The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-01-27

HncercQ ueDuntly. anu rs He lOOhcu
quite refreshed and ready for another
bout, more policemen silently grouped
themselves around him in order to
quickly overcome all troublesome re-
pugnance that he might manifest at be-
ing shown. to a CELL. This display of
force probably convinced the prisoner
of the futilty OF q sally, for when or
dered to ret re he simply INDUCED
few extemporized imprecations, which
rang in the police hall as if launched
straight out of hell. l had to give my
name and address as witness and was
told by the inspector that he would ex-
pect me on the next morning at ten
o. clock at the Police Court.
| was at this court at the appointed
time. The access to the place resembled
so much some OF the worst haunts that
l hesitatngly inquired, fearing to be
laughed at, from rudy cobbler if l
was in the right direction.
Cant you read that ere inscription
on that 'ere door-'Police Court|"
said be, indicating an unpretending
building; and then, with a cunning
grin, pointing to various groups.of un-
attractive creatures who exclusively oc-
cupied the approach 10 the place:
| wicketP Hall OF the hupper crust ere,
sir-burglars, garroters and their sweet
hearts. Real pure milk. There amt
one of them that don't deserve capital
punishment" -
No doubt it was a bad lot of ruflians.
A lady had Just alighted out of her car
Tiage, and as she had to pass before
them in order.to reach the court, which
has only that entrance, their looks and
sneers would have been enough TO an
noy divine, while some shclled out
words that would have produced excite
ment at a canteen OF marines. ht'h .
1t is uncomfortable to speculate on
what might happen in such q place if
! policemen were not there to Keep it, as
it were, orderly. One OF the regretable
results of this state OF things is that
many among the nervous portion of the
community are afraid of going to these
courts, and that the ruflian brotherhood
knows it and turns it to account 1t
seems as if some were daily deputed to
be there for the sole purpose of making
the place unapproachable. The others
come to show sympathy with those
of their. friends who have had the mis-
hap to be found out, and to cheer them
up as they enter and depart in the police
van. 1t is Just to add that much has
been done lately to render the APP
proaches of the London police courts
less Objectionable. .....
One of the policemen who had appre-
Bonded Jim on the last night, having
seen me, took me into court. 1t was a
large. clean, lofty room, yet the air was
unpleasant on account of the unwasheG
| IS I. ~ g = ,o u
lie present. This public was composed
of the same set of wanderers described
by my friend, the cobbler, as the upper
crust.' Three or four detectives scat
tered in the place quietly watched all
about them, taking particular notice OF
the prisoners at the bar in order to say
what they knew of them or to make
their acquaintance.
Jim was introduced and placed at the
bar. His VIGOROUSLY bad, character
gained for him the distinction OF being
attended by an extra policeman. Be-
fore even noticing the magistrate, he
! looked around and smiled to a few
friends who were in the court. The first
witness called was the wife of the pris
, oner. Every one looked for her. Jim
fierce visage turned deadly pale. Three
times the usher called the same name,
but his summons remained unanswered
Suddenly policeman entered the court
by the public entrance and said few
words to the inspector sitting by the
witness box. This official arose anC
begged the magistrate to hear the
agent, as he could explain the woman:
absence.
The policeman was sworn, and, hav
, ing given his number. proceeded to re
late that according to his instructions
he had gone to the lodgings occupied
by the prisoner and his wife to bring
4. the woman to court He had found nj
} one on the premises except another
l ledger, a seamstress, who had told n
that Jim's wife had disappeared. He
. was inadvertently going to repeat the
{ seamstress' conversation, when he wa
3 stopped by the magistrate upon thu
: plea that hearsay was no evidence. HI
only added that the woman was il
court, if his Honor wanted to put any
/ question to her. The seamstress wa
3 put in the box, and, having kissed thu
, Bible, on the conclusion of the perfect
| ly unintelligible words of the oath, ir
reverently mumbled as customary b,
: the usher, she was invited by the clerl
{ to say what had happened in the morn
8 ing between herself and the prisoner
wife. She then narrated that early il
| the morning Jim's wife had got up, al
though looking very il and hardly abl
to stand, and that she mad told her tina
+ she was going away because she knew
+ that the police would fetch her, an,
! take her before the court to depos
' against her husband. She had sub
= sequently gone out and the witnes
J. l. 4 - l. =.