Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-11
District officials Will Not Allow
Electric Fans.
50 TIE POLICE TRIBUNAL SWELFERS
The Usual Round Of Suffering and
Misdoing.
TERROR OF PRATHER,s ALLEY

Benjamin Butler" called Clerk Harper
| In the Police Court this morning when
| Judge Scott took his seat on the bench
and announced his readiness to proceed
| with the court business.
| 'What?" said Lawyer Martin. who was
somewhat startled at hearing the name of
| the dead Massachusetts man. II thought
| he was dead
| But this is Ben." said the clerk.
Ben. who proved to be a colored boy,
| made his way through the small crowd Of
sweltering humanity and took his position
| at the rail. In the cells the temperature
had been excessively high and the court
room was in an almost unbearable condi-
| ton.
| 1t had been expected that electric fans
would be In position In court this morning
to give temporary relief from the hot
! weather. but the District officials had corr
Guided that they could not allow the fans
from the court appropriation, and they
| thought the money could not be spared
| from the contingent fund. There are cleo
! trio fans in parts Of the District building
| under the decision Of the officials the
| judges Of the courts. well as the pris-
oners and others. will have to do withou:
the fans and take the chances of being
| overcome by the heat.
II found Ben in game of crap In Shott' 8
alley was the complaint of Policeman
Archambault The game took place on
the 18th Of June. and l didn't serve the
| warrant. as 1 wanted to give him time to
| get his fine
What do you know about the boy?'
asked the court.
Hes a hard-working boy" the officer
| responded. land understand he's the only
support OF his mother. In consideration Of
| these facts hope your honor will take his
personal bonds"
The officer recommends that your per-
| sonal bonds be taken,' the Judge said to
| Ben. what have you to say for yourself?'
Il wasn't shooting crap the boy an
Ing at the game when the policeman came
| along"
What about this Mr. Oflcer?'
Il saw him in the game"
Are you able to pay small fine?"
Yes, SIR
Then you will have to pay a fine Of So
Here's the money" said the boy hand
| ing over two silver certificates, and he was
| released.
Helped to Their Home.
| Harriet Fisk and Oscar Fisk her SOIL
were charged with vagrancy because they
| had been found in Brookland by Policeman
Barbee asking for assistance. She said she
| had been a school teacher but there was
| nothing about her al pearance to verify her
| claim.
Il think she had collected about fifty-five
cents. said the policeman. She says she
! Is on her way to Mount Vernon. Ohio and
she collects money enough at one station to
send her to the next one
DO you know anything more about herr
mo. sir"
Mrs. Fisk was then given an opportunity
| to make statement, and she was willing
| to relate her "ntire family history
I'm on my way home to Mount Vernon
Ohio" She said. MY father was killed In
the war. and my husband, who was a
| PRINTER died in s.. Louis. AS a rule, PRINT
| ers will help the widows of their fellow
| craftsman. Then. too. my father-in-law
was Mason. and l thought it was no
harm to ask for assistance"
| She said she had formerly lived in Zanes-
Vile. Ohio, where her son Charles now
| lives.
During the investigation of the case Or
L. M. Taylor. whose attention had been at
tracted to the case by an account in a
| morning paper. called on the Judge and
| said he would like to assist her.
rs this genuine case?" the doctor
| asked.
It's pitiable one." the court answered.
The doctor said he would pay the wo-
mans way to her home. and turned over
| to Sanitary Officer Frank the amount nee
essary to pay her fare home.
A Merciful Court.
I'm SO SICK" groaned a colored woman
| named Della Howard. who had been sick
| in police cell all night. Please send me
| to the hospital"
The woman. who was in a delicate oondi-
| ton. was actually sick and her illness had
Leen increased by the use of intoSicants
''Oh, I'm guilty she answered, when ar
rsigned on a charge of disorderly conduct
You are fined S.
Policeman HOagland, who had made the
arrest, was called In and he said that Della
| was under the influence of liquor and he
heard her swearing In a lunch room on
18th street.
Are you certain she used the language?'
the court asked.
Yes. sir. and she caused trouble all the
way to the station
Mr.. Clerk" said the court. "I'li reduce
| this fine to 81 and 1 want her sent to the
hospital.
Lawyer Jones. whose sympathy had been
aroused. said he thought because of the
to the hospital and he was willing to pay
her fine
The court. however. had concluded to re-
lease the woman on her personal bonds, so
| that there was no fine to pay.
Midsummer Migrants.
Two colored strangers in the city whose
| names were given as William smallers and
Mark Hazard were in the procession as
Migrants because they had been found
near the Long bridge.
This place seems to be the headquarters
for these people," said Policeman Herbert,
land I found these men there last night.
Hazard has been wearing different hats
ana because OIL tHlS SUSPICIOUS act arrest
ed him.
Il only wore the straw hat" was the
prisoners statement. Some months ago 1
came from Alexandria parish, Louisiana.
and found work in Virginia. My pay was
SO small that came here and tried to get
the Christian Enoeavor committee to get
me situation
Smallers said he was also ON the road
seeking employment.
-Four months" said the court.
Worked an Old Game.
A young cclored man whose name was
given as James Lewis was able to shed
crocodile tears yesterday. and now he will
lose beads of Precipitation on the farm.
My child is dead and l amt got any
money" was his plea when he appeared at
the houses of citizens and related his tale
OF woe.
What he wanted was money to defray
the expense OF burying the child.
Il did have a dead child once" SAID the
prisoner, but 1t was some time ago."
And is the child buried?'
'Oh, yes: the poor little thing died sew
eral months ago."
He exlHined that he had hot yet settled
the undertaker's bill. and the court told
him he would have work for his u,onav