The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-21
MS FIDDLE TIMED FOR HTJL
An Old Negroes Proof That He Had Right
To BE Carrying IL.

Several nights ago as Patrolman Char
les Romn.cl was patrCllng his beat. he
discovered an old darby walking down
tho street with n violin under his arm.
When he had gotten even with Rim he
stopped him and began questioning him.
The policeman WAS not satisfied with the
reero's account Of where he had gotten
the Instrument. and he placed him tnder
arrest Tho negro went on without
word and al the station save his name
a. James McCloskey.
The next day he was presented before
Judge Smith. The policeman told the
Judge how he had seen the negro on the
street with the instrument, and he said
that he aid not believe IL belonged 10 him.
It WAS a fine violin, ne said. and a negro
that had no more money than this negro
seemed 10 have could not afford 10 buy
sucn a fine instrument The pdtrolman
finally asked the Judge TO give him two
days TO look for the owner of the violin,
saying that he believed In that time be
could be able 20 locate its owner. The
time was granted him, and the negro was
held over.
Yesterday he was again presented be-
fore the court Those against him tried
10 make out a felony case as they said
that tho violin was worth considerably
over 50. The violin was worth SiN or.
perhaps. SO During the course of the
trial the policeman told the Judge that
the negro had admitted 10 MIN that he
could not play on the instrument. and
that was one reason why ne made the
arrest, as he knew that man would not
pay a large sum for thinS he could not
use.
Up TO this time the risoner had lemain-
Ell silent lie had sat with dOwncast
eyes and did not seem TO hear what was
( going Oh. When Lo heard this, re sud
denly looked up and said.
He's mistaken, Your Honor. | didn't
say that / couldn't play on the violin.
The Judge remained silent for mo-
meut and then asked that the instru-
meut be handed the negro. n light came
/ into the darky's face as he took the in
a.runent into his hands. He looked IL
over carefully. and then fondled 1t under
I his arm. lie then took IL from under
| his arm and began TO tune il. lie had
/ scarcely struck the first note when tho
crowd IN the courtroom began 70 stir ana
move up closer 10 the prisoners dock In
/ a few moments the instrUmtr Wss tun-
! ed and ia the sweetest strains THE
/ Arkansas TRAY eler" echoed and Te-echoed
I through the courtroom. The crowd be-
gan 10 pat their feet ia time with the
music. and the Judge had 10 order the
negro To stop playing. Whi'e the prisoner
was playing. his hand tremblcd and his
eyes shOne with an unusual brightness.
/ IL was with reiuctan-e that ne stopped
playing, ana the crowd looked disappoint-
ed.
The negro sat still a moment. but he
could stand it no longer. Again he plac-
ell the violin TO his shoulder and began
PLAYING Use GWine Back TO Dixie" The
| crowd in the courtroom could contain
| themselves no iorser, ana II was VIII
difficulty that order was restored. Again
the negro was stopped from playing. The
Judge looked at the prosecuting attorney
and then al the arrestiag officer.
.po YOU say that this man cannot
nlay?" he said. The arguing OF the case
was finished, and the negro VAS dis
misssd.-Louisvilie Courier Journal.