The evening times., 1896-03-17
WITH A HOP FIEND.

WITH a HOf t1END.
His relatives discovered him a week later
in the room of a hop fiend. They per-
suaded him to go home, and he returned,
making all manner OF promises to reform
and become better man.
| He was not back two days before the
desire. gna wing at his vitals. prompted him
to take some of his brothers wearing ap-
parel and exchange them for gum opium.
| This was the last straw, and Mrs. Nc
| Dewitt determined to use Spartan remedies.
| She had Policeman Evans arrest William
| yesterday and charge him with vagrancy.
Heboreallt marks on hisface that opium
gives as he took the stand and protested We
hemently against being arraigued as a
vagrant. His pale. thin face was covered
| with n Struggling beard, and the features
| twitciied convulsively. In the eyes. luni-
nous with the effects of the drug, n film
| seemed to cone and go. He grasped the rail
| in front OF him So convulsively that the nails
dug in the hard polished wood, and caused
| his lips to compress with pain. He turned
his gaze first on the Judge and then at his
own flesh and blood. who were compelled to
| appear against him for his own good and
the security Of the mother who bore him.
Your Bonor.'' said one of the brothers,
his healthy florid face contrasting strangely
with the prisoners greeniHb pallor. I'VE
are forced to make this charge out of pro-
lection to our mother. She has forgiven
william on many occasions for his bad
treatment of her. but she links now the law
should step in.'
The witness recounted his brothers. life
in the past year, and told of his imprison-
ment for theft.
"Yes, ] stole the ciothes," shouted the
defendant, gripping and ungripping the
rail as though his salvation lay in the piece
OF oak.
Il served my time" he continued, his
voice gathering strength and defiance as
he proceeded, but that don't make me a
vagrant. Since that time 1 have never
used opium in any manner, shape. or FORM
COULD NOT BELIEVE HIM.
"The evidence Is against you," replied
the court, sadly. Your brothers here are
truthful young men. / am sorry I cannot
accredit you likewise"
Let them look to themselves" snarled
McDevitt, clutching at his throat as If
he were choking. Look to themselves,
say" he repeated, fierce,y; they are
both drunkards''
"Don't say that" protested the Judge
gently, for his heart was moved with pity
at the spectacle of broken manhood before
him. ut does not make your case one bit
better"
McDevitt bit his swollen under lip till
the dark blood came; he closed his eyes,
and still holding the rail, swayed his body
to and fro.
ITS an outrage" commented the court,
scrutinizing the prisoner, that druggists
will sell opium to such men as this. And
even worse shame that VIC have no proper
place to send victims of the habit"
Let ME CO." pleaded McDevitt. II will
sin no more"
mo, no." returned the court, 'you must
furnish $500 bonds or go to the workhouse
for three months. shall direct. however,
said dthecourtto the Observation-Disclosures" THAT
your brother is treated at the asylum, If you
find he is in condition to come out before that
time, we'll see to his release"
CURSED HIS BROTHERS.
McDevitt thrust his hand in his coat ard
tore at his shirt, as Kendig hurried him
back. He stopped at the cell door and NUT
tered fearful imprecation at his brothers
as the bailiff showed him out in the corr-
dor. McDevitt, before he became addicted
to opium, was an actor of fair merit; he
played one season With Fritz Emmett. He
Inherited considerable property from his
father and squandered it in a short time.
1t was whisky that led him to hit the pipe.
Joseph Floria lives in that quarter on
e street near Fifteenth known to the
police as Mulberry street. Florta in the
daytime pushes an organ and at night
weaves baskets with the cunning that he
learned in his childhood days in Tuscany
Joseph's blood Is Just as warm as the
italian sun that bro wned his face and smiled
him goodbye when c sailed for the new
world from Geneva two years ago. Floria
heard much of American freedom, and en-
joycd 1t until today, when he received o
tifteen-day sentence from Judge Kimban
for threatening fellow-countryman aud
acting in an otherwise disorlerly manner.
Floria had too much Chianti aboani. and
he cursed fcarfully in the oatbs Of the land
where Dante sang.
"Big Tom Hollinbefger arrested the
frenzied Italian, and cooled him off In q
cell at the First precinct station.
al noa carry eun!' shrieked Floria, In
the dock.
"shut up. you Dago, !. said Kend,s, ahak.