Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-13
MANSFIELD IN COURT.
The Actor Reduced to Meekness by
Magistrate Mott.

Ma810tFate Mott.
Richard Mansfield, the actor, was ar
raigned IN Magistrate Motifs court in New
York yesterday. The Herald thus de-
scribes the scene: The actor assumed the
role rerforce of prisoner at the bar. The
trial was not by jury, but, as Mr.. Mansfield
afterward described 1t, by George! Mr.
Mott is plain-spoken man.
Mr.. Mansfield's arraignment was the Sc
Guel to bis arrest on Saturday night by
Pcl:, eman Monahan Of the Central Park
squad for riding his bicycle around the
Casino coEcourse
AS the case was called Mr.. Mansfield step
ped forward and was about to avoid the
rail- which had been besmeared with the
grasp of a score of Migrants, when court
officer guided him to it and inf7rmed him
politely that he would have to stand there
Until his case was disposed Of. Magistrate
Mott glanced at Mr.. Mansfield and said:
"Humph,'' Then, turning to Monahan,
demanded:
What have you got to say?'
"You see, your honor" he declared
when l stopped the prisoner for riding he
said l was a jackass sir. He said l was
blackmailer, sir and that he had often tip
ped me. and that all 1 wanted was another
tip. I arrested him, and l am anxious that
he should prove his statement that he tip
ped me. He never did. sir! I've been ON
the force thirty-five years. and I've never
been insulted like this before
We'll. what did you say when he called
you a jackass?" demanded the magistrate
Monahar, who has been dubbed the
''Chesterfield' Of the Central Park force,
replied. STRENGTHENING himself up:
why. 1 said that l was glad that l had
not been educated in the same school that
he was"
Hum. ahr' calculated the magistrate.
Then Sergt McGlynn told of the circum-
stances Of Mr.. Mansfield's arraignment IN
the arsenal. and then Mr.. Gleason. MI
Mansfield's lawyer, informed Mr. Mott that
Mr. Mansfeld's arrest was an outrage.
That's enough of that!' exclaimed Mr.
Mott.
But, your honor" persisted Mr.. Glea-
Just shut up." said the court. II want
you to understand that am running this
court-not your
To say that Mr.. Gleason was astonished
is to merely intimate what his mental con-
dition was. He gasped and was about to
answer, when the magistrate addressed
Mr. Mansfield with:
well, what have you got to say"
The actor stepped forward to ascend the
bridge to tell his story. but Mr.: Mott,
pointing his finger In bee line at the nose
OF the prisoner, exclaimed:
You stay down there! That's where you
beiongI'
sir Mansfield was only bit chagrined
He expIa: ned in a quiet fashion that he had
ridden around the concourse twice on MS
wheel looking for a friend. Il am near
sighted. your honor, he continued, ana
went very slowly. I have been very SICK
and when the policeman spoke sharply TO
me my condition made me irritable, and
suppose 1 called him a jackass.'
You had no right there" said the mag
istrate- Why didn't you stop riding!
The first time ne shouted very loudly
and l didn't hear him. The second time
he called heard him and stopped
What do you mean when you say ne
shouted very loud at first ana you didn
hear him? Explain yourself"
We'll. the first time ! heard him shout
1 didn't think it could be me-.
BAH" remarked Mr.. Mott.
Then when the man spoke rudely 10 me
called him q jackass!
Why did you say you'd tipped him?'
Il thought he was the man who. when l
had ridden to the Casino before. held my
horse"
DO you expect me to believe" inquired
the. court. snarling and rubbing his beard.
that a man in the uniform OF park
policeman ever held your horse?'
Well sir, I've lived so much in Europe.
where attendants Of such places are IN
uniform: that I m'stook him for an at
tache of the restaurant
"Pshawr' exclaimed the magistrate.
you've lived long enough in New York
to know policeman when you see one
Your explanation is no good 1t won't
carry water It's rubbish. I'll fine you
s1uv'
But your honor"-began Mr.. Gleason
again. >.
or go to jail,'
MI. Mansfield inclined his head a little
as he acknowledged the sentence. and
was escorted to the clerks desk, where he
paid his fine When he left the court room
his pale face rather flushed, but his
criticism of the court was rather mild.
1t was remarked afterward that mas
much as Mr. Mansfield had been arrested
on two charges. disorderly conduct and the
violation of a park ordinance. he had been
fined only for one and that Magistrate
the cifV 80.