Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-12
ONLY ONE CASE HEARD
Cf Those Brought by Agent Mcclure
Before Alderman Robe.
THE USUAL DECISION RENDERED.
All law and Order Objections Sustained by
the 'iquire.
ANOTHER EXHIBITION PROMISED SOON

ANOTHER kAHIBlllUN fhV2lOED SooN
John Burnham was yesterday found
guilty before Alderman Robe of selling a
newspaper on Sunday. He was fined so.
The fact that Mr.. Burnham doesn't exist
was no stumbling block to the Law and
Order Sccietv's far-reaching crusade. Lit
tie things like flesh and blood when nam es
sre so easily invented does not prevent
Law and Order agents from making their
own peculiar kind of informations and then
getting a man to fit the name and a detect
i've to guess that he is the right fellow.
The particular victim OF this hit and miss
kind of justice dispensary was Randolph
Brinham, a young employe of the Union
News Company, who had been summoned
before Squire Robe at 10 o'clock. He was
on deck at the proper hour, although he
didn't know what he was there for and was
as much surprised as his friends who &C
companied him when Detective Stately in
formed Mr. Randolph Brinham that he was
the accused John Burnham. Randolph
thought he wasn't, but Agent Mcclure
united with Stately in the statement that
he was, and then, of course, Alderman Rohe
acuuieseed and gave the crank another
turn. Attorney Yost not being present,
Agent Mcclure had to act for himself.
Posing as the Great objector.
Mr. Mcclure, like Mr.. Yost, had evil
IDENTIFY learned in childhood days TO lisp the
words, 1--WE object and parrot-like re-
pested them in season and out of season.
Alderman Rohe's stock of sustained"
stain" and "shtain," was equally large.
Attorney Lambie stopped waiting Tor the
IL CY1s
the ruling would be as it mas always been,
in favor of L. and o.
Promptly as the hands on Alderman
Rohe's dusty clock pointed to the hour OF TO-
Mr. Mcclure said: I'VE will hear John
Burnham."
I'VE WILL answered the Squire, drawing
his blue painted chair a little closer the
agent and calling the first witness, as IN
structed by Mr.. Mcclure.
what 5 your name," said the Squire look
ing at the detective after he had admins
tered the Law and Order oath.
Nv. \. Stately responded the detective
with q stately mien.
why. that fellow used to work for the
Union News Company, whispered General
Manager Burke to THE DISPATCH reporter.
Il fired him because he couldn't keep up the
sales He has sold papers many sunday
himself and he never kicked about 1t either,
but l suppose he has Joined the salvation
Army since then"
Mr.. Stately was the most respectable look
ing detective that Agent Mcclure has yet
OF SUNDAY newspaper sc2lps- As witness
his answers came fairly up to the lntelll-
gence OF the others of the corps who had
preceded him in previous cases. MI NC
Clure explained that citizenship had moth
ing to do with capacity for testltying, and
nothing further was necessary, inasmuch as
IL didn't matter whether detective
was a citizen or not. As the question was
brought up during an eXasperatlng HOOD OF
cross questions from Attorney Lamble, the
Law and Order agent looked as If he would
la 1irt 1f.r1 Iar
hidden in the same law that has given him
an opportunity to make living.
Very Harmonious Trio.
The direct examination of Mr.. Stately was
made by Agent Mcclure. The witness stated
that he bought paper at the Union depot
last Sunday from the young man in charge,
who was, he stated, John Burnham. When
told that Mr.. John Burnham was not en-
gagged by the Union News Company, the wit
ness attempted to get humorous and point
ing at Young fellow in the audience said,
That's the fellow. don't care whether his
name is Burnham, Peters, Smith, or what it
is, he sold me paper and he will have to
answer for it.
''Trst So, - said Mcclure.
Just so, echoed Robe.
'sWell, hardly; this case may go higher" |
remarked Attorney Lambie, looking at Mr.. |
Brinham, who was having forced or him a |
little DR.. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde experience |
without knowing which was Jekyll and
which was Hyde.
On cross-e1amination Mr.. Stately said that
he lives in Pittsburg.
What part?"
"Obiect," said Mcclure
Sustain" !" said Rohe.
"You are a citiZen?" questioned the Al
derman in an apologetic tone to even up
tor his wonderful ruling.
The question made Agent Mcclure turn
pale. He grasped the railing for support
and before the witness had time to finish
Ia king chew OF tobacco, protested that it
didn't make any difference whether de-
rective was citizen or not.
Doesn't it?" asked Mr.. Lambie.
A Sudden Change of Mind.
81 guess it DOESN'T" said the Squire
quickly, realizing how seriously he had put
his Law and Order foot in it by asking the
question.
what is your business?" asked Mr.. Lam
Il am employed by Mr.. Mcclure"
Are YOU a detective?"
well, yes, 1 suppose. that is 1 think,
don't know hardly, but guess likely every
person in McClure's employ is detective"
Are you professional detective?n
Il decline to answer" said Mr.. Stately.
q see no reason for not answering; you may
answer" ruled the Alderman.
NO, don't answer" ruled Agent Mcclure. |
For a moment there was a doubt as to |
whether Robe or Mcclure was highest in su-
thority, but it was only for moment and
was settled by:
well. then, DON'T" from His Honor, Mr. |
Rohe
DO you know the defendant" asked Mr..
Lambie.
Not personally
what makes you think his name is John |
BUrnham2"
Because Mcclure told me So"
The answer scared the Law and Order |
agent again, and during the remainder of 4
the examination he protected his protege |
with Il shield OF 1--WE object" that could not |
be penetrated by lawyer or Alderman. The |
latter fined the defendant, john Burnham,
so, and Mr. Lambie gave notice that an ap-
peal would be taken.
The other Cases Not Heard.
Agent Mcclure refused to hear the re- |
mainGer of the defendants, claiming that |
his witnesses were not present. Those who |
were summoned and were ready for trial |
were R. Brinham, James Hughes, J. c. Ray,
P. A. Wentz, G. Gearing. Fred kissner, Gott-
.ieb Gauss, James Minton, f. J. Kulton,
Charles Butt, Mr. Ottman, Jack Hummel, |
Charles Boiler, Frank Turner George Ben
der, Frank Witt and Hermann Schmidt.
Nj Hummel hasn't been carrying papers /
for over a year and WAS naturally unknown
10 his fellow-vlctims, but he said the fun of /
listening to the hearing kept him from get
ting lonesome. Why q man who hasn't been
selling papers for 10 months should be ar
rested Is simply another Law and Order
mystery as hard to fathom as the trial of the
Burnham. Another man who
never sold papers in his life but whose SON
handles al the papers was on deck in re-
,ponse to a summons to learn something
lbout the Law and Order method of pro-
,edure.
A matinee performance has been promised
or 2 O'Clock tomorrow afternoon, at which
ime Agent Mcclure promises to produce
ome more specimens of his unique detec-
i've corps
The farther the prosecutions go. the mora
heir feebleness and futility is shown. Thus
ar there have been fines in only five cases
zone of them collected-and not a penny of |