Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-19
BEGGAR IN COURT.
BOggs Had No Children, but Claimed
Three.

Three.
There were rearly three dozen prisoners
in the Police Court dock this morning, and
more than half Of them were in Judge Kim
balls court.
When court opened sad spectacle was
presented, a poor blind man whose name
is Henderson H. Bcggs being called upon
to answer q charge of vagrancy and sus-
picion, brought against Kim by Mrs. Martha
Rotrecht, who came across the case in do
ing charitable work.
This man is familiar character about
the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and nth
street, where he played an organette and
solicited aims, having placard on which
lendeth to the Lord. l have three children
and no other means of support" s.a-yt
The evidence showed that last September
he wrote to a Mrs. Smith and her son near
Lynchburg, and had them cCme here, tell
ing them he had a farm and was going 70
give them a good home. He was renting a
small farm, but did not own one. -
The boy Charles Smith, who Is fifteen
years old, said he went with Boggs to the
little farm, 'and,' he said, when l woke
up in the morning didn't know where l
was att
Mr.. Boggs told him to clean the horse and
get ready to drive to town, but the animal,
he said, was too poor.
Both his mother and himself were, very
much surprised at the condition Of affairs.
but they were here, and had to make the
best of it.
what have you been doing here" the
boy was asked.
Going out with Mr. Boggs." he an
swered.
The proof was to the effect that Boggs
has no children, as stated in the placard.
"and," the boy said, The told mother he
hadn't as much as child's toe nail"
Mrs. Robrecht told the court that Boggs
had been living on what had been gtvan
| him by charitable organizations, and he
keeps what money he collects.
The prisoner made statement, in Whlch
he said he came here from Kansas, and had
been here about two years. He said he
| only played his little organ when he got
short of funds. He also made an explana-
| ton about the farm.
| Judge Kimball, commenting On the case.
said he never thought 1t was proper
thing for the community to allow this
kind of begging. If a man is not able to
| take care OF himself by reason OF intlrmi-
| ty it's the duty of the District to look af-
| ter him. The city. the judge added. owes
ali it's infirm residents a living, and they
| should be supported by the entire District
| instead of by few.
Boggs says his brother-in-law, Mr.; VIII
liams. at Ellicott Mills. will take care OF
| him. and the case went over until tomor-
| row. in order that Mr.. Williams may be
communicated with. --.-a.,-,
viii my property he protected while
| I'm held?" the man asked. 81 have some
effects which want sold and the proceeds
| given to the poor 't4p"7"-,s
William West and Joseph Topin, the
men who were arrested because of their
| alleged suspicious conduct at Cobb's Hotel
| were given a hearing. One of them. ii
| was shown. reached the city about
| o'clock Sunday morning, when a police
! man saw him jump from freight train.
| I'm a printer said one of the men.
where's your card"
| IT had 1t in the pocket of a vest" he
| answered, land when I gave the vest
away l forgot to take the ticket out of
| the pocket"
| The men claimed that they went In the
| hotel to get a glass of beer. and denied that
| they intended anything wrong.
How long will it take you to leave the
city?" the court asked one of them.
Ten minutes" he answered.
And what about you?" the other one
was asked. --.'r
I'll go with him."
'Wen,'' remarked the judge your room
| is more desirable than your company. and
| If you are found here after Il O'Clock I'll
give you good long sentence"
Charles Blue, colored boy, was COM
planned against by Policeman Lightfoot. be-
cause he suspected that the boy had been
in a game of crap.
| The officer was told that there was a
party of boys in a house engaged in a
game of crap.
when I went to the house." said the
| officer. II found party Of boys there. Two
| of them jumped out the window and the
| wiEdow fell on one of them.
| He did not see any bones in the room but
| did pick up two cents. ~
Charlie was acquitted.