Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-09-05
IlIs HoNoR, JUDGE sRowN.

judicial department of the municipal
government of Hopkinsville is in the
hands oil u judge who will enforce tho
law fcarlessly, fairly and promptly,
In this work he will have the coop
GRAFTON of an efficient police force and
the good effects will soon be felt.
The people of Hopkinsyille, who vot-
ed for NJ. d. Brown, irrespective of
party, believing that he would enforce
the law and deal out justice to the
terror of evil-doers, will not be dis
appointed. He has begun in way
that meets the earnest approval OF all
good citizens. On Tuesday morning
man was arraigned who had COM
mitted an assault upon business
man at his place OF business and who
coolly entered plea of guilty. A
fine of s7.so was promptly assessed
The prisoner walked around to the
judge and after the old order OF
things asked "a few days" time to get
up the money. He was paralyzed
when the court informed him
that a triangular alternative
confronted him. He could pay
on the spot, replevy the debt
or go to the work house. He was
given the escort of an officer to find
some one to let him have the money
and failing in this was promptly
sent to the work house. There was
justice that will open the eyes ol
chronic offenders and put stop to
violations of the law. On the next
morning white man was arraigned
for engaging in the pleasant pastime
of painting the town red. After sur
rounding numerous cocktails he
mounted his steed and played the
role of cowboy ON North Main street
terrorizing the people and chasing
ladies and little children into the
nearest places of security. Judge
Brown gave him fatherly talk and
punished him to the extent of $50, an
unheard-of amount in the City Court
of Hopkinsville. And yet the fine
was light one. This mans breach
of the peace was compound fracture
He violated the laws against drunk
enness, fast riding, keeping the peace,
and moreover endangered the lives oi
women and children who happened to
be- on the streets. He was sent to the
work house and when he gets out
it is safe to say that he will have
respect for the law that he never hat
before. Go on, Judge Brown, in tn
way you have started and the KEN
TUcKIAN will pat you on the back whel
you are right and be as light as pos
siblein its criticism when you go wrong
And while We are on the subjec.
we would call your attention to q
double duty you are expected to per
form. The records Of your Office will
show probably hundreds of cases ol
fines that have never been collected
No matter if the parties fined are
your best friends, issue capiases anC
clear up this back business. Yo,
have no idea of the magnitude of it
Or the profit such course would
bring'to the city. These fines for
merly DISTINGUISHED voters in city
elections, but several years ago the lis
became so formidable that the Re
publican Representative had the char
ter amended and struck out the pro
hibitory clause. Since that time thu
list has been growing and nobody ha'
been interested in seeing these fine'
cleared up. 1t now devolves upor
you to put some business methods
into the machine of justice and have
these fines paid or worked out.
There are also number of or ordi
nances that have never been enforced
that should be given attention. One
of these is that against vagrance, which
has existed heretofore for Il benefi
of tramps alone. Havs it applied tc
every suspicious looking character who
is caught hanging around town with
no visible means Of support and let's
thin out the parties who are living of
honest people. Instruct the police ia
arrest all persons who obstruct the
streets or platforms, who use profane
or indecent language on the
streets, who mutilate fencesand other
private property or who suffer animals
to run at large that are common nui-
sances. There is room for reform in
oil these and many other directions aud
II you will undertake the work you
will confer lasting benefits upon the
city.
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Aoo,efanf Poet m cfar Ganarai Clor RI