The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-14
IN COURT YESTERDAY
An Unusual Plea Offered by a CoIorsd Man
rs an Excuse for Stealing a Robe.
A YOU'RE MANS SAD PLEA FOR MERCYP
The Negro nnd the Brick-Constable
.. Carminc, of the County, Fined for
Assnnit--.s Test Cnsc Set.Icd-Cnscs
in the Corporation CoIsrt-Dced of
haranin n.sd Sale.

Yesterday was almost n blank day
IN Court Circles. Justice Burroughs
had only three or four cases on his
docket, besides drunls.
mere was no business transacted in
INC Corporation Court, excepting the
trlal Oh Few minor civil appealed
warrants of no interest to the public,
anu the Court of Law and Chanccry
WAS not in session. There were no suits
entered or marriage licenses Issued.
Altogether there was dcarth of court
news.
STOLE A LAP-ROBE
IL Is not an unusual thing for
white person accused OF theft to lay
the blame on drink. and say that they
would not have committed the orrense
II they had not been under the in
nuence of liquor 1t is seldom. how
ever, that negro resorts to that plea
lhey usually deny the charge or accuse
some one else. When ST Austin, u tli-
lapidated and forlcrn looking negro
was arraigncd In the Police Court yes
terday on the charge OF stealing Il
G,p-robe. valued at Sl3. the property of
MI james Thayer, from that gentle
mans stables Oh Plume street the
negro broke down completely, acknows-
edScd the crime. and pleaded to be let
on on the ground that whiskey did it;
that If he had not been drunk he never
would have committed the act Justice
dence proved Austin to he sufficiently
lntoXicated as TO render him ire
sponsible. and His Honor sentenced
him 10 four months in Jail.
YOUNG GRIFFIN GUILTY.
1t is seldom that as intelligent, refin-
ed looking, and we'll dressed Il Young
man Is arraigied before TIE Police
Court on the charge of theft as was
young William Griffin before Justice
No
man wore patent shoes a handsome
getaway coat. and was drcssy through
out. ms rs stood before Justice Bur
roughs to answer the charge of steal
ing an overcont valued at $50 and a
Imeerschaum pipe valued at 81. the prop
eriy of Mr. Il. w. Sutherland. from
the stables Of McClcary & Mcclellan.
OH Union Street. The prisoner pleaded
hard with Justice Burroughs to be given
one more chance. AMI that he would
never fall into temptation again. He
stated that he had relatives on the
Eastern Shore of Virginia and would
leave the city and go to them If given
the chance. His Honor was undoubt-
ic"lE touched by the young mans plead
ings and promises, and but for his high
sense of duty to the Commonwealth, he
would perhaps have yielded to Griilin's
petition; as 1t was, he expressed SYM
pathy for the young man, but told him
that 1t was his duty as a judge to
him to four months in jail. His Honor
suggested TO the prisoner yhcn he sen
fenced him that he might appeal TO the
Corporation Court. and II Is understood
maj he has since retained Mr.. Julius
III. Saunders to see what can he done
for his release before Judge Hanckcl.
THE NEGRO AND THE BRICK.
An attempt to hit another negro with
nrick because he put him out of Mr.
John JoncS' saloon on Church street.
caused the arrest OF Il colored hoy
named William Jackson on Thursday
ana to-day he Is in jail in dcfault of his
Tine. In the Police Court Yesterday
Mr.. Jones testified that jackson came
into his place on Thursday and being
IL minor. MIR. Jones ordered him out
of his place. Jackson refused 20 go,
however. and MIR. Jones. aided by his
colored porter. proceeded to put him
out. Later on Mr.. Jones was about
to enter his saloon, having come from
the residence part of the house. He
detected Jackson standing by the door
with brick in his hand. Mr.. Jones
demanded to know what he intended
to do with the brick. whcrcupon the
negro informed him that he did not
intend to hurt him Goncs), but he pro-
posed to break somebody's head Be-
iieving that the boy intended to com
nit an assault Mr.. Jones grabbed him
ana called an officer, who took him to
the station house. Justice Burroughs
fined him S375 yesterday, In default cf
which he went To Jail
CONSTABLE CARMINE GUILTY.
The most interesting case tried be-
fore Justice Burroughs yesterday was
the warrant under which Mr.. j. S. Car
mine. one of the County Constablcs
was tried for assault OF Mr. John 4.
l.csner. Jr. y large number Of Witness
es were in court, among them Judge n.
Tucker Brooke, and most Of the evil
dencc was in favor Of Mr.. Iesner At
torncy w. y. S. Taylor. OF LOYAL C
Taylor. represented Mr.. Lcsner and Mr.
Carminc conducted his own case Mr..
l.cSner testified that Mr.. Carmine had
made threats against him OF account
of his having cut a street down neal.
the Cot'stahle's house. and that as he
was about to enter the ferry boat lost
Tuesday. he met Mr.. Carnine. who de-
manded to know why he continued to
cut the street down and iniure his prop
erty; that without waiting for a re-
ply. Mr.. Carmine struck him over the
head with cane. and fell as he struck
him. Judge Brooke and other witness
cs saw the cane in the air and saw Mr..
Carmine fall. hut did not know who
struck the first blow. Mr. Cnrmine les
titled that he spoke to Mr.. Lcsncr about
the matter and that Mr.. LcSner there
upon struck him in the face said lick
being the first blow. Justice Burroughs
thought the testimony proved that Mr.
Carminc was the aggressor and fined
him ti2.I5. which the Constable paid
THE TEST CASE SETTLED
The test case as to whether tbr ar