National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-26
KRIS KRINGLE IN COURT.
THE CHRISTMAS DISTRIBUTION MADE
BY JUDGE SMELL.
Some of the winners of Free Quarters
i'm Hotel Crocker or the stoutenberg
Palace-The Court Criticises Humor-
Gus Reports of His Mntinees.

s,, N.,I Nl,n Np., hoe
:" ''"''i oiooN'r w 'i'o ''o",''''''s
ialace-The Court Criticises Humor-
Gus Reports of His Mntinees.
Although Kris kringle had so much work
on hand ON Christmas eve he found time to
trim mn unusuallv LARGO Christmas tree
which bo sot an tbc olorl,,s dos,, IN tbo M
nv" "o '"' y" '"o e'.'N u''N =" '''
lice court, and which stood there yesterday
morning The presents numbered just
forty-seyen, the tickets therefor being
,,,ori,o,l ,,Io,oo,,,, ., ,,t,,1 ,,,,I ,,s,or,s 3
, 1'"' nv" "'vo"y' io"u anu uo'o.oiou9,
concealed weapons NC, together WIN
the name OF thc unlucky one who was to
receive the gift. Judge Smell arrived at
o'clock, and although few seemed to notice
the tree, the clerk began taking OIL the
tickets, aud asking the Judge for an in
terpretation of the words that designated
the prizes, the recipients appearing In the
docks while the donors Of the gifts en-
tered the witness stand, and after kissing q
little greasy bible that would have made
their stomachs turn wrong side out IL such
thing formed part of their anatomy, pro-
ceedcd TO explain the reason of the dona-
tions.
Henry Berkleyw
A colored man appeared. lie had stolen
an overcoat and ilourished razor danger
ously. His ticket was marked "larceuy,n
which the Judge said in this case meant
six months 10 jail.
Eliza Williams T.
EliZa's ticket explained that she lad dis
turbed the quiet of the town of George
town. and the donor farther showed that
she had entered into the ioys of Christmas.
tide vigorously but not wisely. She had
absorbed too much Of the wine that intoxi-
Gates, and stood committed.
At this point Judge Smell took occasion
TO address few words to the reporters
present. He had evidently noticed the in
iclligent expression on the faces Of several
of them, t6aether with indications of an
idea that they might be funny If they tried.
"The habit Of writing up scenes In the
police court,n he remarked, " has been
practiced to some extent. The press Is
very useful and very sufficient and has done
good work, but the police COURTS the court
Of the poor, court where the defective
classes are exhibited. 1logdrth In his carl
catures exhibited the vices Of the rich and
influential classes. / never could exactly
appreciate why the poor should be the
subject of ridicule. congratulate several
Of the papers that have abandoned entirely
all attempts to make sport and exhibit
! their wit in writing up the short comings
of the poor and defective classes. have
only to say that hope the press, so far as
the representatives to-day are concerned,
will follow the example of those papers
which have abandoned this habit"
The Judge afterward explained that he
had no reference TO such incidents as af-
forded amusement, but to light dealing
with those misfortunes for which the pos
SCISSORS are not responsible save to n very
limited degree. 1t scarcely needed a re.
minder to show any one with a thoughtful
streak in his nature that If the heads of the
petty criminals had been formed in another
mold, not ONLY is Il possible many Of them
would have been church deacoris reading
| over next SUNDAYS Bible lesson. Int mighl
| denounce every member of the army of the
"grcat unwashedn who had oyerstepped
the limits sci by The law. Or If the self
same head had had A large intellectual de-
velopment. together with biz bump
wherein lie tile brains that characterize a
rogue, IL is lust possible that the animal
possessing that particular brain might be
| known os n great American noIiticinn7
The next ease was Emgene Chris. n oen-
tlemon Of dark me, with very big white
| collar and nlacid face. tbe last two traits
being the NECESSARY accomnnniments of
| every dude. lie said he had attempted TO
| carry his intoxicated friend home lie even
ing before, but an officer said he was much
more more uruik tIaii MS lilenui ana upon
hin, h tho throa oa 'np un ng ,na TIduoto %
death. W
"'Pon my word, ledge, / didn't" he
| pleaded, but the ildge decided 500 or sixty
days was about the fair thing for him.
"Can ] make speech, judgeS, he per-
sisted. He nude MS speech, but accom-
| pllshod nothing by 1t.
Lloyd johnson was the next mau to
claim gift. The clerk read long spec
| iilcation wherein he was charged with hay
ing tried to make Eliza Brooks see stars
| When the clerk had completed his reading
| the gentleman for whose benefit IL was In