Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-20
0LDLAW
To Punish His Enemy for Using Some
Very Strong Language.
SCENE IN AN ALDERMAN'S OFFICE.
The Prosecutor Becomes Overheated and
Makes Some Remarks
RESULTING IN HIS OWN PROSECUTION


again"
This little motto has become so firmly
fixed in the mind of Fred Zephan, of Re
serve township, that he has succeeded in
distinguishing himself and getting himself
into what some folks say is peck of
trouble, by calling from the musty ar
chives of long ago law that was made
when e1pletives were more of variety
than they now are. To be more concise,
Hoffman for using profane language.
Fred and George are neighbors. Once
they were friends, but affairs are different
now, and the reasons are obvious. Both
live in Reserve township, but this fact is
not the cause of the misunderstanding that
makes each look at the other in please-let-.
-cut-your-throat sort of way. The cause
was more than that, but just what it was no
one will tell.
George Hoffman said something in a
sneering way about Fred zephan. Fred
Zephan heard of this and the hot blood
rushed and coursed through his veins in
most narrowing, soul consuming manner.
He vowed he would wreak . terrible re-
venge that would satisfy his sense of honor
and leave him at peace with himself and all
the world save George Hoffman.
An Exciting but UneventfuI Meeting.
Then met the twain. In the first heat of
their i'll concealed anger looks passed.
Looks of such terrible ferocity that each
had to wear darkling brow to make it
more effective. But no blows passed. Why
this was does not transpire, either. After
looking at each other until such things be-
came monotonous one spoke. Then they
both spoke Then their speakings became
so rapid and confused that neither knew
what the other said until in a moment of
indiscretion George Hoffman made use of
word that nice people do not approve Of
Neither did the Lawmakers of 1894 Other
wise there would have been no legal COM
plications to the Zephan-H offman episode.
As the word fell upon the astonished hear
ing of the goodly Fred. his heart leaped
within him. Here was the revenge he
sought. He could have the disagreeable
George incarcerated in dark, damp cell
where the sunshine steals in checkered
bars of brightness
The following day the profane man was
served with warrant. But he smiled to
himself as he signed his own bond and
thereby escaped the dark damp cell. The
trial was in Alderman Wagner's Office and
was quite interesting from an outsiders
standpoint and there were plenty of the
latter there that day, as the ill-feeling con-
nected with the Zephan- H Hoffman episode
was well known about Reserve township.
A Highly Sensational Trial.
Alderman Wagner called the case and the
profape man and the good man stepped for
ward. The profane man was fanked by his
wife and the good man was fanked by his
and both were flanked with old men and
maidens and young men and children, and
eitsoons the case began. The good man told
his story and the profane man breathed
laboriouslv. The good mans wife told her
tale and the profane man breathed in the
same uncomfortable way. Then came the
friends of the good man and told what
thew knew and tried to tell
what they did not know and finally
it came to the. profane mans turn. He
made the most of it, 20 the good mans dis
comfture and awakening of his spleen.
The profane mans wife followed, and in re-
citing her knowledge Of the episode so lus-
tered the good man that he forgot his good
ness and spoke strongly to Mrs. Hoffman
for her alleged failure to be veracious
Such things had little effect upon the pro-
fame mans wife and she kept her eyes
fastened upon the awsome magistrate and
continued. The good man forgot his good
ness five times during the progress Of the
trial, and by the time Alderman Wagner
imposed small fine upon the profane man
for his failure TO comply with the law of
1894 the profane mans heart was gleeful.
He Immediately posted off to Alderman
Brinker's office, down in the Twelfth ward,
and swore out an information against the
forgetful good man, Zephan, charging him
with five unqualified oaths. And here the
case rests until the Alderman of the Twelfth
lets his voice be heard in Furnishing offend
ers of the law.