The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-06
JUSTICE .JOHN,S COURT.
There Are Some Pardonable Sins, But Don't
Monkey with n Pocket Book.

In the police court Yesterday morning
/ found Justice John in the very best Of
humor. The day before had been an
unusually duh one. Everything had
sobered up 20 an alarming degree Of tenn
perance. and cases Of the knock-down-
and -drag-out order were nosi it. Even
the police chapercrs had begun TO LOOK
blue In two respects and the situation
had taken on a remarkably dill phase
But the tables were turned yesterday,
and when the prisoners shook off the
snow from their feet and lounged around
on a nice saw-dust carpeting. 20 to speak.
His Honor was laying for EN-" and
proceeded to serd q few before the for
mi1able looking jury that sits on serious
questions.
4 number Of instances wherein the
culprits encTCaChed upon the rights Of
their fellow-citizens' private property
came ND for cor sideration. Appropriating
the goods and chatfels Of other people
has become a serious thing Of late. You
can daily with your companions best
girl, you can refuse TO set 'em up at
the beer counter; you can in some In
stances even trihe with the affections OF
your neighbours fance. and nothing sert-
GUS will neces sarily result from II. But
you must not monkey" with a fellows
purse This is freak that Will always
get you into a scrape similar To the one
which overlook some Of the New YORK
aldermen once upon time. and they
were soon established In quarters at slug
Sing.
Squire Jones has Of late been studying
the subject of larceny upon a purely
scientific basis. and the tendency in this
direction has assumed such an alarming
haracter that he has procured purse
which cannot be entered without the use
of an axe and several crowbars.
The case of Robert I, Wiley, who IS
charged with stealing $50 from the Of
flee Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
Company, was resumed Yesterday. Wiley
is gentlemanly looking fellow His gen
eral appearance would not indicate that
he would commit such an odense, ard
several witnesses testified that heretofore
his honesty has never been questioned.
He was once In the employment Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Company, and is
said to have been an excellent clerk. But
1t is the same old storY-drink-and OF
late he has been imbibing more freely
than ever. The result was that he has
been steadily going down the hill. From
the testimony In the case the evidence is
totally circumstantial. Witnesses testified
that suspicion was aroused from the
fact that Wiley was spending considerable
money in various bar-rooms about town.
His Honor said that he saw no direct
evidence against the prisoner but was not
altogether satisfied with the looks OF
things, and consequently would have 10
certify the case to the grand jury, and
the witnesses were recognized.
Thomas Branch (colored) is quite a
horseman. He has an idea OF purchasing
stock farm In Blue Grass Kentucky,
and in view of this fact he decided that
a buggy robe would come in well in his
intended line of business: so he appro-
pria ted robe belonging 10 Mr.. II. Seldom
Taylor. Thomas was sent 10 join the
army that parades before the hastings
court.
The case of A. Coplon. charged with
buying and receiving four buggy robes
and three overcoats belonging TO an I'M
know person. was dismissed.
To wander around in the snow storms
without any wraps is as questionable
as II is imprudent; so Thomas Branch
(colored) decided very rashly TO break
into the dwelling-house OF Colonel John
Purcell and avail himself OF an attrac-
tive looking overcoat. the property OF
Colonel Purcell himself. The evidence
in the case was sufficient to refer 1t to the
hustings court, which His Honor did.
II seems that Steven Lee (colored( got
rather cOlu, anu tuOuen ne ndl FOUR lner-
mometers hanging up in his quarters. the
chill breezes OF winter penetrated his
epidermis, and he saw at a glance that
1t YVES necessary to supply himself with
some coal. not having enough 'hampagne
TO keep him warm. He accordingly
sauntered out on his utilitarian mission
and stole a nice fat supply OF the Useful
mineral from Il. A. Bowry. Justice John
decided that the hastings court could de-
eide such matters more satisfactorily, as
he himself finished all his coal business
the day before. Steven will consequently
face a higher tribunal.
William McGovan's jag cost him s.,
and Henry Thomas (colored threw rocks
I'm the street TO the extent OF one dollars
worth.
Julia Ayres (colored) was charged with
stealing dress. The case was continued
The case OF John K. Lange, charged
with being drunk and disorderly and
curs!ng and abusing Alice d. Allen, was
continued until the 10th instant.
And three Of q kind beat Z bob-tail
dush.