The herald., 1896-01-18
HOPKINS IS A HAPPY MIN
Judge Smith Releases Him on
His Own RecOgnizance
HE ESCAPES PUNISHMENT
But Is Incidentally Given a Very Severe
Raking Over
KE ESCAPES PUNISHMENT
The Finale of the Contempt Proceedings-A
Lame Excuse for the Objectionable
Language Used

1here is no doubt that George Hopkins
will sing very low hereafter when he comes
into the august presence of Judge Smith of
department one of the superior court. 1t
is equally claimed that he will not elevate
his voice to any alarming extent when
there is any likelihood of his being over
heard by Assistant District Attorney Will.
liams. George is the young man who, IN a
burst of indignation, insinuated in the
court room Thursday afternoon that there
had been bribery in connection with the
Woods mayhem case, intimating that some
one had proiited to the extent of $40, on
account of the action. 1t was very bad
break on Georges part. but the expe-
rience he gained will be valuable to I'M
for the remainder of his lifetime.
There was a considerably larger crowd
than usual in attendance when Judge
Smith opened court, who had come to Sc o
the finale of the contempt proceedings, the
first part of which had been given in THE
HERALD. Hopkins was on hand, with one
or two OF his friends, while among the a,l-
dience were number OF short-nosed,
thick-necked young men. presumably
friends of the pugIlist, Woods, the man
, who had broken Hopkins jaw, and who
had been acquitted of the charge of may
| hem the afternoon before.
| His honor wasted no time in preim-
| mares, but as soon as he took his seat, and
court was opened, said to the clerk: "Mr.
| Clerk, you will make a note of the fact
| that Immediately after the court had ad-
| vised the jury to acquit Mr.. Woods yester-
day. and had done SO, the prosecuting wit.
ness, Mr.. Hopkins. remarked to Assistant
| District Attorney Williams that there was
$40 in it for somebody and that he has
been cited to appear this morning and
show cause why he should not be pun.
ished for contempt. Now, what have you
got to say for yourself, Mr. Hopkins?n
Hopkins. who had been seated near the
table, at this point stepped forward, and
in shame-faced sort of way repeated his
assertion of the previous day that he meant
no reflection ON the district attorneys
office or the court, and continued: "Your
think should be an excuse for me. | was
! offered money myself to square this
case.'
"What's that you say?" asked Judge
Smith, glaring at Hopkins, who looked as
| though he would drop.
"That's right, your honor" he humbly
replied. ~ was offered $25 one time to
stop this prosecution by AL Barrel,a saloon
keeper, and another time another saloon
keeper named Henry Gherkin offered me
500. They told me that this was all the
money Woods had. refused to take the
money, saying would not do anything of
that kind. When said what 1 did, your
honor, l did not intend it for Mr.. Williams
or the court"
"Well, what did you mean?" queried
Judge Smith, who was rapidly losing
| patience with the witness.
,, "Well, your honor" blurted out Hop
kins. II meant it was small fee for Mr..
Mitchell, who defended Woods-for him to
| take charge of the case, l mean"
this r>oiut Ge1araI Williams ooY1l1 va
strain himself no longer, and roared, 81
don't believe word of it, your honor.
| am satisfied the remark was a reflection on
the district attorneys Office or the court.
| This man has been hanging around our
Office for weeks, iiIsinuating that there was
| something crooked about the conduct of
! this case"
| When General Williams had concluded,
| Judge Smith leaned forward in his chair,
and looking straight at Hopkins, said:
MIR. Hopkins. there is just one construc-
ton to be put on your language, and that
is 10 charge the court or the district attor-
| ney's Office with receiving q bribe. That
is serious charge. If true, it is time for a
reform; if untrue, the man who makes
| such remarks should be dealt with severely
and be taught to put bride on his SIAN
derouS tongue, will give you a chance to
| prove that the court or the district attorney
| took bribe of 500. l will not pass SEN
| go on your own recognizance, and you may
/ take your own time in which to make your
| Investigations to settle this matter. More
| than this, you may employ an attorney or
| a detective and [ will see that they are
paid. You shall have every opportunity
possible, if you so desire, to make good
| your charges or to stand before the COM
munity slanderer."
| Hopkins again protested that he did not
! mean to cast any reflection on either the
! court, or Mr.. Williams, and therefore did
not wish to avail himself of the courts
| offer, as he was satisfied there was noth-
| ing against them."
II am satisfied that he did, your honor .
! interjected Gen. Williams, land think he
should be severely punished for insulting
| this court"
Judge Smith was not inclined to follow
the ferocious lead of the assistont district
attorney. 1t was true that tho language
used was bad, nor did he take any stock in
the explanation offered by Hopkins. Still
there were many things to be considered
Hopkins had been badly hurt, and was
smarting under what he thought was an in.
! justice when his ill-advised remark was
made. His honor said that he was not dis
posed to punish the man when he disclam.
| ed any intention of imputing improper
| motives to the court, and he would take no
| action at this time. ''You may go, Mr.
| Hopkins, on your own recognizance," con-
| cluded His Honor, "and If l want your
| presence here | will send an officer after
| YOU"
! Hopkins went, and the episode ended.