The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-24

TURNED THE TABLES
Judge Rice Creates d Sem
sat1on in a Dog Steal
ing Case.
PET COULD FIGHT AND CATCH RATS
A Jersey City Saloonkeeper Al
leges He Had Police Protec-
ton for His Dog
Fights.
PET COULD FIGHT AND CATCH RATS

Not many days ago Eugene Mccarthy
of Grand street was sentenced by Judge
Rice to two years Imprisonment for
stealing a pet dog belonging to John
IO'Keefe. a saroon-keeper at No. 81
Grand street. with whom Mccarthy
boarded. Mccarthy had all along in
sisted that the pet was his, and that
O,Keefe and himself were partners in a
dog pit.
This story he told to Counsellor Chas.
]. Peshall, who yesterday afternoon
asked Judge Rice to grant a new trial
in the matter.
II will show Your Honor" began the
lawyer. that this pet or fancy or toy
dog. so described by O'Keefe, is really
an old warrior, and belongs to both par
ties, who used him in a ~dog-fighting
joint"
rs the witness- mean dog-in ~court?'
asked the Judge; and by way of reply,
an officer led in front of the bench an
English bull terrier of such Ierocious
mien that Mr.. Winfield and those at
the LAWYERS table anxiously ~speculated
on the strength of the chain at Wnlch
the dog was Juggling.
met" He was indeed a battle-scarred old
warrior with his lean body profusely
decorated with cuts and scratches. Botn
ears, clipped close to the head, were
ragged and torn, and his wing tail had
been either chopped or chewed on a Few
inches from the stump. -
nv sheer force of habit Clerk Purtell,
when the dog came trotting up to the
bar. laid his hands on the Bible, pres
umably TO administer the oatn. Inc
pet mistook the action for an attempt
to assault, and promptly showed his
fangS and groWled.
Judges Rice and Kenny looked at the
veteran, and the former, turning TO
John O'Keefe, sitting in the witness
chair, asked some questions as TO the
THE PET COULD FIGHT.
sure, sor," replied the saloon-keeper,
in the richest Cork brogue, hes a rat
ter, and a bit av a foighter.'
Then Mr.. O'Keefe,i in a thousand-words-
to-the-minute rate. ratified of his story
of the theft of the pet" The dog was
chained un in the yard, and Mccarthy
was surprised dragging ii off.
The Court tiled to get a word or two
in edgewise, but it was no good-Okeefe
was wound up-and chartered along like
a maybe. He was evidently sattsfed
with the impression he was making,
when Mr. Peshall rose TO c~ross-examine.
The lawyers first question produced a
sensation.
saloon? O'Keefc denied it, but after a
little reflection, said that the dogs had
often a s%crapping match in that place.
He also admitted that he kept several
Didn't you and a man named Car
earthly and another fellow. Sheehan,
get up a dog fight in your place?
mo. sir. It was Carroll and sheehan
Ta9 10 4 W PIRRoeTECTIoN PROMISED.
Didn't you tell McCarthy's brother
here" asked the lawyer, pointing to a
young man sitting in the jury box, that
promised police protection" OKeefe
denied this, and McCarthy's brother
ing which reused the saloon-keeper to
mutter something about dirty piack-
guards"
never Dragged to several people about
your police protection for your dog
ifghts?" O'Keefe wouldn't answer at
no, Police Commissioner Feeney, sit
ting near Mr.. Winfield, looked grave at
this, and was evidently mentally taxing
notes about dog fights and POLICE pro
lection which some captain will have
When OKeefe was released from the
Were produced who testified that Nc
Carthy had the sa~loon-keeper's permis-
sion to take the dog at any time. He,
the dog. not Mccarthy, is a fighter,
and was specially trained for fights,
which repeatedly took place in OKeefe's
saloon.
that "a fght or two had occurred, and
the boys made a few bets on it"
"And, of course remarked MT. PeSn-
all, when he said that, the money was
spent over the bar in your saloon?
And where the divil do you think
they would spind it?" quickly answered
O'Keefe, amazed at such an extraordin-
ary question, ~betraying such deplorable
ignorance of the ethics of drinks.
Some more testimony given, and Judge
Rice, in the quickest of tones, said
II think a new trial shorld be gram
ed, and you. O'Keefe,', suddenly turn,
ing to the dog fighting joint keeper. will
furnish $500 bail to answer a charge of
keeping a disorderly. house, and YOU
to the witnesses now-"wiH be placed
under 500 each to appear at the trial."
O'Keefe's face at these words was a
study. Amusement, surprise, anger, in
dignation, all were portrayed on his
dark weather-beaten face, and when the
constable told him to sit down near the
dock he looked around with an injured
air, saying, We'll. did you ever see the
like of that, now? What sort of a
country is this, anyway"
AS for the pet" the Court made no
disposition of him. He wasn't placed
under any bonds. The chain was suffici-
ent. Alongside O'Keefe's wife he trotted
out of the court room, with his chewed-
up ears erect and his Eyes wickedly
Swapping and saying plainly, IF you
don't think I'm a fighter, bring your
dogs along and I'll eat them"