The record-union., 1892-05-10
POLICE COURT REFLECTIONS.
Another Man Who Tried His Own
Case, and Regrets 1t.
James Hodge Found Guilty of Batter
ing Boy-A Sunday Spree Loses
John Kelly His Job.

~NN1S
ment, and was tried for battery in having
struck Horace Wing, boy years of
age.
Three witnesses testified to having seen
him strike the boy, knocking him down,
almost senseless, upon the pavement.
The boys face was badly bruised. Hodge
conducted his own case, and made a con-
spicuous failure of it,
During the trial Mrs. Schad was ex-
amined, and, although she had witnessed
nothing OF the occurrence, she insisted
on telling what her daughter had told
her. The court and City Attorney both
tried to suppress what her daughter had
said, as being immaterial and irrelevant,
but they tried in vain. Mrs. Schad said
she came to tell the truth, and she pro-
posed to do 1t. She then gave rapid
account Of all her little girl had said about
the Wing boy having kicked his girl
playmates on the shins, and how they
kicked back, etc.
When she was finally induced to quit
talking and step down, Mrs. Schad said:
Il came here to tell the truth, and l done
it. | don't care whether the court is
satisfied or not ~ and Mrs. Schad talked
ali the way 10 her seat.
Hodge called a number of witnesses,
but failed to make a point in his own
favor. The court was about to pronounce
him guilty, when he said:
Hold on! l guess 1 have a right to
make statement"
Judge Cravens said: "Well. you have,
but you just said that was all. You may
make your statement
Hodge started his story, but the Judge
interrupted him with: BE sworn first,
Mr.. Hodge"
Hodge was sworn, and again started a
statement. "Please take the stand, Mr..
Hodge," said the City Attorney.
All right ~ said Hodge; "auy place."
Mr.. Hodge then very slowly and de-
Iiberately stated how he saw the little
boy fighting the girls, how he told him
to stop, and how the boy didn't stop. He
then went forward and struck at the boy,
but never touched him. The boy only
tripped and fell. Witness said he was
reading paper, and forsook it merely
for the purpose Of stopping the boy from
fighting. After the boy ''fell down."
Mr.. Hodge said he went off to join the
Good Iemplars, and started long and
irrelevant history OF his movements,
which was suppressed by the court.
While f. H. Wing, the boys father was
testiiying he said if he had been able to
find Hodge he would not have applied
for warrant.
"What would you have done if you had
found me?'' questioned Hodge.
II would have given you a terribly
sound threshing!" said Wing. emphat-
ically.
Ibid you not tell me you would not
get out a warrant, but would fix me for a
corOner's inquest?' asked Hodge.
''No sir! / said l would thrash you
soundly if you ever laid finger on my
boy again, when you abused him three
years agOi' and Mr.. Wing became much
excited.
When Hodge was cross-examined. after
making his statement, he was very stub
born and tried to convince the court that
he knew more about what was proper
testimony and more about law points
than anybody.
Judge Cravens was very prompt in his
decision, however, and found Hodge
guilty and will give Judgment to-day.
JOHN KELLY's HARD LUCK.
John Kelly was very indignant yester-
day. Mr.. Kelly was arraigned before
Judge Cravens and charged with being
drunk.
"o'ive been in this city tin years, am Oi
niver was arriSted before,'' said he. ''an'
Oh don't know phwat yez have me up for.
'O'ive wurked for livery contractor in the
city, yer amer"
"But you are charged with being
drunk" said the Judge.
"WhQ says | was dhrunk?" demanded
Kelly.
to having arrested Mr.. Kelley, and that
the latter was drunk.
How dhrunk was Oi?" said Kelly:
''till me that! Do you callthat ividence? :?
If that's your idea OF an oath, you don't
know phwat you manev'
Special Officer Greer testified that
Kelly was drunk, and Kelly wanted to
impeach him as a false witness, although
Greer insisted that he helped to load him
into the patrol wagon.
Jailer McManus was called and testi-
fed that Kelly was very drunk when he
arrived at the jail.
'Phwere's some O. thin ould afficers ?''
exclaimed Kelly. sol want fair show !
i've lost a good Job o, worruck bv beino
in here to-day. If you call me dhrunk.
yer don't know the nature ay an oath I!
Reminder, ye'll have yure God to face
hereafter! Me dhrunk, did ye say ?''
And Mr.. Kelly was very, very much
shocked at the depravIty of officers who
would swear him drunk, when he knew
he was sober.
After slight pause Mr.. Kelly said:
way?"
With being drunk said the court.
''O,' said Mr.. Kelly, "Oi may hev
taken q sup; Oh misunderstood the
charge! It's foregone conclusion
that's phwat it is !"
The court evidently thought so, toe, for
Mr.. Kelly was given ten days in the
City Jail in which TO collect his scattered
wits.
MINOR CASES.
George Conley pleaded guilty to battery
before Judge CraVens yesterday and will
receive judgment to-day.
Frankie Richardson, the boy preyi-
ously found guilty OF slapping Minnie
Mayer, was given a lecture by the court
and admonished to be more careful in his
treatment Of girls hereafter. You are too
young TO begin whipping women" said
the Judge. The court having ascertained
that Frank was good boy generally. and
his mother widow, judgment was in
definitely suspended in his case, and he
was permitted TO go.
ID. j. Mannix, charged with violating
the water ordinance, had his case dis
missed on the payment of costs.
John Mullen, charged with being
drunk, pleaded that he was not verY
drunk, but quite able to walk around.
He was given ten days IN the City Jail.
O. X. Watson, arrested for disturbance
had his case stricken from the calendar,
as no complaint was filed.
The case of John LOngabaugh, charged
with misdemeanor, was set for the 18th
inst.
Harry Bane, arrested for vagrancy. was
allowed to plead guilty to being drunk,
and was sentenced TO ten days.