Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-05
The One in the Police Court and Its
Tale Of Woe.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF MANS DEPRAVIFY
Grist of cuIprits Caught in Their
Misdemeanors.
DOWN TO THE FARM

Four colcred women and a number of
males who never voted were in Judge Kim
balls procession this morning, and the fact
that an election was being held across the
District line did not interest them in the
least. They were in the tolls, out of the
rain, and some Of them were glad of it.
Others. who had been arrested for most
trivial offenses, were willing to leave the
Districts free boarding house and work for
their living; and Judge KimbalI released
them.
Clara Wallace, a resident of Freeman's
alley, where SO many arrests are made,
was the leader Of the procession, the
charge against her being disorderly con-
duct in the alley.
Are you guilty or not guiltyT' the clerk
asked.
Guilty" responded the woman.
1.-THE court fines you S." said the clerk.
Policeman Carson, who arrested the wo-
man, thought that the amount Of fine inn
posed was too small, and moved to the wit
less stand to relate his story of the wo-
mans conduct. but the clerk told him that
he was too slow"
ut just saved her S." remarked the off,
Ger.
Valinda Larkins, friend Of Clara's, was
next in line, and the charge against her
was vagrancy.
The plea was one Of innocence.
This woman" said the officer, i've
known for a long time. She's common
woman, who gets drunk and hangs about
the alley. If she works any, don't know
1t. Last night" he continued, Il went to
the house in the alley, where found sew
eral men and women. All hands were
drunk and swearing. When we went In to
arrest them the men got away
Valinda did not want to go to the work.
house. and so she made wholesale denial
of the charge. and thought she had been
arrested for no cause whatever.
Ind hal 70 fha fvor
and sent the woman down for thirty days.
A Miscegenating Vagrant.
Annie V. Smith. a white woman, next
appeared This was the name she had
given, but the clerk recognized her as
Becky" Smith. an old offender and her
name on the information was changed.
Vagrancy was the charge against her.
and when asked the usual question as to
her guilt or innocence, she responded, Il
am guilty of nothing. The policeman ar
rested me in the house.. where 1 wasn't
harming anybody" uII
She was in a house with colored man.
said the officer who had A. AT arrested her. and
disappeared. Earlier In Ithe evening she
met officer Barnes onitha street, and ask
ed him for three cents saying she had two
cents and she wanted to- buy some soup.
She had tin bucket in which she got some
beer" 80 ~
Judge, your honor" said the woman,
Il went to. see a colored friend last night.
and then l went out,tosget bucket of
beer for him. But judge amt been ar
rested for so long a time that 1 think you
might let me go today"
when We're you arrested the last timer
Judge" said Rebecca.r"I amt been in
the workhouse since you sent me down the
last time = Il
"of course you haven't" the court re-
marked.
last summer. when you were away.
Judge Kimball told Rebecca that she was
too we'll known, and imposed a sentence OF
thirty days on the farm.
An Unsavory Case.
Herbert Peters, barber. employed in a
Pennsylvania avenue barber shop, and John
Owens, telegraph lineman employed under
| Superintendent Miles of the District service.
had reason to draw the color line when they
| We're called in court. They had been caught
| in raid in disreputable house in Hayes
court kept by colored woman. Owens was
charged with being vagrant, while Peters
was charged as witness. young colored
| nan named William Henry Lee and a color
| ed woman named Susie Mercer were also
| charged with vagrancy.
During the trial of the case it developed
| that Owens had one of his children. a boy
| about Ell It years old, in the house. and Pc.
tiers told the court that his female room
mate was sent to the workhouse last week
| for vagrancy.
Susie MERGERS sister was called as a wit
ness, but her statement about the occupants
of the different rooms did not agree will
+ those Of others.
Owens claimed that he slept with Peters
| last night, but the latter said that Owens
only came in his room when the police ap
peared.
Judge Kimball said that so far as Owen:
| Is concerned, there was not the slightes
doubt about his character, and he had no
| heard as much perjury committediin cour
in long time as had been committed by tn,
| defendants in this case.
Owens was held in 500 security, or ninet,
days on the farm.
Susie Mercer promised to leave the cit,
| this week, and her personal bonds wer,
| taken.
Lee was also released on his persona
| bonds.
Counterfeit Coin.
Samuel Green, tall colored man, was ii
court as suspicious person because it wa
alleged ne had passed counterfeit fifty
cent piece at Ben Goldman's store.
Il amt guilty Of such a charge" an
swered Green when arraigned, and severa
witnesses were sworn Among them wa
Goldman, who told of the prisoners visi
to his store and Of his attempt to pass tn
counterfeit coin.
He wanted my wife to wait on him,
said the grocer. 'and then he insisted tina
she should take the money and give hir
the change"
What was his purchaser" the cour
asked.
He bought sixteen cents worth of wa
nuts, peanuts. sugar and bread answere
Goldman, land when he got the change b
slipped out Of the store.,'
Green admitted that he was custome
in Goldman's store, but said he gave him
quarter in payment for. the goods.
did you know that the money was cour
terfeit?' &c 81
mo, SIR" he respondent 'I can't read {
write, and 1 can't tell anything abol
money except when I See the eagle on it.
He was given ten days on the farm.
Henry Lewis, a colored man who has bee
in the hospital for nine months, was In tt
procession on a charse"of indecency, b.
the proof was that he had tried not to VII
late the law. as he Welt Into place whel
he thought he could not be SEEN
It was evident that theman had not
tended to violate the Jaw, and Judge Kin
ball released him. ~
"stin Stood Fixed to Hear"