Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-28
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE,
A POLITICIANS TROUBLES,
A First Ward Political Boss on Trial for
Vagrancy.

A First Ward Political Boss on Trial for
Vagrancy.
Boney Sewell, the old colored man who
for many years was employed at the Met
ropolitan Theater, has in the last few years
forsaken the stage, taken up quarters on |
street, and become a slave to China gin.
He spends about half his time either in
the city prison or county Jail, where he is
sent Tor drunkenness. a few DAYS ago n
policeman found him dead drunk on the
sidewalk in front of the Lafayette saloon.
on X street. He was carted to the station
house and charge of vagrancy preferred.
When he was called into Court he asked
tT continuance, in order, as he said. to
prepare himself for trial, which was
granted, and Boney allowed to go on his
own recognizance. This he esteemed as a
great favor Yesterday he came into Court
and announced that he was ready for trial.
and demanded that he should have a hear
ing before twelve of his peers. The baiifff'
immediately summoned twelve men from
the audience to act as Jurors.
When the jurors were sworn in. the ex-
City Attorney, who sat next the defendant.
whispered audibly: PLEAD guilty, you
ID fool"
Boney seemed to be panied at such sug-
gesuon, and III most contemptuous man
ner replied: Plead guilty? never. sir I
never A First Ward political wire-puller
never pleads guilty. No, sir Lay on,
Macduil, and id be he who first cries
hold, enough"
When the Court asked defendant if he
was satisfied with the jury, he arose and
glanced over the twelve men, two of whom.
like himself, were colored, and expressed
his entire satisfaction. He said Yes,
your Honor, dem are all my fren's. Dey
knows I'm sober, industrious citizen,
gem man who spends all his earnings in
Sacramento, who served in the fire depart
ment OF this city for thirty years, who has
risked his life many times to save their
property, who raised the first curtain in the
old Metropolitan Theater in 1854, who can
quote more Shakespeare than any other
man in the State, who has trade that he
works At whenever he can get job, and
can prove that he actually labored three
DAYS last summer. Ise willing to trust my
case in their hands. They are intelligent
gem men, who will cOnstrue the law prop
erly, and give deal such as was given by
Portia when she was playing her little
game in the Merchant of Venice Do YOU
catch on, boys?"
Two policemen were put on the stand,
and testified that they knew Boney to be a
OhlneSe gin bum, frequently got drunk,
and never was known TO work.
In his own defense Boney said he ad-
mitted that be was slightly off when ar
rested. The liquor he got in K-street
saloon knocked him out. lie had been
used to China gin, but the article he got in
the k-street saloon was so much yiler than
that sold in Chinatown that he had to sue
cumb. He had only been drunk once since
election. On the day Of the election he was
busy running the can-canners into the
First Ward polls. He voted them all
solidly for Dillman for Chief of Police, and
had by that means ruptured the friendly
ALLIANCES that long existed between himself
and the Republican bosses of the Ward
He claimed to be professional ward poll
hcian. and said he could count upon as
much " indooence and as many votes as
any man in the First Ward.
The jury retired after Sewelrs speech,
and after twenty minutes deliberation, re-
turned the following verdict:
We, the jury, find the defendant, Boney Sew
ell, Esq, not guilty as charged.
CARTER JACKSON, Foreman.
?. S.-We the jury, however, in view of the
fact that warm weather is rapidly approaching
would recommend the Court 10 have Mr.. Sewell
cleaned up. fumigated with vermin extermina-
tor, have him disinfected as it were so that he
might be tolerated within the city limits.
CARTER JACKSON, Foreman.