The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-04-28

several instances, no one questioning us
validity. One day the marshal, happen
ing to be near tho depot, saw a passenger
jump from tho train while it was in
motion. Here was a fish for his net. The
passenger seemed to be a countryman
from the neighborhood, as he was dressed
in tho uniform of the farmers of that re-
gion, that is, he wore a broad-br!m straw
hat, a coarse suit of clothes, and his pants
were stuffed in his boot tops after the
manner of the h~usbandmen. His hair
and beard were long and shaggy as if they
had not received his attention for some
time.
although our ordinance was mainly
directed at students. yet the marshal. who
was no respecter of persons, especially
when they were strangers and would
likely pay a small Inc rather than go to
the expense of employing counsel to de-
fend them, arrested the stranger in the
act and Immediately brought him before
tho court.
Next day we happened to have n for
chile entry and detaincr suit on trial in
my court, involving the possession OF a
valuable tract of land near town, and
there were several lawyers III court, SOM
engaged in the trial and others hearing
the proceedings.
when tho marshal came in with his
prisoner the latter was offered Il seat on a
bench in the corner of the room. He an
noInccd that he had a prisoner present
ready to stand his trial. and /. as judge,
had to sidetrack the civil business on hand
TO attend to tue criminal.
Il filled up n blank complaint against
the prisoner inserting his name which he
suggested. During tho lull in the civil
proceedings the prisoner, who was on the
som bench where the jury sat. locked not
milk one of them. Tho six greasy spots
against the wall where the heads of sue
ccssivo jurors had rested were properly
filled with empty heads again the filthy
crowd that burdens tho air in police court
were all there. and tho hangers on, that
put III the morning in this court as rcgu-
larl2 as the sun rises. were all there.
II read the complaint to the prisoner and
asked him If he was ready to plead, and if
he desired counsel.
"lic said ho would defend his W case
and would plead not guilty.
This attracted the attention Of the
lawyers who like to see Tho man with "A
fool for a client and ] remember that
Colonel H., who was present, enga ged in
the civil case and was n distinguished
lawyer from the city of b., looked at the
prisoner with an air of recognition and
smiled more than nee at tie further
proceedings against the prisoner rs if
there were some concealed joke in the
matter. known only to him and tho
prisoner.
However, we proceeded to introduce wit
nesses and the town having closed its case
and everything being soon heard and fully
understood by the court, the court was
satisfactorily convinced hat the prisoner
was guilty beyond all question of getting
of q moving train within the corporate
limits. this time, and from the appearance
of tho prisoner it was an even guess
whether he could pay his fine or would he
compelled to sweat it out in durancc vile
III the town Jail.
The court asked if he had any witnesses
and he replied that he had not.
Then after reading to him the ortlin-
ance and reviewing The evidence, ] re-
Qucsted him To stand up. and he complied
very checrfully, not seeming to appreciate
tho gravity of tho situation nor the dan
ger he was in.
You have been lawfully tried Ibegan,
in as deep and grave n name as be-
came the police magistrate of tho corpora
ton of E, for the oiicnse of violating
tho provisions of ordinance SO ana so of
the town of F., by jumping from a
moving train within tic corporate limits
of said town Oh the blank day of blank,
eighteen hundred and blank. The court
finds you guilty in manner and form rs
charged in the complaint, and assesses
our punishment at II fine of ten dollars
and costs. Have you anything to say why
sentence should not he pronounced upon
| you?"
"Wcll, yes" he said. "By tho way,
your honor. have you at hand a copy Of
the charter cf yourcity?'
In that state cach town is specially in
corporatcd by act of tho legislature and
not under a general law as is lone here.
| had n copy of the charter and got it
| and handed it to him.
Better plead guilty. general" observed
Colonel II. to the defendant. "Who en-
tiers her. leaves all hope behiudr"
But he didn't. lie gave us a lecture on
the law of municipal corporations such
as had not been heard before in that
court and such rs l venture to
say will never be heard there
again. His voice was deep and clear, and
before he was done we were thoroughly
convinced that our council had no power
to prohibit anyone from getting off a train
head first if he thought fit, and we were
equally convinced that our prisoner
should be treated as became his station.
l dismissed the case GU of hand and
bringing forward my best box of cigars,
offered one to him, which he accepted.
Then Colonc. II. came forward and began
conGratulating the prisoner Upon his es-
cape and We were soon appriscd of tho
fact that he was tho attorney general of
the United States.
He had been ont in the n~e:ghborhood
hunting and fishing. and had got off tho
train al t., to await tho train for Wash
ingtor.
lie didn't floor you with his clo-
Gucncc" asked the judge.
NO." replied the district attorney, 'he
raised a poin; IN us we were not looking
for"
Mo -DIIIN'r hDDNn n r - ~