The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-16
BARNEY MAULEY.
The Scene in Court When He Was Sen
fenced to the Work-hOuse.

Barney McAuley was one of the names that
fell from the lips Of Assistant Prosecutor Nc
Nance, as ne glanced down the list Of those on
the police court docket this morning. The door
leading from the prisoners room was open, and
through it, in response to the call, came the man
who has served the amusement public for the
past thirty years from almost every stage in the
United States. Unshaven, and with hair and
clothing unkempt, he took seat in the prison
ers' row. He was clad in a coat and vest Of
dark blue chinchilla and checkered pants
About his neck was dirty collar, and upon his
head broad trimmed, black Derby, somewhat
soiledL Though a man of massive physique,
with shoulders of Hercules, and broad, fat
face. from which has beamed the humor that has
amused thousands OF auditors, he bore In his
features and the nervousness Of his frame the
signs of protracted dissipation.
You are charged with being intoxicated in
Pearl street saloon" said McNamee. Guilty
or not guiltya'
Looking as if scarcely master of the situation,
McAuiey measuredly responded: Il don't believe
was drunk"
His plea of not guilty was entered, and in the
temporary absence Of the officer who arrested
him, his case was passed for the time being.
The. continued nervousness of the prisoner
awakened some solicitude for his condition, and
he was released from the station corridors to the
registry room. Seating himself upon the bench
to which he was directed, he bowed his head
upon his hands and gave evidence, as he had
said, that he was sick man. By his earnest So
licitation he was accorded portion of what his
stomach most craved, and, in reflective strain,
he talked freely of the then and now" in his ca
reer.
"Could my wife see me now, he said, as tears
chased each other down his broad good -natured
face, .'she would fall dead Oh to be made to
associate in prison cell with plugs, and thieves
and feons, as / am compelled to do, breaks my
heart. never was in Jail before. and should
my old mother who is seventy years of age,
hear of this, it would kill her. That thought,
as it came to me as lay in the cell last night
almost killed me. 1 am forty-six years of age,
and since was a lad | have faithfully served
the public Though | am perhaps the worst OF
my family, am the only one that has ever
without penny. My wife is the owner of a
house on Twenty second street, New York, in her
own name and right which I bought with my
earnings and gave to her, and from which she
playing with Frank Mayo in heavy
role of 'Nordick and it is impossible
for her to come to me, but | have
telegraphed to my brother for money, and he
says Nothing as you are now. but anything
if you come to come to me all right That my
brother was a general in the army and was for
six years mayor of indianapolis, know. have
given him thousands of dollars; his notes have
torn up and thrown away, and yet said the un-
fortunate man, with the sigh of bitterness in his
tones and fresh tears starting from his eyes,
'he permits me to lie here among thieves in q
prison CELL"
TO Sergeant Dunn, who sought to assure him
that he would yet be able to straighten up and
be himself again, he replied, in an incredulous
way:
SELF and yet think had better go back to the
charity hospital, and perhaps if could go to
Mount Clemens when I'm better should brace
up. Should get through all right l shall ask
Bill Florence or some of those fellows for some
money and take trip TO England"
To the query, Have you no money! he re-
piled, Not penny; the people in my company
took everything / had They took the money
from my pockets when I was asleep. and even
my watch, which Toledo banker friend gave to
me, and the chain my wife sent to me from
Paris"
The actors mind was blank as to the Incl
dents connected with his career, during the
three weeks he has given way to the domination
of drink. When told that solicitous friends had
sought to secure his apprehension earlier for his
own good, he seemed astounded and hesitated to
believe his condition could have been such as to
warrant an interest Of that nature Later in the
afternoon the patrolman who arrested McAuley
put in an appearance, and the case was taken up.
He was fined the costs, and sentenced to the
work house for thirty days. He was taken to
the jail in horSe-car instead of the usual con-
veyance, the "Black Maria"
McAuley has been in Cleveland ever since his
company diSbanded, month ago. he has not
drawn sober breath since then, and after wear
ing out his welcome in the larger and more re-
spectacle Saloons has been hanging around low
dives in disreputable portions of the CITY, begging
a drink from every stranger. He was in the
hospital a week, but was discharged, as there
was one willing to pay for his keeping. He
wept bitterly when the judge passed sentence
upon him, saying that he was disgraced forever.