Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29
Testimony IN SLANG.
Langua &c of n Chicago Policeman That
Would Perplex the Average Jury.

Laneua ge OF Chicago Policeman That
Would Perplex the Average Jury.
A Central Station detective, who is
not detailed on society work, was wit
ness the other day in burglary case at
the criminal court. This officer, from
long association with the criminal ele-
ment, has learned quality OF slang
which would make the average tough
character hide his head in shame. Fol-
lowing is a portion of the dialogue given
in the Chicago Mail:
The Assistant States Attorney began
the examination by asking the usual
preliminary question. what is your
name, officer?"
me name?"
ayes, sir"
"Me name is Dinny Hogan. You
know dat widout askin' me-"
eyes; but, you see, we must have
these facts proven here"
"Yes, l guess dere is somethin' In dat
Go ahead"
You are a police officer, are you
not?"
"Why, cert. Pm police officer"
care you acquainted with the three
prisoners?"
II should say wuz." j.
"Did you meet them on the night Oh
January last?"
"Of course I did, er l wouldn't be
here, would II"
describe the circumstances"
Watts dat?"
Tell the Jury how 1t was that you
met them"
Me an me pardner wuz doln' walk on
State street. We sees de tree oloKes.
Dew wuz dom a hold-up. DE wise guy
nm de end OF de bench dere. be he'd
0un an de oder TWO cadgers. dey wuz
dofn, de oarrote on the victim. L pulls
me smoke wagon-me gun. ye know
an me an me pardner, we makes q
sprint for 'em. olazes twice. DE wise
guy drops. l makes de pinch an turns
him i'm
"Pardou me. shouted the defendants
attorney. 'but we have constitutional
right 10 have this case tried in the Eng
lisn language. What do you mean,
officer. by the wise guy and spirits,
and 'cadger and such like expressions
eyer haner," said the officer. quite
indignantly. as he turned toward the
Judge, ''ain't desc lawyers supposed 10
know de English language"
"Yon must use expressions becoming
the dignity of the court ROOM"
"Rut Amt I talkin' United States?"
Proceed" sterniy commanded the
Judge.
Judge, it's very annoyin' to me sense
to be interrupted oy these lawyers"
proceed, proceed, sir.
"WelI. 10 continer me pard gives the
second cadger dere de hot foot, an he
fans in de arms of Micky Dillon, de
conner. an he turns him In. Me an me
pard wuz dom aooty at dance on the
| ieyee.. We spots de third cadge doin' a
waltz wild a tough whisker. We steps
INN. COPS him out, an calls de hurry
wagon, an de wagon men dey trows him
inty a cell. At de station de prisoners
are raped agin by de victim an makes
a clear case. Dere dey are."
With this the officer sat back In his
| chair with a feeling OF complacency AZ
il no doubt could longer exist as to the
clearness OF his testimony on the guilt
of the prisoners. II is needless to say
that the jury, in admiration OF the
terse, epigrammatic style OF the wit
ness. as well as his choice Anglo-Saxon
vocabulary, brought Ia verdict oil
guilty in fifteen minutes Hogan Is mol
| the officers name, but it Is used to SER
the purpose of the clubman. He Is y
same officer who calls hat lid. 81
or dice. There Is not slang dictios
airy In existence which can compete wit
| him.