The evening times., 1896-05-22
TROUBLE LED TO DRINK:
Lena Hartman Sobb I'd Out Her
Story in Court.
BEATEN BY HEB HUSBAND
She Warned the Judge That She Is
Not II Vagrant, But Earns Her LfV-
Ing and Leaves Men AlOne-A Small
Boy Arraigned, But ut Once Re-
leased.

Lena Hartman, twenty-five years old,
| was the only one OF her sex in the dock Of
Judge Kimballs court this morning. She
| Is soldiers wife. and domestic trouble
| led her to drink and her arrest on the
charge of vagrancy.
She had drank SO heavily and deeply
that she was Oh the borders of that ter
rible state OF consciousness peopled by
shapes more fantast than those of Dante's
"1nferno," as she shivered in one cor
ner of the pen. She huddled her hands
under her arms, biting her lips until the
| blood flowed.
| Kendig carried her a glass of water,
and as she drank her hand shook so that
| The glass rattled against her teeth, like
| the clash of castanets.
Please give Inc another she asked.
| The bailiff filled the glass and she
dipped her lips in the cool water, with a
hungry thirst such as Tantalus had when
| the gods permitted the waters TO reach
his mouth.
She is painfully ugly. Her straight,
black hair fell over her face and she vainly
tried to arrange it. So miserable an OBJ
ject was she that there was not man in
the courtroom who did not pity her.
THE MANS COMPLAINT.
Last night about 8 O'Clock she was ar
rested by Policeman Hoynes on Sixth street
northwest.
John j. Blick a self-assertiye gentleman,
in pepper aud salt suit, said that on
coming out OF his house yesterday he was
approached by the defendant.
'She came up to me- said Blick, land
extended her hand, won't be sure, but l
think she wanted to shake hands,
Mr.. Blick is too dignified an individual
FOR an exchange II courtes witha DIR unken
woman, so he gave her a shake. but it was
cold one.
Il said to her." went on Blick, lortily,
- I don't know YOU"
''Well, what them" asked the Judge.
BlicS said she moved do wn the street and
accosted several men.
Il saw her last Sunday morning." said
Policeman Cox, very drunk. in the company
of three men,"
Cox said he drove them off his beat
Bring up the prisoner, Mr.. Kendig,"
said the Judge The bailirf helped her tOthe
stand, where she tapped rrantically on the
rail, swaying to and fro, as if she would fall.
TEL me about yourself" said the Judge
Kindly.
I'm the wife OF a soldier. He beat me
and i got to drinking"
Where is he?'' asked the court
The woman ran the sleeve of her shirt
waist across her eyes, and sobbed: Hes
off on furlOUGh."
She said her husband was a musician in
Fgnr-h rtil
the Arsenal.
Word was sent to the Hope and Help
iu the morning?''
Il wanted TO get a glass of beer
How about speaking to those young
men?''
WHAT SHE SAID.
Lena said she wanted a drink to brace
up on and asked them to show her to a
saloon.
Judge kimball leaned over his desk and
watched curiously the play of the womau's
muscles twitching in her temples and
cheeks.
what makes you so nervous?'' he asked
kindly.
She flung back her head and laughed such
u shrill peal of hollow mrth that it Jared
OIL the nerves.
I'm scared"
Isn't II on account of your drinking?"
Yes, but please let me go. Judge"
Il am afraid" returned the court. sor-
rowfully, ''the first thing you'll do when
you leave the court room will be to get a
drink"
mo won't; haven't got a cent
The Judge said whisky could be gotten
when 1t was impossible to procure bread.
When Judge Kimball asked her if she had
any friends she bowed her head, saying
drearily, None. none"
Il am not going 10 let you go home"
said the judge. You are in no condition
20 be by yourself"
whatever you do" said The woman.
understand one thing-I am not n va
grant. i earn my living sewing and /
don't run after men. This wouldn't have
happened If my husband hadn't beat me-,
and the poor creature cried bitterly.
What were you doing out at 8 O'Clock
Mission, and one of the good women there
came to the police court and took charge
of the woman.
CHANGED HIS PLACE.
"iiiiam Connors sat among the spec
tators this morning, but before the court
adjourned he was in the dock
bic came in and occupied a front seat,
placing carefully under the bench battered
leather case. He is Il comical looking man,
or nfty, with crown of bristing white
hair, and wore pair of eye glasses on the
end OF his BardOlphiun nose. Wien the
Judge had disposed of the case of a small
boy by releasing him, Connors clapped his
hands lightly, cxclaiming, "good, good,
very good"
Put that man OUT" said Judge KIM
ball, angrily.
Connors was hustled out to the hall
where he met Flynn.
what dye want here?" asked Mike.
want TO go to the workhouse," said
William. I'm in everybody's way and
everybody's in mine."
What have ye in thot bag?'' said Mike.
Devils returned the other; ..lots of
'em. II l get to the workhouse I'm going
to let them out and eat up every living
soul there"
Flynn eyed him suspiciousIy, saying
he'd better come with him.
Once more Connors went back in the
courtroom, Flynn putting him in the pen
what about that man, Mr.. Flynn?'' de-
manded his honor.
Mike told of Connor's request to go to the
workhouse and the judge said he would at
tend TO him after awhile.
William, highly delighted, lolled on the
hard bench, clasping tightly the diabolical
valise. Every now and then he made in.
audible remarks, but no serious outbreak
until d colored boy from the country was ar
raigned for breaking through a funeral pro-
cession.
wait till get to the workhouse then
you'n have funeral procession eight miles