The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-29
POLICE COURT PICTURES.
The Usual Motley Array Before the Two
Justices.

Ahe Ssuai Motley Array Before the Two
Justices.
A motley crowd of idle workingmen and
various other classes of spectators fluctu-
ated between Justice Miller's and Justice
Rivers courts all day yesterday. The JUS
tice courts are great places for the observa-
ton and study of human nature. 1t is here
that every class. from the respectable to
the toughs and thieves, gather to lay their
troubles before tribunal and get satisfac-
ton for real or imaginary injustices. 1t
Is the listening to petty plaints-the sug-
gestions OF family skeletons-that give to
the minor courts q peculiar fascination.
and when in session always makes sure of
good-sized crowd tor the amateur and
struggling lawer to play to.
The case of .'Mr. and Mrs. Fehrn." ar
rested by Officer Charles Raymond few
days ago for fighting. came UP and was
settled before Justice Miller. The officer
arrested the couple while fighting on the
street. Umbrellas, fists and hats were bug
zlng around very recklessly, to the intense
edincation or a large crowd that had
gathered. In court Mrs. Fehrn swore that
she made pass at her husband, but that
he lodged. and Immediately afterward
choked her. The case was dismissed by
the Justice assessing fine OF IS and costs
TO the woman. The principals are said to
be very deiectab!e pair, the man being a
faro dealer in gambling house.
Quite buzz and sensation was created
towards the middle of the afternoon in
Justice Miller's court, when six gamblers
who had been arraigned were discharged
on motion OF Attorney Cam, for the city.
The men were raided while in the Slora's
saloon. on Washington street, the night
before. by posse of policemen headed by
Lieutenant Jackson. The officers swore
the men were gambling. but they could
not state specifically the kind OF game they
were playing. Justice Miller claimed that
although not required to state the kind of
game being played in the indictment, still
1t was very necessary 10 make q successful
case against the defendants, that the off,
GERS be able to prove specifically the offense.
This the officers could not do. and Attor-
ney Cam moved for a dismissal, which
was granted. Chief Of Police Monroe was
very much disguised with the result of the
hearing, and said: IF that is the law, 1t
will be very little use to arrest any more
gamblers. An officer can't go into den
and play with them, and there are not q
u
glance the kind of game going on, al
though they know it is gambling. The
officers last night saw the poker chips and
piles of money, and saw the bets, and made
the raid. and have sworn the men were
breaking the law, but il seems IL goes for
nothing" Justice Miller says that it's law,
however, and that the officers will have 10
take little more time, and make the raid
al ~. a.. 4
able to prosecute the w-breakers more in
diligently.
Nine men of the same profession we're
arraigned in Justice Rivers court and were
fined $50 each for showing the queer over
the green table.
Nettie Mold, an abandoned woman,
wanted the law to lay its iron hand on
Josie Williams, a sister in shame, who,
she claimed, threw a vessel of hot water in
her face. Netlie wanted the Williams
woman arrested for assault and battery,
and for that reason she appeared before
Justice Rivers. The appearance in court
of the plaintiff was the cause of an anus
ing incident that created little fun for the
loungers al the expense of Virgil Duvai,
an attorney" Duval, who has not been
around much since he came in contact
with ex-Chief of Police Thornton's fists, a
short time ago. showed up in court in the
afternoon. He thought he saw a chance
of making ~" by defending the fair
Josie, and, going behind door where he
was seen by no one but the woman. he
beckoned patronizingly 70 her. mo,
thanks" replied the woman so that she
could be heard all over the courtroom,
and at the same time fixing her gsze on
the figure behind the door; 81 don't want
any lawyer" The case was continued I'M
til today to give the defense a chance to
subpoena their witnesses.