Evening star., 1896-02-14
PRISONERS WERE SCARCE
III
Yesterdays Rain Kept Down z Police Court
,. . Work, Z Z
The Procession This Morning and the
Different Excuses offered
icrE
by TransgressOrs.

scarce this morning. in the cells there
were only nine prisoners and seven Of
them belonged in Judge Kimbalrs process
sion. Yesterdays rainy day had the usual
bad weather effect on the Violators of the
law, and the police patrol horses had a
days rest. Although there were SO few
prisoners in the tolls, one of them, Kitty
Lancaster, or Tascoe, was enough to make
up for those who did not appear.
Kitty is not one Of those handsome females
who so frequently figure in police circles.
She is an ordinary cclored woman, whose
protruding teeth give her a ghastly ap-
pearance but this apparent deformity does
not in the least interfere with the use of
her tongue.
She was the most talkative one in the
cells, and she not only spoke for herself,
but did the talking for her cell-mate and
all the men in the three cells. Her conver-
sation was mir gled with profanity, as much
as are her street talks, and she denounced
the policeman, whom she said took her
She was drunk last night and did not
deny it. II had a hundred drunks, you
great, big, old, fat policeman" she said to
Officer Flynn, land paid for every one of
them. And if you can tell why q lady can't
drink liquor in her own house and not get
arrested you can do more than I can.
'And that amt all" she added. "That
mean policeman didn't take me in the pa
troll wagon, but made me walk 1 don't
think it's right to make lady walk when
the men are put in the wagon and saved
the trouble.
Let US have another cup of that good
coffee, Mr.. Flynn, cause my throat don't
feel good, and want to clear it out"
Haven't you had your coffee?" the big
policeman asked.
Il had two, but give the old gal another"
THE coffee mans gone," the officer told
her.
Then give me a piece of tobacco for nv
toothache," she said.
Il amt guilty of nothin" she said when
she appeared before the judge, with her roll
and sausage in her hand.
This woman was drunk and profane yes-
terday,' said Sergeant Daley. Some bows
were calling her Kitty Catfish and she was
swearing at them"
"'Tain't so,' said Kitty. II wasn't swear
Ing at nobody. l don't swear now."
She was fined s., but as she was short Of
funds she went down for two weeks
Fred Brown, a young man, we'll dressed
was in the mixed crowd on charge of mis-
conduct at 18th and D streets. The case
was dismissed.
John Wise, young colored man, who
might just as well he earning his livelihood
as figuring in the Police Court, was in the
tolls on a charge of disorderly conduct. He
was comfortably dressed and did not ap-
pear a man who needed to do other than
legitimate work in order to earn his living.
But he had been in a game of crap and it
was on this charge that he was arrested.
When the clerk arraigned him on the
charge of disorderly conduct he said
guilty" and expected to hear the clerk say
1.-The court fines you five dollars"
This is what would have happened had
not the-ofIicer interrupted: "A crap game,
your honor"
Then the judge said. Ten dollars or thir-
ty days" .f'S
vngrnncy Cases.
Humphrey West was next in line, and
the charge against him was Vagrancy and
suspicion. He is young cclored man, who
has had cne experience In court. but last
night he was found in the Division near
where he was arrested on previous occa-
sion.
Last night" said the policeman, Il found
him about vestIbules on 18th street He
got out of the workhouse week before last,
and about four o'clock yesterday morning
I found him asleep in the Post building
Then, too, he has been sleeping in Heat
alley in rear of the Corcoran building
Where does he iive?" the court asked.
HE has no home" responded the officer
Yes, have home" said the prisoner
land have been sleeping there lately"
The police thought the prisoner mad been
in court several times, but his name could
not be found on the record. and the court
suspended sentence.
I'm guilty." answered Joseph McCon-
nell, a Baltimore colored boy. He was
charged with being vagrant and suspi-
cious person.
This boy was with West" said the off,
Ger. He's been loafing about the streets
and last night 1 found him in front of the
station He said he had no place to go and
wanted something to eat"
Where do you helong?" the prisoner was
asked.
I'm Baltimore" was his response.
why don't you return home?"
My shoes are too bad to walk, and I
haven't got car fare
Ten days"
Alice Smith a colored u-opocn from tho
Division" was in the procession because
of her bad conduct on the street. The off,
Ger arrested her, and instead Of going along
quietly she fought him all the way to the
station.
Alice denied the charge, but the usual
fine was imposed.
John NJ Donovan, soldier who was in
court few days ago and released because
he was going away, failed to leave, and
yesterday Policeman Herndon arrested
him.
Il hope you will let me go this time"
he said, Il was on my way to Mr.. Franks
to get transportation, when I met some
friends and then got arrested.
1ou Will have to pay a fine of S. now
before you leave" said the court, and the
prisoner went down.
Other Cases.
Randolph Doyle a colored man who has
been sick for some time, was brought be-
fore the court on charge of maintaining
d huiSduce, d loul ana nlthy DOx prlVy.
The old man admitted his guilt, but said
he had been unable to pay for the cleaning
because he had been sick and out Of en-
ployment.
This box privy nuisance ought to be
abated.' remarked the court. "They
should not be allowed in civilized commu-
mites where there is sewerage. There is
no law, however, to compel change, al
though there ought to be such a law
The court suggested that the attorney for
the District ought to prepare such a bill.
An attempt was made TO get such bill
through Congress at its last session." said
Inspector Howe, "but it failed"
|. The old man was given time in which to
abate the nuisance
John Wheeler, colored, was charged with
a similar offense, and was obliged to pay q
fine of 81, in addition to abating the nui-
sance.
An Italian named Antonio Freshetti, who
lives IN the mile limit, was locked up on a
charge of selling liquor in violation Of law,
and the case was continued until tomorrow.
Samuel Smith was given hearing on a
charge OF wasting Potomac water. He
showed that he was not the responsible
party, and the charge was dismissed.