The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-20
BEFORE THE MAYOR.
Glimpses Of Character in the City Police
Court on Monday Morning.


Monday morning usually brings to the City
Court larger number of laborers to receive the
wages Of their misdoings than any other three
days in the week. Two boys stood before his
Honor yesterday morning at the opening OF
court to answer to the charge Of playing ''oontz
James Shelton (colored) was fourteen years old.
and James Ferriter twhite) acknowledged to
nineteen years. though he did not look so old.
They are two of gang of boys who persist,
after repeated warnings. in playing 'oontz" on
the postoffce steps and about the Journal Office
corner. 81 don't knaw anything better to do
said the Mayor, ''than to punish these boys for
gambling. l have allowed a number of smaller
boys to CO. but these are large enough to punish.
Five dollars and costsp-which meant nineteen
days in the work-house
Lyman Powell, Of English avenue. was
charged with harboring an unlicensed dog. Mr..
Powell testified that he had got rid ofshe dog
by the time he promised the policeman be would
do so.
"Did you kill him9" inquired the Mayor.
NO. sir; put him on freight train at the
Belt crossing, and the conductor said he would
take him to Logansport. The officer here mod
ding toward Officer McCainl said he would Kill
Mccain lindignantly)-"I didn't offer to do
any such thing. wouldn't kill dog for half
dollar"
The Mayor-"Tm inclined to let this gentle
man co. And the gentleman went away joy
fully.
Lin Bentford, man forty-two years DID, or
whereabouts, was placed in the prisoners pen.
He looked about him very shamefacedly. ''You
are charged with assault and battery on your
wife. Guilty or not euiltya" asked the prose
cutor. II wish she was here" said the culprit;
II guess she will plead the contrary to that"
They had been married about two years.
She was there-a quick. nervous-iooking WON
an. not more than half old her husband,
with snappy pair of black eyes and mobile
mouth capable of much conversation. She seat
ed herself on the witness-chair, and as she
turned to face her husband both burst into tears.
II didn't strike her, Mr.. Mayor" said the
shamefaced man.
Eyes you did. Lin" said the little woman, her
eyes swapping
IF did, didn't mean it. / was never in
court of Justice before except in Wyandotte,
Kan, where sat as a iuryman in q murder
case. have been soldier. your Honor. and
would sooner face battery than be here this
minute on this charge My wife called me
vile name"
Eyes, did, snapped the little woman, "and
''My wife is excitable and hysterica and
when she gets to talking doesn't know what she
says or does. One word brought on another.
pushed her on the shoulder. l don't think
used my fist, but my open hand.
The wife nodded, and in strong whisper said
''fstn
II told her to sit down and take care of the
baby. and pushed her on the shoulder
The mention of the baby did it. The woman
was relenting. When she testified she swore
that she didn't tell the policeman he had
knocked her down. striking her number of
times and beating her over the back with cane.
He struck me once said she, "but il didn't
amount to anything. He raised the cane, but he
didn't strike me with it. He didn't hurt me at
ALL"
"You may think said the shame.aeed man,
that I'm to blame. but I'm not"
Here Mrs. Bentford said appealingly to the
court: Il will have to go home. I've left the
baby among strangers.
Mr. Bohmie, the carriage manufacturer, testi-
fed to Bentford as being painter in his en-
ploy; that he was sober and Industrious, and in
timated as he left the stand that the wife's quick
temper put him in trouble He had taken Bent
f0rd's petition into the G.. A. r.
Here the shamefaced man trembled violent
IL, and cutched the railing to keep from falling.
1t WAS palpitation of the heart, to which be is
subject, and brought about by excitement. A
glass of water relieved him.
The Mayor said that the man might be guilty
on strictly technical rules. but that the wifes
testimony hardly made out an assault.
"Of course, said the Mayor, 'sif thought you
guilty OF an assault no one would want to put
heavier punishment on you than would. l
don't want to make mistake by Furnishing you
on mere guess !"
Bentford-''Thank you. OF course wouldn't
strike a woman. | think you have perfectly ex-
onerateu me in the opinion of the neighbors"
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