The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-10-15
AUGUSTUS JOHNSON'S JAG.
1t Was That Which Caused Him to
Disturb the Meeting.
Apparently His Intentions Were Good,
Bnt He Was Too Heavily Loaded
for the Occasion.

Augustus Johnson was tried In the
Police Court yesterday for disturbance
of the peace of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church congregation.
There were about twenty-seven wit
nesses summoned, including the pastor
of the church, and they were there pre-
pared-some to refute, and others to SUBJ
etantiate the allegation Of Special Officer
Thompson, who is also a pillar of the
church, and who swore to the complaint.
A lot of testimony was produced on
both sides, and a noticeable feature of the
case was the singular unanimity with
which the witnesses for the prosecution
testified to the noise and connection
created by Mr.. Johnson; while, on the
other hand, the witnesses for the defense
were equally as positive, numerous and
unanimous as to the mildness of the dis
turbance.
1t was very evident, however, that Mr..
johnson was drunk; that he went into
the tabernacle drunk, and that he at
traeted the attention of most of the con-
gregatlon. Furthermore, when the col
lection was being taken up, Augustus
went to sleeper at least pretended to-
and snored with disputed vigor and
effect.
The witnesses for the prosecution testi-
lied, in effect, that he entered the church
on both feet, and that his footsteps
''drapped' on the steps and aisle with
very audible distinctness. When he
reached a seat he dropped into it like q
load OF coal, and then he endeavored to
occupy the whole pew. To do this he
moved his feet here and there, and even
tried to barricade the aisle with one of
them. In the meantime he groaned in a
most formidable tone. and when, on the
appearance of the collection-box he went
to sleep, his snores almost shook the
windows.
Witnesses on the other side were
affected differently by the advent of
Augustus. True, they heard his fairy
footballs as they tinkled on the floor;
they heard or saw him enter; felt slight
shock when he settled down, and some of
them heard the tokens of his gentle slum-
Der as he reposed. Otherwise they were
not greatly alarmed, and they didn't
think Mr.. johnson was contumacious.
Thomas III. Stokes was closely ques-
toned as being reliable and observing
witness, and Mr.. Stokes said:
Yes, sab, l was thar; saw Mr.. John
sing come in. He made no noise, sab.
He moved his foot; moved his foot mo-,
but he made no exturbence-no, sab.
Den he rubbed his foot, and he moved
roun'. The ministah nebber said he was
eXturbed-didn't sab. / was payin' in
tention to de sermon, and was not ex-
turbed.
"Oh, yes, sab, de congregashen was ex-
turbed, an had dere intention extracted,
but dere want nothin' seriyus, sab,
nothin' seriyus %
Other witnesses testified fully as sim
cerely to the contrary, however, and al
length the case was submitted to the
court.
Judge Cravens said, in summing up
the case, that it was apparent that Mr.,
Johnson went to church, as he was al
liberty to do, and perhaps he went with
righteous intentions and in pursuit OF
salvation; but before going to church
Mr.. johnson had loaded up with very
burdensome jag, and he took the jag with
him into the church, and there was nc
question but that he created noise which
resulted in a disturbance
He therefore pronounced Augustus
guilty, and will fix the penalty to-day.