Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-09
CONCEALED ~~WEAPONS
Four Revolver Gases Lead Police Oourt
Procession.
Offenders of All Sorts Tell Their
Stories and Have Sentences to
Fit the Crimes.

laws which provide more serious punish
nents were given an carly start, while
those charged with minor offenses did not
parade until later in the day. There were
ffty-six occupants Of the four cells. and a
large number of collateral cases. OF this
number of prisoners only about twenty of
them were held for the upper court.
When court opened Policeman Augustus
Hess occupied front seat in the jury box
and beneath his chair were four revolvers
He had brought them to court as evidence
and he would probably have had more
cases had he had more assistance Saturday
night.
Four coiored men. James Talbot, Enoch
Smith, James Thorn and James Johnson
were the defendants In the cases.
They are residents of Maryland, and the
policeman mentioned, with the assistance of
Officer Kopp, had arrested them near Stotts
station Saturday night just after they got
eff the ''owl train
During the past few weeks colored men
from Maryland have been in the habit OF
coming to the city and doing their weeks
shopping. In addition to buying drygoods
most OF them have been indulging in LIQUID
refreshments, and when they returned and
got on the train at Stotts station some of
them amused themselves by tdischarging
their weapons.
Complaints of this kind of conduct came
10 the police, and Saturday night the off,
GERS named went out and awaited the ar
rival of the "owi." When the train pulled
up at the station, and the county passen-
gers got of, the officers looked them over
ana made the arrests. The men were very
hear the District line when the officers
found them, and took possession of the
weapons and their owners
IN the meantime white man had been
assaulted by several colored men and rough
ly handled. SO the police say, but they did
rot succeed in capturing the assailants. who
n.ay be arrested later, on warrants. as their
identity Is known
James Talbot was first called upon for an
explanation. then the officer questioned
him. he said he lived at a place called
Texas" and was on his way home. His
pistol was not loaded.
He had the pistol remarked his coun-
sci, but he also has an explanation
What Is it?"
Il found the pistol on the road on my
way to Hyattsvtlle." said the prisoner
You'll have to tell a different story from
that" the judge remarked. That's the
old story that is told SO often
The prisoner insisted that he found the
weapon two or three days ago. and said he
did not know it was against the law for
court that he worked on Mr.. Riggs farm
Can he pay fine?" the court asked.
Il don't know" answered counsel. He
works for what he gets"
Sixty days in JAIL
Enoch Smith came next. and he plead
guilty.
Was his pistol loaded?"
He. too. works on Mr.. Riggs farm, and
he denied any knowledge of the law.
-Four months"
James Thorn. who was rot so well Dress
ed as the Others, said he put the pistol in
his pocket because he feared mad dogs.
The next time you go to the station you
had better carry a club for dogs
L. al r5 -. t,~..k
the law to carry pistol in the District
ard he said he did not. .-'
His first lesson in the law. the Judge said
would cost him four months.
James johnson was the last of the quar-
tet called. and he plead guilty.
What Is your excuse?"
II carried the pistol on account of the
dogs"
THAT'S no excuse" the judge told him.
and a similar sentence was imposed.
Some Women.
Ella Bryant convinced the court that she
did not assault George Ball and the judge
dismissed the charge brought against her.
Sallie Thomas and Ida Smith, who had
what witness called a SCRAP" appeared
in court to have Judge Kimball determine
just who was responsible for their differ
ences and settle upon the amount neces-
sary to heal the trouble.
"Sallie Thomas said Ida Smith, came
around there and meddled with my affairs"
Never mind your AFFAIRS the court in
terrupted. What did she do to your
"She struck me-"
Did she hurt your NJ 80"
Certainly she did, and that's the reason
/ had her arrested"
Have you any Witnesses"
Yes, sir"
The Witness another colored woman, ap-
peared and told the story about the same
as Ida had told 1t, and then Sallie was CIV
en- a chance to tell her own story.
Il never touched this woman" she said.
Did you have any trouble with -her"'
mo. indeed"
Salle denied that she had even had any
words with the woman, and called young
man, by whom she attempted to prove an
alibi
He told the court that Ida had not been
assaulted by his friend Sailie. And" he
said, II know 1t, because Sallie went away
on the 5th of the month and remained four
days
what day was the trouble?" the witness
was asked.
II don't know what day it was" he an
swered; "but know Sallie wasn't there"
Lawyer O'Neill was called into the case
and he questioned the witnesses to impress
upon the court the truth Of the alibi, but
the attempted alibi made no Impression for
Judge Kimball held Sallie guilty and i'm
posed a IS fine.
Ended in Trouble.
Burns court, had a good time yesterday
morning. but like all similar occasions his
good time came to an end, and he had
trouble.
After breakfast the old man and his
daughter Mary had several callers. among
them being a friend whom they call Doc
tor" Saturday night the old man had
bought big watermelon. and when the
friends reached the house the melon was
cut.
When the rinds were consigned to the
garbage receptacle Mary combed her faith
er's hair to get him ready for church, but
suddenly Mary discovered, so she claims.
that her pocket book in which she had 81.
had been taken, and this caused the pleas
ant watermelon recollections to fade away.
Policeman Coffin was called in and he
reached there in time to arrest Lizzie john
son on a charge of theft. Lizzie was one
of the guests. but the missing pocket book
was not found.
During the hearing of the case Lawyer
Peyton remarked that the Doctor was
'youdoo DOCTOR" and as the proof failed
to show anything definite Lizzie was ac-
quilted.
She Was Lively.
Cornelia Courtney, young coiored wo-