Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN coURr.

The Various Offenders of the Law |
 Who Appeared in Court Yesterday |
 Morning-Christmas Presents in the |
 Way of Sentences Bestowed Upon
 Each Culprit.
 There was but slim attendance at the Christmas morning session of the city court, none but those whose business compelled them to be present occupying seats in the court room. Judge Pickett was on the bench and the Christmas pres ents in the shape of fines, etc., which he l dealt out, while not particularly relished | by the recipients, were on the whole 1eni- 1 ent, the judge evidently being inclined, | under the circumstances, to temper justice
 with mercy.
 The first unfortunate to be arraigned by
 City Attorney Daley was Peter McGuire. | Peter celebrated the day before Christmas ! by getting into beastly state of intoxica- tion. He was sorry for it yesterday morn l ing, and made plaintiff plea for discharge,
 but Judge Pickett informed him that he 1 was becoming altogether too frequent a visitor and imposed fine of $3 and costs. James McKeene, for @ similar offense, received the same sentence, and the finan- cial condition of both being at very low ebb, they were escorted to the Whalley
 avenue hotel.
 James Carroll was also under the infu- ence of liquor Thursday and was found by Officer Williams trying to hold up fence
 on State street. In court yesterday morn | ry Christmas and happy New Year and
 said he hoped the judge would excuse him
 for the drunk. The judge was not, how
 ever, in an excusing frame of mind and
 James will have to work out fine of $4
 and costs.
 Francis Brine was drunk on Fair street
 bridge Thursday, although he denied all
 knowledge of having been in such con-
 dition when his case was called yesterday
 morning. The judge reminded him of the
 old saw that drunkenness often suspenas
 the capability of it's victim to make active
 use of his or her memory and immediately
 imposed fine of $4 and costs. Brine went
 to jail. Henry O'Donnell was charged
 with drunkenness and breach of the peace against his wife, Catherine. The latter
 was in court and told very straight story l against her husband, in consequence of which Henry was obliged to pay $3 and : costs in each case.
 Gerard Olsen was drunk Thursday night and struck and otherwise abused his daugh- ter Mattie. Mattie was in court and testi-
 
 her mother calling her name in tones of abject fear. Subsequently her mother ran out of doors in her night clothes to escape
 the fury of her drunken husband. She ? stated her father was on the floor drunk, and after calling her vile name struck al her with whisky bottle he held in his , ! hand. She started to go up stairs when her father struck her across the face witE his fist. Charles Bull, neighbor, testi fed that the mother and daughter had | come to his house for protection, anc 5 stated that the old man was drunker thar I T the old Harry.
 l Olsen, when called upon to speak in hit l. own defense, struck 8 melodramatic atti tude and commenced to say something E about his daughter being 8 curse to him > when the judge interrupted him by asking . what he was employed at. Before Olsel had an opportunity to answer the city at ' torney broke in, saying that he was hart l. at work doing his usual business nothing and Judge Pickett sentenced him to spent the next ten days in jail for being drunl and to pay fine of $5 and costs for tn l. abuse of bis daughter.
 y John Henderson, who claimed to hai e from Boston, and who is but ninetee 2 years of age, was next arraigned on | charge of begging. Austin H. Potter c Il the United Workers club was appointe o his guardian, and, although it was clearl 'r proved that Henderson was drunk an 's begging, he was allowed to depart unde le suspension of judgment on condition ths e le he would take the first train for the Hull