The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-16
JUSTICE JOHNS COURT.
BABY,s EFFORT TO RECONCILE
FATHER AND MOTHER FAiLS.
The Shooting Case of John Williams by
Leslie Page IL Sent 10 the "rsno jury
The Docket Devoid of Females.


happy. Indeed, he is childhke IN ms
guilelcss simplicity. and In the tempefa-
ment that renders him easily susceptible
TO the fullest extent OF ecstasy or piuhses
him into the dismal depths of despair.
AS a general rule. Justice John Is nap
py. He is optimistic in his views, sees
me sunny side OF everything. and seems
20 appreciate every hour that he Is so
much better off than the people lie comes
most in contact with.
Yesterday morning, however the emil
nent Judge and jury was I'm perfect
glee. lie did not throw up his hat ana
yell. nor did he OFFER three cheers In the
courtroom for John c. Small. but he
looked loving and Enthusiastically at ms
new annual baseball pass and began us
missing cases so fast that IL looked Tor Il
while as If Sergeant Thomas would have
TO walk home 10 dinner, as even street
car fare was getting doubtful.
The baseball season opens to-day, ana
IL is lust as well for the lawyers 10 know
that when the home team plays here or
I'm Petersburg long arguments Will pFeJn-
dice a case, and that all persons caught
roofing for any outside club Will be
sent down for sixty days on the hrs1
offence.
For the first time In many months there
was not a single female on the docket,
and only one woman was present as
witness although there were several in
the audience. and owing TO their presence
Justice John put on his Sunday airs and
ran the morning session absolutely on
reform movements.
A HEARTLESS HUSBAND.
julius Lee, "A white man. was charged
with assaulting and threatening to cut
his wife. Mrs. Cora Lee. with knife.
Lee was brought out Of the pen, and
looked as If he was just getting over a
terrible spree. His face was red. his hair
disheyeled. and his eyes were bleared.
lie is young and well-built man, and
ordinarily would be called handsome, but
yesterday morning he could not success
fully have made claim TO leniency on the
grounds of personal attracuVeness'
Mrs Lee came into court leading by the
hand a sweet little girl OF possibly three
or four years of age. The little tot was
dressed in a fresh white percale dress,
her rosy cheeks and big blue eyes looked
laughingly from beneath her big white
staw hat, trimmed with apple blossoms,
and her glossy hair was long and hung
in a pretty golden floss over her shoul-
ders She was child that no really hu-
man man or woman could help loving TO
father she clapped her tiny hands and
cried: "Dares my papa; oh. mamma,
dare's my papa"
But the mother cast no glance at the
husband beside her, and the little one
stopped Juggling at her dress, as II sud-
denly she knew by instinct that some
thing was wrong.
wasn't Lee here a short time ago on a
similar charger" asked Justice John,
kindly, and 10 this Mrs. Lee quietly nod
ded her assem-.
"And didn't you beg me to give him
another chance?" And to his query
knowledgment.
land didn't tell you that ] hated to
do II, and that you would regret it?" he
asked.
Again the assent came. although to the
trembling lips no words were trusted.
The head could sign the Jail warrant,
the heart dared not even then be heard.
The eyelids trembled. as the hurrying
clouds that big with their floods of rain
drops. move restlessly in the darkened
skies.
Mrs. Lee turned to go: the little one.
still holding her mothers hand. reached
her other eagerly for the father. There
was the heaven-made jewelled clasp that
through the years has caught up and
bound a thousand human hearts.
The little outstretched arm was just too
short TO reach them both-the distance
a triffe too great the breech little TOO
wide. Her time was not yet
A kiss thrown from her dimpied hand
was the baby's last goodbye, and without
a glaDoe from the wife. the husband
walked back TO the pen to begin his SER
vice OF sixty days in jail.
THE SHOOTING AFFAIR.
The case of Leslie Page. charged with
shooting John Williams, both white, was
called and given a hearing. The tesu-
rnony showed that the boys were not good
friends, although they belonged 10 the
same crowd Of boys and young men and
played ball together in the afternoon of
the occurrence. Page. it seems. began a
quarrel with Williams, and was choked
by the latter. Page then in rage went
off and secured shotgun, and coming
up behind Williams, within about seven
ty-hve yards, ne fired at him.
A number OF the shot penetrated VIII
liams' coat and hat, but none entered his
body.
Several witnesses testified to the above
facts. and Justice John sent the case on
TO the grand jury.
John Jones (colored) was charged with
stealing "a coat from Monroe Wheeler
(colored). Wheeler lives at No. 20l4 west
Grace street, and says that his room was
entered by a false key. The coat was re-
covered at a pawn-shop. but Jones was
not identified as the man who pawned 1t.
lie was discharged from custody.
In the case of a. Schwane, charged
with cursing and abusing II. ]. Dali
man, a decision was rendered by Justice
John to the effect that creditor has a
right TO present a bill for collection any
time or anywhere he finds the debtor
unless II be to the disturbance OF public
worship.
Mr.. Schwane. who keeps a saloon al
Fourth ana Broad streets, was presented
with a bill by Mr. Dallman in his own
saloon. Schwane objected to the time OF
night at which Dallmsn called. although
Il was during his business hours. SchwanC
swore that Dallman cursed him, and Dali
man swore that Schwane cursed him, sc
the case was continued to get another
man who was present TO decide the right
A FEW MINOR CASES.
Arthur Haekett. negro youth, was
fined 81. so for fighting in the street.
William Hartman (white) was charged
with being drunk. Hartman. when asked
when he worked. said: Il have workeC
off and on for two years"
eyes" retorted Justice John, but IT.
been 80 much more Off than on that
viii fine you this time"
IN take the pledge, Judge" plead
ingly protested Hartman.
'Oh, I know that" said Justice John
"you viii take anything: you will tax,
a drink. too. You had better 30 dow
<.bf