The New York herald., 1879-07-31
LONG BRANCH JUSTICE.

LUDICRoUs SCENE IN A POLICE COURr-AMEN-
ITIEs OF THE BENCH AND BAR.
veritable Dogberry. according to local accounts
is Police Justice A. q. Lane of Long Branch. whose
arrest for ejecLing q lawyer from his presence
recorded in yesterday s HERALD. number Of years
ago he justice of the peace. and among his per-
sonal friends Commissioner George NJ. Trout
man; but for some reason the two men had falling
out and last fail Troutman opposed Lanes re-elec-
tion and the latter defeated. Aftcrward. how
ever, the Board of Long Branch Commissioners
appointed him police justice. his jurisdictio
tending Only to offences committed under the
local ordinances. Troutman's practice. to a con-
siderable extent. is among this class Of offenders
and in consequence he is frequent practitioner in
Justice Lanes court. The scenes enacted between
the Court and counsel were often ludicrous.
in the old day when Lane was justice
OF the peace and they friends; but
since their enmity they seldom meet without
doing something funnier than anything in Trial
by Jury What gives zest to these occasions is the
fact each puts low estimate the intellectual
gifts OF the other. and either is likely to pick
quarrel with much or little provocation. Almost
the last time these legal luminares tried to outshnc
each other TroUtnan appeared before the Justice in
behalf OF . woman accused of keeping disorderly
house.
1.-The woman's husband present in court o
Witness" said Mr.. Troutman to a HERALD reporter
witnesses sworc that some days before the time OF
the offence OF tho wife OF which complaint was msde
that he intoxicated and noisy. After hearing
this testimony the Justice made short cut to JUS
tce by filming the man SIS and costs although he was
not on trial at all He gave me the money and told
me might keep it IL could beat the Justice and
compelled him to remit the fne."
BLOOD.
There q little bad blood between you. then.
before the affair Tuesday," the HERALD reporter
suggested.
II reckon" was the laconic answer.
'How came that affair aboutg' the reporter asked.
"a colored man named william II. James had hired
a team. which. it is alleged was considerably dam
aged while III his hands. Js,aes arrested six
eight men taking part III the arrest. although
he made little or no resistance, and these fellows
even went SO for as to put handouts
him, although they had no right to arrest him at
all. james taken before Lane. who had no jurs-
diction. the charge not being violation of any
Long Branch ordinance. and appeared to defend
him. As u matter OF course wanted tn get my
of Lanes hands before civil Justices warrant
could be obtained for his arrest and presume that
Lane was anxious to detain him until he could
be arrested | informed Lane that he could
not hold the man according to law. because he had
MT been legally arrested and not legally before
the Court and at the same time told James to leave
the room. Lane ordered an officer to detain him and
then cnsued the scene between us.
The affair is described very funny.
"Arc you sitting u court. and do you claim
jurisdiction in this matter?" demanded Troutman.
"l am not sitting as a court and do not claim
1 Will dctan this man and examine him according to
my own views and according to law.
THAT You can do, lroutman retorted because
your views and the law won't harmonze You don't
know any law.
"Get out OF this room" cried the Justice. 'or
will put you out"
This is not a court. and will get out when get
ready" Troutman replied You have no right to
put me out"
Lane thon ordered M officer to eject the counsel
lor. but as the officer hesitatcd ne did II himself
Troutman then had the Police Justice arrested and
held in 5000 bail charge of assault and battery,
and he insists that hc is going to bring the case be-
fore the Grand Jury.
'.Hc ism I a bad fellow at heart. said Troutman.
'and will do right as far as he knows; but the
trouble Is he doesn't know anything.