The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-08-20

matter and learn the facts for the purpose
Of submitting them to our readers. With
this purpose in view and with the intention
Of ascertaining whether or not justice of
the peace was supported by the law or was
excusablc in assessing costs against a per-
son when he had been proven inno-
cent and afterwards dividing the costs
between two parties and even forcing the
payment thereof by imprisonment-we say,
to ascertain this-we called upon Justice
Olmsted who we knew was thoroughly
posted on such matters After speaking
on various subjects with the justice and
Wit bout informing him of Squire Comings
action we asked him whether justice of
the peace or police magistrate could with
any authority of law assess costs against&l
person whom he pronounced as not guilty
Of the offence of which he stood charged
when brought before him.
no" was the Justices reply 'He can
only assess costs against man when he
has found him guilty and fined him"
Reporters justice at any time per-
mitted. to settle the costs upon two men
which he originally assessed against one
man."
Justice Olmsted MOT a bit of It,"
We now disclosed to the justice the &C.
ton of Squire Comings, and after having
done so Chief OF Police Robinson made
his appearance in the office. Knowing
that the chief had been present in Com
ings' court when the trial was in progress
and that he had heard Squire Coming's
decision, we asked him what he
knew about the affair. A broad smile
overspread his countenance as he replied:
mo sir; you can't interview me. l
won't talk on the subject"
Reporter can't you be induced to
say word or two concerning the case"
The Chief laughed good humoredly,
shook his head very emphatically and said
II can't tell you word"
Being aware OF the delicacy of the
position he occupies we cheerfully excused
HIM and left the office but had proceeded
but a short distance when we were in
formed that our presence was desired on
the levee. Upon arriving at the corner of
Eighth and levee We met Mr.. Robert
Hewitt and learned from him that he was
a witness to the whole affair and requested
him to tell US all about the case. y
well, sir" said Mr.. Hewitt, "the steam
boat man, Smith, was standing in front of
Raggio's saloon, eating peanuts when a
negro wcnch came along and asked him
for some. He had only three in his hand
and in the act of handing them TO her one
Of them dropped between crack in the
sidewalk and was lost. He then stepped
up to the stand IN front of the saloon and
bought pint Of peanuts for the
woman from q boy who was in charge
of the stand While buying them some
very insulting language passed between
the boy and man and the boys father hear
ing it came out upon the sidewalk with
glass in his hand which he threatened to
throw at the mau. The latter seeing that
he would probably have occasion TO defend
himself, commenced pulling Oft his coat
and quietly asked to have fair fight. At
this junc.ure Officer Wins who had been
standing near by, arrested the river man,
and telling Raggio to follow him, took his
prisoner into Comings' court. was pres
ent in the court from the opening till the
close of the trial, and while have witness
ed many trials in Comings' court, l must
say this one beat them all. After acquit-
ting the prisoner he had the brazen impu-
dence to ask for cost Of 1870 and finally
asked Raggio to pay one.half OF
this amount, and Smith the
other half The former paid his
s215 of the costs without grumbllng, but
the latter refused to pay and he was there
fore sent TO Jail"
Reporter Comings know that
Smith had money!
Hewitt--"Yes. Smith pulled his money
out of his pocket during the trial to illus
trate how he paid for the peanuts and you
ought TO have seen the old sinners eyes
(meaning the Squire's eyes glisten when
he saw it. He saw great big beef steak,
large loaf of bread and God only knows
what all in the handful Of money the prls-
oner showed him and he doubtless
then and there resolved to have
some Of it even though he obtained
possession OF it by violation OF law.
Why, sir, l can with as much right sneak
up to one Of those men (pointing to a
crowd Of men on the sidewalk and put
my hand in his pocket and steal his pocket