Evening star., 1896-12-28
Cases Brought Up in the Police Court
Today.
Two GRAVEYARD RANGERS ON TRIAL
Judge KimbaII on Hackmen Carry
ing Drunken Fares.
AN ATTORNEYS PROTEST

The scene today in the Police Court was
in diametrical contrast to that Saturday,
when the dock was crowded with mass
OF offending humanity. The Christmas re-
action has set in, and the prisoners ar
raigned at the bar of justice this morning
were comparatively few in number. The
first case, however, required fully two
hours of the time of the court. and was
rendered strikingly interesting for the rea-
son that Attorney Campbell Darlington
took the bull by the horns, so to speak. and
protested in vigorous terms against the
practice of policemen interjecting testimony
during the hearing of cases.
Graveyard Rangers.
Arthur Hoover, a young man with dis
rumpled hair and distressingly battered
&C ountenanoe, opened the proceedings by
pieading not guilty to an Information
charging suspicion. Hoover, it was claim
ed, is a prominent and active member of
the Graveyard Rangers" an organization
more or less notorious, the members OF
which use the old graveyard at Sd street
and Florida avenue as a point OF renoez-
vous. For this reason, and also because
the young man has been in the tolls of the
police on more than one occasion. ne was
followed when seen by Policeman Foley at
1:S0 o'clock Sunday morning in the vicinity
of 9Th and r streets. Hoover was In COM
9th and S streets the party Policeman
Foley declared dallied for about five min
utes with a drop-a-penny-ln-the-slot cheW-
irg gam machine outside drug store at
the corner mentioned Later 1t was dis
covered that the box had been forcibly en-
tered. Earlier in the night Foley and Spe-
cial Policeman Mcbride had examined ,he
box and found 1t In proper working order.
In view of the circumstances Hoover was
yesterday arrested a suspicious char
acter.
Hoover Makes Denial.
Hoover, on taking the stand, admitted
that he has been to jail, and also that he
has been arrested several times. He denied
emphatically, however, that he had been
rear the slot machine.
1t was an unfortunate incident for
Hoover, perhaps, that he more prominently
displayed on the lspel of his coat button
with the inscription. II am somewhat of a
liar myself-but there are Others" for
Judge Kimball had no hesitancy in de-
elaring that the statements Of the youth
were false
Mr.. Henry Hoover. a carpenter ani
builder, the. father of the defendant, tes-
titled that by reason of physical infirmity
his son was unable to perform manual
labor.
What was done with the boy when he
was here before?" asked the court.
Your honor sent him down once" re-
put up collateral for him. 1t is cheaper to
pay collateral than 1t is to pay lawyer
sometimes.
Mr.. CarringtOn's Protest.
At this point Attorney Campbell Caring
ten arose, and with some spirit. said:
While 1 was conversing with one of my
witnesses 1 understand that Policeman Nc
Donald volunteered to inform your honor
that my client was once upon a time con-
vlcted of larceny. 1 now enter most earn
est protest against this practice on the
part of policemen and others Of interject-
ing testimony in such an unlawful manner.
1t is growing to be a crying evil and the
public is beginning to take notice of It,
Such action is manifestly improper and un-
Just, ara ! protest against 1t in the name
of justice. 1 certainly think that the next
person who offends in this way should be
fined by your honor"
piled the court. 1T is against the rule and
cannot be tolerated l was unaware that
Mr. Mcdonald had said anything"
Attorney Darlington attempted to show
to play with tie slot machines, and, lie
stated, the box in question might have been
broken in that manner.
Judge kimbsll reviewed the case at
length, saying among other things that
Hoover's denial was unquestionably false
He then ruled that the young man should
give bonds in the sum of so or go to the
workhouse for thirty days.
Will Enter the Navy.
Frank Mattingly. who appeared as wit
ness in behalf of Hoover was placed under
arrest during the hearing of the case and
upon its conclusion arraigned also as a
suspicious character. The charge against
him was the same as that which confronted
Hoover. Mattingly explained that he had
completed arrangements to leave for New
York this evening in order 10 enter the
United States navy.
He will be better Off there than in the
Workhouse," said Judge Kimball. Take his
personal bonds.''
Jessie Mccoy Gets OFF.
Jessie Mccoy occupies permanent posi-
ton in the front rank of the squad of old
timers. AS usual Jessie spent Christmas
In the workhouse, but regained her liberty
Saturday. Her appearance in the dock to-
day was by no means surprise, although
the charge was decidedly out of the or
dinaiy. The customary "vag'' information
had taken back seat for the nonce in
favor of refusing to pay hack hire"
Jessie Mccoy" called Clerk Lum Harper
IN StentoTfaH tones, as he reached the paner
in the case
Mrs. Ford, if you please SIR" corrected
Jessie grandiloquently, with a sniff and an
indignant toss OF her head
In tones, noticeably subdued the clerl,
read the information. and Attorney John
Moss. the bard of Hillsdale, who Appeared
LOT Jessie, entered plea Of not guilty
Frank Mills. colored, the driver OF a
night liner, was the complaining witness.
and he said that last night the woman
hired him to drive her to a residence ON
Rhode Island avenue
On reaching there she had a pariey
with gentleman in second-story win
dow, continued Mills. He refused to
let her in and then blew a police whistle.
She then got in the carriage and ordered
me TO drive on. When she left the vehicle
she refused to pay the IS cents due SO i
had her arrested"
Was she alone?" asked the court.
Yes. sir."
May the blessed heavens help the man. -
interrupted Jessie, with a shrek of amaze
ment. Matte Metcaif was with me-
Keep quiet" admonished Moss and Ken
dig in chorus.
Was this woman drunk?" Judge Kim
ball then wanted to know.
Yes, sir" replied the hackman.
Now, why did you take drunken Wo-
man as Passenger" continued his honor.
I'm not going to help hackmen collect
fares from persons who were intoxicated.
Case dismissed"
For a moment Jessie appeared dazed,
1t was the first time in years that she was
allowed to go scot free after being taken
into court Finally it flashed upon her that
the millennium had been reached so far as
she was concerned.
isi x.-ftt