wound inflicted on
her head. The fatal weight had missed Its mark,
and Mrs o'Rourket life was in imminent danger.
This is the testimony as 1t was introduced in the
trial Of John Key, charged with having CON-
mitted deadly assault upon Mrs. o'Rourke.
Gen. Carringtoh, counsel for the defence, stated
to the court after the close Of the examination Of
the complsinant's Witnesses, that they had proven
all that he desired to be proved, and that he
would submit the case 10 the sound discretion Of
the court Amer . lengthy review Of the evidence
and law pertaining to the case Judge Smell said
that It was his sound discretion that the defend.
ant pay 800 fine for the assault on Mrs. o Rourke
and so fine for the assault on Psake.
MINOR CASES.
Charles Lee and John Farrell, grand larceny
of clothing from Mr.. Russell. These are the two
thieves about whom the police authorities Of Balti-
more have considerable anxiety, they having re-
questsd the authorities here TO send them to that
city Is soon % convenient. They were committed
In default Of 900 bail to await the action Of the
grand Jury. John b. Burke, larceny Of pair Of
shoes, sixty days in jail. Addison Lane commit
ted an assault on Caesar Smiths domicile with
stones, knocking out the majority Of the window
lights and door panels Of the structure; sloo bonds
to keep the peace. Chas. Thomas, larceny Of u
worth Of coal; three months in jail. Joseph Esk.
ridge and ]. H. Rollins, charged with larceny Of
oars and oarlooks from Andrew Raynori fined $40
each.