The evening times., 1896-05-11
Mere Lads in the Dock at Police
Court This Morning.
TOLD THEIR STORY BRIEFLY
Net in New York and Had a Good
Time While Their Money LASTED.
Slept in IA Vacant HOuse-A Negro
Who Had Fiddle In His stomach.
A Family Quarrel.

| boring classes, many of them tank up and
get in trouble. With TWO exceptions, every
prisoner was colored. and whisky brought
the ma jority of them there.
1t was intensely warm in the court
room, and the odors waited from the pen
might have recalled the stencil of a street
N Consta ntinopie.
Possibly, when American civilization in-
! creases and cleanliness becomes as sacred
| as among the Greeks OF old aud the Japan
cse of today, Cne of the appurtenanccs of
police court will be a bathing pool for
prisoners.
Mike Flynn paradcd the hall. holding a
perfumed handkerchief to his nose. lie
stopped Mr.. Pugh on his way To prosecute
some milk dealers.
'Misther PuEh,'' said Mike. dispensing
he perfume like incense over the proseCut-
| ing attorney, you know what tink wud
| happen If I'd throw Il piece OF soap in the
| doCk?'
No. What. Nike asked Mr.. Puch.
"B'dad!" replied the witty officer. they'd
| ate il, linking it was candy"
Among the first prisoners was Robert
| Ryder an aStonshingly ignorant darkey
| counIryman. He WIS arrested Saturday by
| was asked where he came from and said he
| didn't know.
You knew where you are now" asked
the court.
No. sir said Ryder, blankly.
Ever hear of Washington:''
NO, sir
Well. l declare said Judge Kimhall,
1--WE are not 50 notorious, after an
The prisoner finally reool!eoted coming
from Emmittsburg. Nd He got five da Us.
BOY VAGS.
In the dock. among dissolute women and
reckless criminals and drunkards, We're two
youEg men, neither of them twenty one.
Well dressed, with fresh. intelligent faces
and clean linen, they We're the wonder OF
The other prisoners, who could not under
stand how the boys could be vagrants
Vagrancy, however, was the charge pre-.
:errcd against them by Policeman Holmes.
Holmes saw them going in vacant house
yesterday and arrested them.
AT the station they gave their names as
Henry Nelson and Joseph Mcdonald. This
morning Nelson took the stand first. He
has tumbling rEass of blonde hair, deep
blue eyes and proud, sensitive mouth.
He wore a well-cut suit of black cheviot,
pink outing shirt and flowing scarf
He looked the Judge straight in the face
ielling his story without hesitation.
Where do you come from, my boy?''
asked Judge Kimball.
Rochester, New York"
What are YOU doing here?''
Nelson said he was on his vacation, and
wanted TO see Washington. Il met NV
sria in NJ,
pointing to Macdonald. and he a nd came
OIL here. After we got here our money gave
out, and having no place TO sleep we went
III that vacant house. / didn't think
continued the lad, his face falling for the
first time, lit was any HARM
Now, what's your namec'' asked the
court of the other boy. who. during Nelson's
testimony, had evinced an intense interest
IN tn" workmanship Of his straw hat.
Eek lOff,'
ITS IN the Information, Macdonald"
remarked the clerk.
HE WAS DEFIANT.
Eckloff flushed at this. keeping silent.
He lacked the gentle demeanor of Nelson.
and had sullen face. possessing con-
siderable boldncss.
Where DO you live" querrcd the court
sharply.
Washncton"
''WaShineton.' echoed his honor. what
do you want TO sleep in vacant houses for,
haven't you got homc?''
"ieS, sir, l live on Spruce street with
my mother" answered Joseph, biting his
thick under lip.
where's your father"
Dead; my mother married again and
stay with her and my stepfather."
Eckloff did not mention why he was in
New York. He said Nelson a nd himself came
to Washington with S1O.5O.
I'VE left there at 8 O'Clock Wednesday
and got here Thursday.
when our money gave out we went to
tbathouse. The place was open aud didn't
think there was anything wrong is 60
ing in."
Certainly there was" interrupted the
court. What right had you on other peo-
pies property? Why didn't you go home
when you arrived here Thursday?''
Didn't want to-" replied the defendant,
laconically.
II don't think very much of boy, who,
after being away from home, won't go
there when he gets back said the judge.
Macdonald put it on the other boy, say
ing he wouldn't go as long as the money
lasted.
The judge lcctured the boys and accepted
their personal bonds. Nelson said he had
sent home for money and expected it today
PRAYED AND SANG.
Baltimore alley is a subway in South
Washington. The principal occupations of
the denizens are whitewashing the sale Of
clans and gin drinking. The alley is u.s.
ually quiet by IL O'Clock. At that hour
the peaceful inhabitants are asleep because
they are tired, aud those who go through
life with chips on their shoulders are also
asleep because they are drunk.
One O'Clock Sunday morning, u wild yell
rang out from the yard of one of the houses,
harrow wing and startling. 1t was followed
by second one, even more piercing. Win
dows were thrown up front and back,
doors opened, and every man, woman and
child in the alley was aroused. Close on the
yells came the sounds of hoarse voice
chanting an old camp meeting hymn and
then praying loudly and fervently. 1t was
Thomas Duffy acting under the inspiration
of religion, or very possibly something
that gives the human soul quicker action,
rear doorstep.
"De end is heab, breffren, sistahs and
chillun,' he shouted.
"Yo' end will be mighty near ef yo'
doan't shet dat fool mouf OBJ yo's," re-
:ored the man next door.
"Doan't 'sturb me-" yelled Duffy; "de
sperrit am a movin' me, and I'm agoin'
to preach de salvation OBJ nah lost people"