The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-10-04
HE HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS
"Capt." John Gilman flakes q Good
Start for San Quentin
An Habitual Thief and Now Wants to
Go to San Quentin Just for a
Change-Held for Trial.

An old man, his tousled hair showing
streaks of gray his bleary eyes leering
at the spectators. sat in the prisoners
dock in Justice Owens court room yes
terday afternoon awaiting examination
on a felony charge. His garb proclaimed
him an old soldier, for he was attired in
greasy uniform and of blue in his ner-
vous hands held an old and battered ia
tigue cap that had seen better DAYS.
Upon his breast was G. A. r. badge
prominently displayed. Justice Owens
was not upon the bench, and during the
interim of waiting the wreck of a man
entertained the assembled crowd of
court room habitues with his garrulous
remarks and half drunken attempts at
witticism.
He was John Gilman, claiming the
prefix Of captain, member of Co. D, of
the soldierS home. He was in the dock
on charge of petty larceny for stealing
an overcoat and had prior conviction
standing against his name for similar
onense. Gilman made no attempt at
preVarication, but boldly proclaimed in
a loud voice that he was guilty. and
seemed proud Of the stand he had taken
The fact that he had served a sixty-day
sentence in the city Jail in October and
november 1895, and another of $50 days
the first six months of this year was pro-
claimed to the listeners, and now he
was going to fool the policemen. In
stead OF getting a Jail sentence he was
going to plead guilty to felony charge
and take "a term in San Quentin, for a
change, where he could have an easier
time than before.
While awaiting the opening Of the
court Gilman was induced to give his
record. He was member of Co. G,
Twenty-third Illinois, with the Twenti-
eth army corps under Joe Hooker. At
the battle of Shiloh he was taken pris-
oner and for nine months was cooped
up in Andersonville. Then he was
transferred to Charlestown, finally to
Libby prison and eventually exchanged.
He came to town ten days ago for a
good time and had had it. After he got
out OF San Quentin, where he expected
to go, he was going to Yountville, be-
cause he was not much stuck on the
Santa Monica home, anyway. Just at
this juncture the justice took his bench
and the case was called.
Detective Frank Steele had arrested
Gilman about 10 o'clock in the morning
for the theft of an overcoat from H r.
Goodrich of the Citizens Transfer COM
W
cred, Goodrich notified the police and
Steele found the garment in a second
hand store at 243 East First street, where
Gilman had sold it, He went out on the
streets and quickly picked his man up
Gilman had been paid 81 for the coat and
had 25 cents of it left, proudly exhibiting
it and stating that the rest had gone for
whisky. He was in a hurry to go to
San Quentin and only one thing both
hn tnH tn 70
for Mckinley.
The prisoner was told to stand up and
asked his name, which was spelled out
with great distinctness, as Gilman said
he wanted the papers to have his record
straight. Justice Owens commenced to
read the complaint. but was interrupted
by the prisoner, who again tried to
plead guilty. Being informed that he
could not plead to d felony charge in
that court he remarked: ooh, that's all
right, judge. know you like a book 1
don't care what the complaint says; I'm
guilty and want to be examined just as
quickly as possible" He was accommo-
dated and the evidence for the prose-
cution was in in no time.
Being asked if he had any evidence to
offer in his own behalf, Gilman said:
mo, I have none. l plead guilty. All I
want you to do is to hold me over. I
don't care what you do, for shall vote
for Mckinley, anyway. l don't see any
thing that you can do here. / amt
afraid. I'll go to the superior court and
take my chances" He was promptly
held for trial in bonds of $1,000 and COM
mitted to the sheriff's custody.
AS he rose to leave the court room in
the custody of an officer, Gilman shook
hands with the JUICE, who remarked:
"Well comrade, I'm sorry for you;" to
which the veteran replied: well, you
needn't be; l amt" and he sauntered off
to Jail. AS he disappeared down the
corridor one of the spectators remark
ed: well. that's one more good McKin-
ley vote lost