Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-25
THE JUDGES WORDS
He Corrects a Statement in Regard
to His Conduct.
POLICE COURT VAN LATE AGAIN
A Bicycle and Church Work Too
Much for the Driver.
L y 4 NJ p ORTAN CAS- Z S

Driver Tompkins, who has charge of one
OF the Police Court vans was no earlier
yesterday than he was the day before, and
the result was that the prisoners who were
convicted late in the day had to remain III
the tolls until nearly o'clock, when they
snoEid have been in Jail or the workhouse
more than hour earlier. The cause of
this delay was due entirely TO the driver,
and not to the court officers. for the latter
made every possible effort to get the We
hicle. hut failed until late in the day.
Tompkins, although not a young man, is
a bicycle rider, and is engaged IN church
work in South Washington, and this comb
nation, the officers think, caused the de-
lay.
William johnson, a colored man, who had
been in court charge Of carrying
pistol was not among those who were sent
down, for. although the evidence was
against him, the jury mad returned the sur
prising verdict Not guilty Judge Miller
WAS taken completely by surprise by the
verdict. and expressed himself.
Complaint had been made to Policeman
Foley that there was a colored man In
cart with a pistol in his pocket, and John
son proved to be the man in the cart.
And j saw him throw the pistol away,
was the evidence of a reputable citizen.
4 Surprising Verdict.
After thirty minutes delibera ton the ver-
dict was rendered, and Judge Miller took
occasion to denounce the finding of the jury
by talking to the defendant.
You have been acquitted the judge told
him. but you made a narrow escape. In
my opinion, you are guilty
But" said Lawyer Moss, his counsel
1.-THE jury has said TO the contrary"
Il can't help what the jury says
marked the iudpe want to cav 10 yor,
Johnson. that because you ESCAPED this time
you need not think you will get off every
time"
In conclusion the Judge said he could not
understand why such verdict should have
been rendered. He had done his duty to
protect the citizens and was free from the
responsibility for this verdict.
This morning when court opened Judge
Miller took occasion TO deny the accuracy
of the report of the johnson case as printed
in local morning paper in so far the
Language attributed TO him was concerned.
The judge read the objectionable part of
the account of the trial, follows:
" Come up here. you, you black villain:
you are just as guilty of carrying this re-
volver as you could be, angrily commanded
the judge.
" But, your honor. the jury SAYS not
Lawyer Moss interposed
Shut up. his honor snapped out. L
don't care what the jury says
Judge Miller said it was because of the
language attributed 10 him that he desired
to call attention TO the publication in A
public manner. In doing so he said he
1uliy realized the right of the press to crit
Icise the action of the court and for the
many uniform courtesies of the press he
Is thankful. but in this matter IT is not a
question of criticism. He desired to say
that he used no such language as the ar
ticle attributed tc him, nor did he saw
anything that could have been construed
INTO such Language, and he was incapable
OF doing So
The iudpe said n. u-ac ,,,,3o. ,,,z ;x...-..
sion That the prisoner guilty. and the
verdict had astonisheu him. Not wanting
the defendant to leave the court under the
impression that he had fooled the court as
well as the jury he took occasion to make
some remarks.
In the administration of the courts affairs
Judge Miller said he knows no color and
has always made an effort 10 treat all
alike. The use of such language as was
put in his mouth would not only be indie
corous, but would also be reprehensible
and lie thought TINS was the proper way to
disavoW it.
Wanted "a shirt and Got One.
John Mahoney. a Capitol Hill bricklayer.
was in the tolls charge of vagrancy.
and he seemed very much offended at the
IDEA of being charged with such an offense
I'm not Nasrant. he answered. I'm
workneman, and have a good home
This man was begging yesterday" was
the complaint of Policeman Russell 81
found him in the back yard of a house near
18th and r streets"
Was he drunk
He was not exactly drunk but he was
suffering from the effects of rum
wasn't begging. said the prisoner
1 m brickiayer by trade. and | Went to
TINS house TO get a clean shirt 10 make a
good appearance when l went in search OF
work.
Was the shirt on the line?''
n eli
lived on Capitol Hill. and thought they
would let me have a shirt
The people at the house said they didn't
know him.. the officer told the court and
they also said that they are unable 10 get
any peace for the tramps who come there"
Mahoney Will now wear a striped shirt
for one month unless bond is given for
him.
Disorder and Profanity.
William Scott and Della Rich, a eolored
couple. appeared I'm the tolls because they
had engaged in street fight
The trouble happened about o'clock
Thursday morning. said the policeman.
and arrested them for disorderly con-
duct"
What were they doing?"
Passing blows
Il didn't strike him until after he struck
me-" said Della
They had been disorderly in addition to
fighting, and the court fined them 81 each.
Henry Pinkert, a young colored man who
patronizes a beer garden near both and NJ
streets was in the pen this morning be-
cause his language in the beer garden had
been improper.
He called me q -" said the wife
of the proprietor of the beer garden. and
then said if l didn't like it he'd say il
again. Then he told me he did not have TO
work. for he had girls who supported him"
What have you to say about this?' the
court asked
Il amt guilty
Had you been drinking?''
Il had four or five drinks
Then / guess you don't remember. You
will have to pay fine of So.
Benjamin Ferguson failed to answer when
he was called to answer a charge of lisor-
DERBY conduct, and his collateral was for
feited.
Michael Was Irritated
Georgetown was represented in court by
Michael O'Donoghue, against whom there
was a charge of disorderly conduct He