San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-11-02

peen my experience that people VINO up
peal to police courts for justice usually
lose more by the servants of justice than
by those of whom they complain.
The justice was about to discharge the
prisoner with a light fine when the
turnkey stepped forward and claimed
his attention.
your honor" he said, this defend
ant is masquerading under fictitious
name. He gave the name of George
| Williams when arrested, yet the papers
in his possession when searched bore the
name Of
Maurice Green, may it please the
court" said the bailiff. IL knew this
man when his clothing was coarser and
his hands harder, and when his fifty dol
lar bills were not as plenty as they APP
pear to be now"
The justice cast an amused look in the
direction of his favorite court officer, and
turned again to the turnkey, whose face
now worean expression of establishment.
you were saying began the justice.
Il was about to say, your honor, that
the papers in the prisoners possession
bore the name of Richard Melville"
well" said the justice to the pris-
oner, who had remained standing, with
his arm on the railing Of my desk, "have
you any other names to suggest"
The papers in my possession were
| right" said the defendant. lam Rich
ard Melville, son of Mrs. Clark Melville.
Maurice Green was my double in the
| army. He was instantly killed by the
explosion which wounded me and left
me subject to such fits of passion as l am
now here to answer for. Ihave been mis-
taken for Maurice Green before, when
the consequences were more serious"
81 remember the circumstances of
your return from the army, SIR" said
the justice kindly, land as you have
done all in your power to make resti-
tuition you are discharged"
thought at the time that the justice
ought to have required him to pay the
costs. | don't like the way people slip
through criminal courts and leave others
to pay their bills.
When the prisoner left the room the
bailiff who had recognized him as
Maurice Green followed him. Before !
had had time to make my commitments
and enter up my records he was back
again. He was very much excited.
DO you believe all that yarn about
that being Richard Melville?" he asked.
looked up in surprise.
well" he continued, whatever you
Df 1 DOME la1iava ~
why, his papers,
Might have been stolen. According
to all accounts Maurice Green invented
the story about his being killed and de-
serted his wife. At least that's what is
said in Maine. If he was mean enough
to do that he is mean enough to steal
Richard Melville'S papers. The justice
should have remanded him until inquir-
les could have been made"
The clerk of police court has some
thing else to do besides retrying the JUS
tees cases, so | went on with my work
and the bailiff sat in his chair and
grumbled with all his might.
In moment there was commotion
in the hall, and two officers came in
dragging Richard Melville, cut and
bleeding, between them They were on
their way to the cells underneath the
court room.
Until | saw Richard Melville there, in
the custody of the officers and on the
way to cell, | never knew what the eX-
preston insane fury" meant. His eyes
glared like those of wild beast, and
seemed starting from their sockets; his
face was deadly pale and terribly con-
torted. He struggled with the strength
of an athlete against his captOrs; had he
been but for one moment free, | think he
| would have conquered them both and
made his escape.
After prolonged struggle the officers
half forced and half carried him down
| the rear stairway to the cell room. Such
scenes were not uncommon in the court
room, and went on with my writing.
But could not help hearing bystanders
talk as worked.
He ought to get year for that" said
one.
1T was brutal thing to do"
What was it,"
| why, this gentleman prisoner the
justice just let off scot free killed the
office dog before he got out of the build
ing"
And the way he did it!'' broke in an
other voice.
| "HowT'
why, the poor creature was going
down the iron stairs just ahead of him.
Without a word of warning he clutched
the hand rail to prevent falling and
sprang upon the poor pet with both his
i Z - l. l.