The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-14
BEFORE THE MAYOR.
Glimpses of Character in the Trial of Cases
in the City Court on Monday Morning.

in the City Court on Monday Morning
IA big station house list this morning." said
Sergeant Stout; ''twenty-one for Saturday
twenty. three for Sunday"
The Mayors court was not held in the city
courtroom yesterday morning, as that abiding
place of justice is now undergoing repairs, but
in the prosecuting attorneys Office, which. being
smaller and affordIng seating accommoda-
tions for the audience. was not as agreeable to
the usual crowd of loungers who drop in to see
the quality Of justice going round
OIL Harmon. Charles Stetzell. Dick Moore,
John Stevens. Sylvester Overton, Ed McAfee
Willie Harris, Charles Taylor, Henry Churchill
and William Corners, all boys, were charged
with jumping on and off railroad trains while in
motion.
An officer in the employ Of the Union Rail-
way Company said it was the intention Of the
company to stop all persons, men as well as
boys, from jumping on and off the cars The
company does not want to arrest workngmen,
many Of whom are in the habit OF riding on trains
but will do so. as the nuisance and danger are
too great to be allowed to continue ''Some of
these boys" he said, ''catch on the lower step
and hang on-the very worst and most danger
GUS way"
One of the boys. William Corners was ac
quilted. Each of the others was fined 81 and
costa 81 will give the lowest fine this time"
said the Mayor, land keep it at that figure for a
day or two After that. will make it larger. l
am going to break up this dangerous business, If
it can be DONE" q
Hiram Landers, nire years old and small for
his ago, was placed before the bar, charged with
stealing thirty cents He was not bad-looking
boy, and as he faced his accuser, sharp-visaged
woman who claimed to be his mother, he cried
Justify. Said his Honor: II am of opinion,
madam, you ought to try to teach your boy what
is right instead of putting him into prison. L
have my doubts as to whether Plainfield is a
good place for him. I'll send him to the grand
jury. Let them see if there is enough in il to
indict him. The woman who wants to get her
boy into reformatory," continued his Honor
in such an institution herself" She went out
leading the sobbing boy by the arm.
George w. Eckert and Nellie Crouch were
brought in to answer to charge of illicit associ
alton Miss Crouch it came out in evidence,
had been until recently peformer at the Zoo
a vocalist Mr.. Eckert saw her there, thought
her too young for place of that kind, and that
she might be better taken care of. The better
care was to make her his mistress. Miss
Crouch, who came to this city from Peru, her
home being in Cleveland, is about twenty years
old, and not particularly handsome or fascinat
ing person. Mr. Eckert, who is married, is
rather a handsome man of twenty-eieht or
thirty. with as much assurance as a cast.iron
dog. He did not vince at any of the testimony
nor when these two notes were passed about for
inspection:
SEPT TO-
Nellie-Can meet you any place alone for a few
minutes2 You have ruined mo. l don't know
whether can get out of it or not. GEORGE
Nellie-Do you intend to stick by me or not? I am
not going away until Monday morning. Answer by
bearer. 1 am stopping at the Wedde House. Wife
and have separated forever. Let know if you
still think enough of me to follow where lead
GEORGE.
HE made me believe" said Nellie, she hadn't
lived with his wife for two years. and was 60
after that was over. we would 60 to Montana
and get married. I believed in him and trusted
him. I got acquainted with him three or four
weeks ago didn't know until Friday morning
he was living with his wife. Last Friday morn
ing his wife came up TO see me, and haven't
seen him since. The wedding dress ives having
made / said l would give over to his wife"
The next witness placed upon the stand was
her arms child about year DID, bright and
handsome little one. Mrs. Eckert, whose face
bore traces of grief, is very lady like appearing
woman, in every way far superior to the vocalist
plCkeU up hC tHo ZOO. Inc prosecutor was Iu0r-
cful. and questioned her briefly. She discov-
cred two weeks before that he had formed this
liaison, but did not know where the woman was
When she learned she went to the woman and
told her that Eckert was her husband. The
woman told her that she would give him mp
When Eckert was asked if he had anything to
say he nodded his head with an air of noncha-
lence and said, airily: THE facts all spoken"
The Mayor said: 81 will let the Criminal Court
decide what the punishment is to be for this
man. I don't know about the young woman's
case. Let them both go back to the station
house for the present. .
After the court hour Eckert's wife pleaded with
the Mayor for her erring husband and was ready
to do anything that would relieve him of the con-
sequences of his wrong-doing. 1t is understood
that both Eckert and his wife are we'll connected
and Eckerts mother will be here to-day. An
elderly lady besieged the Mayor yesterday after
noon in behalf of Miss Crouch, whom she did
not believe to DO altogether to blame and was
willing to take her and do mothers part by her.