The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1895-06-08
A Story With Two Sides.

A Story With Two Sides.
woman stood at the bar of justice,
and by her side two stalwart policemen.
Her name was called and she answered
Then the Judge asked the clerk to read
the charge against her.
'Disorderly conduct on the street,
and disturbing the peace" read the
clerk.
who are the witnesses against the
woman" asked the Judge, and the two
policemen stepped forward to be sworn
Now tell the story" said the Judge,
and one of them began.
II arrested the woman in front of a
saloon on Broadway on Saturday night
She had raised great disturbance, was
fighting and brawling with the men in
the saloon, and the saloon keeper put
her out. She used the foulest language,
and with an awful oath struck at the
keeper with all her force. | then ar
rested her and took her to the deten-
ton house and locked her up"
"The next witness will take the
stand" said the Judge; and the other
policeman stepped up.
81 saw the arrest, and know It to- be
just as stated. | saw the woman fight
ing as the saloOn-keeper put her out in
the street. | heard the vile language
she used III the presence of the crowd
that ont hprpd in the gfraat -
"CaIl the saloon keeper What do
you know of this woman?"
81 know dis woman vas maxim dis
turbance by my saloon. She comes
and she mkces troubles ind she fights
NIT me, und | puts her the door oud
| know her all along. She vas pad
VOmanS.'
Turning 10 the trembling woman, the
Judge said:
This is pretty clear case, madam
have you anything to say in your de-
tcnse?"
eyes, Judge" she answered in a
strangely calm though trembling voice,
Il am not guilty of the charge, and
these men standing by you have per
jured their souls to prevent me from
telling the truth. It was they, and not
|, who violated the law. ! was in the
saloon last Saturday night, but I'll tell
You how it happened.
''My husband did not come home
from work that evening, and | feared
lie had gone to the saloon. | knew he
must have drawn his weeks wages and
we needed it all so badly. [ put the
the little ones to bed, and then waited
all alone through the weary hours until
after the city clock struck twelve.
Then | thought the sOioon would be
closed, and he will be put out on the
street. Probably he will not be able to
get home and the police will arrest him
and lock him up. / must 90 and find
him and bring him home | wrapped
a shawl around me and started out,
leaving the little ones in bed, and,
Judge, | haven't seen them since"
Here the tears came to her eyes and
she almost broke down, but, restrain
Ing herself, she went on:
Il went to the saloon where | thought
most likely he would be. 1t was about
twenty minutes alter twelve, but the
saloon, that mans saloon, "-pointing to
the saloon keeper, who seemed to want
to crouch out of her sight-''was still
open, and my husband and these two
policemen, pointing To those who
had so lately sworn against her-"wcre
standing at the bar with lips still wet
with drink and the tlecks of foam not
yet settled in the empty glasses before
them. | stepped up to my husband
and asked him to 90 home with me, but
the men laughed at him and the saloon
keeper ordered me out. | said, no, I
want my husband to 90 with me-. Then
| tried to tell him how badly we need
ed the money he was spending, and
again the keeper cursed me and order
ed me to leave. Then, | confess |
could stand no more, and | said, You
ought 10 be prosecuted for violating the
midnight closing law
"At this the saloon-kecper and the
policemen rushed upon me and put me
out into the street, and one of the po-
hcemcn, grasping my arm like vice,
missed in my ear, ''I'll get You thirty
days sentence in the workhousr. and
then see what YOU think about suing
people He called a patrol wagon and
pushed me in and drove to the house
of detention, and Judge, YOU know the
rest. All day yesterday | was locked
up, my children at home alone, with no
fire, no food, no mother"
1t was well the story was finished, for
a great sob checked her uttcrance, and
she could say no more.
dismissed" said the Judge in
husky voice, and the guilty woman who
had SO disturbed the peace passed out
of the court room.
But what of the keeper who
violated the law by keeping open after
twelve o'clock at night? And what of
the policemen who violated their obi
cations by drinking while on duty, and
who threatened an honest woman with
" 00ht'H'c III INC "OIkHouee II she
dared to tell the truth? Oh, nothing at
all! They were too guilty to be prose
cuteG
The facts of this story will be found
on record in Judge Ermston's court
Cincinnati Living Issue
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