The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-16

and the Judge sentenced me to pay d lIne
of 81 | refused 10 liquidate ana lne II -
HE hogan They had learned that Hdl
lcft some money with the Jauer, ana Jile
Cont WAS determined to nave lhe
amount Of the fine FINES Va tS Oup1
we're applied to a. common lulu' viz
vas used for the purchase OF tobacco any
vsitinr material ! did not see why
should contribute my GOOD money ~ puiJ
tobacco for strangers especIaliS a. "a "a
rot smoke. When the Court ueiuaI!ueI
that | pay the 81 | told nm 10 50 80 ~
shrol. and supposed that the farce was
ended.
"But IL wasn't. ! was again arrested
and charged with contempt OF court II
was shown that | had been tlneI ana M.
! had the money To pay the iIe' pul tild /
| refused 70 do so and that | was hauEit-
" and insoient TO the court ana ~ III
GERS Again | was found EullJN anu 1ut
Court sentenced me TO receive Ten pIo" .
from a paddle Welded by the Sneill' d
lank. red-hairod fellow whose les "a not
fiji him He was charged with morse
stealing. / protected against the lhdi3-
nifty and called for the jailer. My cars
and eXpOstulatiOnS were greeted Win
ieers The mock Sherin and three dePu-
firs overpowered me and | was the leclpi-
eut OF ten well-dircCted blows. was told
that unless | yielded up the - ! WouH De
tried again and that the next sentence
would probably be twenty strokes OF me
pdldlr-a VilIniOuS Instrument iHdif
from bed Stat. ] surr"nderei anu 1u
dressed note 10 the taller. telling him
10 take 81 from my roll and apply II 10
the account of the Kangaroo court. Inc
more / learned of the Kangaroo Court,
its officers. its power. ana us 1uthorllY'
the more certain | was that ! acted
wisely.
Having paid my s. 7 became member
Of the court and was entitled To all the
perqusites and advantages apperJdlnlhI
thereto. | could sit on the jury act as
attorney. or could vote for court ON
GERS elections being neld monthly, with
Occa soniy special elections 10 MI va
cancIes caused BY the release OF prison
ers on bond or after trial. ! was also en-
titled 10 my share Of the fines cjlleclcu
that is, ! was allowed 10 consume some
of the tobacco the funds supplied. Inc
taller was the custodian OF the Iunds'
and acted AS treasurer and purchasing
agent for the members OF the Kangaroo
Court.
in conversation with other prisoners
who had been i'm jail some time | learn
ed that prisoners were always trltd on
entering the Jail II they had any money
they were expected and were usually COM
PEELED TO pay the fine. which was always
81 This was a sort Of initiation fee. and
its payment made the new prisoner q
member of the court. II the prisoner act
ualiV had no money he was allowed 10
work out the fine at the rate of nv"
cents a day. This took forty days at
the end of which time the fine was work.
eel out and the prisoner became mem
Der of the court in as good standing as
II he had paid the s. on entering.
II became 50 popular during my stay
I'm the jail that | was elected judge Of the
kangaroo court. During my term, which
lasted month, ! gave prisoners the
choice Of paying the fine or working il
out at five cents day. Very frequently
some poor fellow was locked up who had
but a few dollars and / really did not
have the heart TO make him pay out the
money If he preferred to work il out,
cleaning SpittOOnS, sweeping the cOrri-
ders. and carrying slops. My lenlency
In this matter did not suit the rest of
the prisoners, and al the next election
the issue was made on the question Of
making all prisoners who had the cash
put up. and ! was defeated for re-elec-
ton. / aftefward served a term as pros
ecuting attorney.
After | had been in Jail a snort time
| became convinced that the kangaroo
court was a good institution. Very
mary Of the prisoners were dirty when
they were locked up. When a new pris-
Iher iettsed TO take a bath and then
Keep himself reasonably clean the pros
eGuung attorney would lodge com
plant against him, charging him with
maintaining a nuisance. refusing TO take
a bath or some such misdemeanor lie
would be tried and convicted of course.
ana sentenced 10 take bath II he re-
FUSED 10 comply with the sentence OF the
court, he would be tried again and a
sentence OF padding imposed. few,
strokes or the bed Stat. when welded
by the Sheriff. usually brought tbe IL
Inquent 10 taw. AS a means Of keeping
me jan In a reasonably decent condi-
ton as FAR as cleanliness was concerned
the kangaroo court was a decided sue
cess "N
IN Few cases the prisoner refused
10 submit TO the paddlings and actually
made II dangerous for the SheriN or hts
uePu'les TO impose the punishment. In
such Instances the taller was appealed
70 and the facts explained to him He
then went TO see the obstreperous nris-
oner and told him plainly that he must
submit TO the dictates OF the kanraroo
court and it's officers or he wouId no
locked up IN the solitary and given a
found that the iaier endorsed the Co...
he would succumb. '"i
Prisoners were continually COMING ana
going In the Jail. but the Kangaroo con-
went on forever. 1t was always readv
for business" ''"uy