Evening star., 1896-08-06
HAD AN EASY TIME
Judge Scott Did Not Have Many Prisoners
Before Him This Morning.
Two Scorchers Were Fined-The Rest
of the Cases Were Drunks,
DisOrderlies and Migrants.

1t was so hot In the Police Court thi.
morning that the attendance of spec tator!
was cut down to the minimum. There were
comparatively few prisoners in the dock
and Justice Scott had as easy time OF Il
as man could have on such hot day.
The first person to answer to the clerks
call was a colored woman named Mary
Saunders. Last night she had tantrum ir
Green's court, and incidentally threw 6
brick through glass trt-nsom. The brick
fell on bed and narrowly escaped hitting
a woman who was lying there with heI
newborn baby. Mary was charged this
morning with destroying private property
and also with disorderly conduct.
Mary was repentant this morning anL
said that she never would have thrown the
brick if the sick woman haG not beer
making trouble for her husband"
She pleaded earnestly to be allowed to &C
home to her little children, but the judge
did not see it in that light and fined her 5:
for disorderly conduct and $3 on the other
charge.
Couldn't Get Credit.
James Coglin. a young white man. plead
ed guilty to the charge of djsorderly con-
duct.
'Judgeeronner, If you will give me till
Saturday 1 can pay my fine. Every time
this court has given me credit l have al
ways settled up on the day l promised to
1 have steady job. and If you let me go
can get back to work at II o'clock"
Il am sorry, JOhn, said the judge, but
the court has suspended its credit list and
you will have to pay fine of 81.
John stepped back and his place was
taken by a colored man named Robert Car
ter. who was charged with maintaining a
nuisance on his premises. at 2tO5 o street
Carter pleaded guilty. but explained that
affairs were in that condition when he rent
ed the house. and left shortly afterward on
that very account On his promise to abate
the nuisance, the court took his personal
recogniZance.
What Constitutes Vngrancy.
Kate Ready. who may have been a fair
and beautiful girl at one time, but whose
face shows signs of hard life, was charged
with being vagrant. She pleaded not
guilty. but as she had secured a lawyer to
defend her it took about twice the usual
length of time to dispose of her case. Po-
nceman Haynes testified that she lives with
colored man in Cox's alley but last night
he caught her going into an empty stable
with another colored man.
The lawyer said that the question of wha t
constitutes vagrant was debatable one
But am not here to debate it," said the
judge.
Il am. though" replied the lawyer. Then
ne gave an elaborate definition of va
grancy and prostitution. which satisfied the
Judge beyond question that the woman was
guilty. and he sentenced her to the work
house for month.
Joseph Kilt. an elderly German, helpless
ana q cripple, was charged with vagrancy
He said that he had walked here from
Cumberland
What did you come here for?'
Just to see der sights"
ANY money!"
NO SIR
go?"
ITO Philadelph, vair 1 hof offsprings."
Joseph SAID that he would walk to the
city uf brotherly love if he were given a
chance The judge gave him the freedom
of the city of Philadelphia, and sent him
on his way rejoicing.
Lily Williams called Clerk Harper in
loud tone of voice.
Got the Benefit of the Doubt.
The woman who stepped to the front to
answer to the charge of vagrancy was
young and good looking. She was tasteful
ly and quietly dressed. and if one should
meet her on the street he would never
think she was the sort Of woman the police
say she is. One said that she Is drunk on
an average of five days in ethe week, and
that she hangs about the streets at all
hours of the night. Another sad that he
had known her for five years as about the
worst in town.
That's rather sweeping charge" re-
marked her lawyer.
Yes. and I'll stick to it. too" replied
the policeman.
Lily took the stand In her own defense,
and denied that she had misbehaved her
self in any way. She said that she is
regularly employed. and that her room
rent is paid up 20 the 18th of the month.
She admitted that she may have strayed
In years gone by
But can't a woman become better if
she tres?' said the woman. with tears in
her eyes.
1T looks as though you hadn't tried
very hard,' said Mr.. Pugh.
Il think 1 have, sir. and 1 think / have
succeeded pretty we'll" she answered in
firm and earnest voice.
Two respectable men who live in the
same boarding house with the defendant
testified that ever since they had known
her she had acted in an exemplary man
ner. One of them said that when she was
arrested last night she could not have
been drunk, for he went to the station
house TO see her an hour later, and she
was perfectly sober. In this he fatty
contradicted the policeman.
Judge Scott said that as there was con-
siderable doubt in this case he was going
to give the woman the benefit of it, and
would let her go on her personal bonds if
she would agree to live an honest upright
hfe in the future.
Il WILL" said the woman. and she really
looked as though she meant 1t. too.
Two Srorcher. Fined.
James Winters and Eugene Ruffin, two
colored wheelmen, were then brought up
on the charge of "scorching." They were
racing on l. street last evening, and at
the corner of 9Th street Ruffin ran into a.
lady. Several witnesses testified that the
two boys were going at th-ee-minute
gait when the accident occurred
The two boys were fired Sc each, ard
have made up their minds never to scorch
any more.
THE MCKINLEY AND HOBART ClrR.
President Od.ll Resigns and is Sue
Inv