The herald., 1896-02-12

! keeping the passage way clear, and the
woman kept up her talk, alternately beg.
elng on her own behalf and exhorting sim
ners to forsake their evil ways.
| Ihe evening was decidedly chilly and il
was somewhat difficult to keep the crowd
together. Besides, the electric cars pass
ing up and down the street had a good ef-
feet in keeping the crowd on the move, and
, with the special detail of police on the
| sidewalk, there was no blockadng.
Finally, about $50 o'clock, Mrs. Rice
announced that she was through for the
evening and got down from the little box
on which she had been standing and made
her way to the sidewalk. There was still a
considerable crowd in the vicinity, and
| Mrs. Rice deliberately stopped on the side
walk and began talking to one or two peo-
pie with whom she apparently had some
acquaintance. 1t looked as il the move
was deliberately made to cause trouble.
AT any rate,when Officer Dixon approached
her and asked her to move on as tho others
were doing. Mrs. Rice deliberately refused
and continued her conversation. Again
the officer respectfully requested her
to move. and again she declined. The
crowd OF course gathered about the woman,
and in very short time the sidewalk was
completely blocked. AS the woman refused
to obey the officers and openly defied the
authority OF the law, there was nothing left
to do but to arrest her, which Officer Dixon
accordingly did. Mrs. Rice made no re-
sistance, and went with the officer to the
police station, where she was booked for
obstructing the sidewalk and sent back to
the receiving hospital. AS on previous oc-
casions. the crowd followed the woman and
the officer to the station and gathered
| about the door, clambered up on the patrol
wagon and disposed themselves about the
| sidewalks and on the street to the best adj
vantage. There was no disorder, however,
nor any demonstration of any character
whatever, the arrests made on the night of
the first arrest evidently having had most
salutary effect.
Shortly after the woman was locked up
party of two men and two women came
into the station and commenced to plead
for the imprisoned evangelist. One of the
party. a rather pertly lady, declared that
Mrs. Rice had only stopped few minutes
to talk to her, and as she felt morally res
ponsible for her arrest she thought it only
right that she should call and give the facts
connected with the case. Capt. Roberts
listened patiently to the pertly lady's tale
of woe. but could not see his way clear to
turn the woman preacher loose.
Mrs. Rice did not, however, have to re-
main long behind the bars. Shortly after
10 o'clock the faithful "Callie'' johnston
put in all appearance with his sack, and
busting up to the clerks window asked
the amount of Mrs. Rice's bail. He was
told that, under the circumstances, it
would he S2o. Ihls did not phase the
faithful "Cailie," and producing an old
fashioned California purse, Johnston dug
up the necessary coin. which he deposited
with the clerk, and Officer Long was in
structcd to escort the lady from the recaiy-
ing hospital, which he did.
Mrs. Rice greeted her friends with effu-
sion when she was liberated, and. after
shaking hands. left the station Under escort
of Mr.. Johnston. AS she stepped out of
the front door she was greeted with few
cheers, after which the crowd Quietly dis
persed and Mrs. Rice went home to her
husband ard children.
The "Cowboy Preacher did not put in
an appearance, and il he was around at
all, he kept in the background.
Inquiry among those in position to
know has developed the fact that Rice and
his wife have been in trouble in every city
which they have visited from Chicago west.
One gentleman said that he had seen the
couple in Chicago during the Worlds Fair,
where the long-haired preacher was
prominent character on "grafter's island,"
a resort of sure-thing fakirs and con-
Hdence men who were a constant source
of annoyance to the authorities in charge
Of the great exposition. Nothing was said
against the character of Mrs Rice beyond
the fact that she insists on remaining with
her husband, who is said to be a fakir of
tho worst description.
AS far as can be ascertained Rice and his
wife operate alone. Rees, the autoharp
player and singer of the outfit, is merely