Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-18
HE HAS A ECOR D
Handy Has Terrorised the Community
for Many Years
His Brutal Assault ON an InofRensivs
Citizen-Sent to Jail for Close
ON q Year.

Theodore Handy the man who Judge
Miller says has been terrorizing this COM
munity for ten years, was brought into
court today and given a hearing in the sew
eral cases against him growing out of the
arrest Wednesday evening for his assault
on William Hugh Robarts, because the lat
ter did not give him money when he asked
for it, published in Thursdays Star.
When the prisoner was brought into court
this morning he was promptly recognized
by the Judge.
Mr. Robarts was able to appear In
court but his face was terribly SCARED
and discolored Mr. Hunter Haughton, who
was also assaulted by the prisoner, was in
court as was Policeman McCort. who had
made the arrest For the assault on Mr.
Robarts a charge Of attempted murder had
been filed, but it was certain that the
charge would not lie when the case reached
the upper court. and SO Judge Miller after
ward entertained the case on charge Of
simple assault.
The sending to Jail of this man. who has
been terrorizing the community for ten
years." said the judge, will accomplish
nothing. The work house or penitentiary
Is the place for him, for then he will have to
work"
This recalled what the prisoner had said
when arrested. which was that he cared
nothing for a Jail sentence, and had com
to be sent to Jail instead of to the work
house.
AS published in Thursdays Star. Handy
met Mr.. Robarts, who is much smaller than
himself, and asked him for money. When
he was refused money he walked ahead a
short distance. then returned and dealt the
tnonensive citizen two severe blows on his
face and knocked him senseless Then he
threatened to kill Mr.. Haughton, and did
kick him when he reached the police sta
ton. Then it was that the big prisoner
met man who was more than match for
him. This man was Policeman McCort,
who dealt him a severe blow on his nose.
Handy went to the floor and did not offer
to even get up until assured that he would
not be given another dose of the treatment
When the new charge had been filed the
prisoner who has been an inmate of the
Hampton Soldiers Home. was arraigned
and he said he wanted jury trial in the
case.
He had already plead guilty to the
charge of assault on Mr.. Haughton. who
had witnessed the f street affair. but he
did not admit he was guilty of the charge
of vagrancy. Concerning the charge of va
grancy the policeman told the court of
the drunken conduct, and several arrests
of Handy during the past few months. and
the court said that the prisoner was GER
tanly vagrant and suspicious person.
Handy" said the judge. I'm sorry
that l have got to send you to Jail for
eleven months and twenty-nine days to
lie on your back and do nothing"
said the prisoner.
THAT may be true" the court said, but
every time you get out of prison you In
terest yourself in the community and the
community must necessarily interest it
self in you. although the taxpayers have
TO pay for your living In idleness. You
always go about the streets knocking peo-
pie down and nobody ever knocks you
down"
No" interrupted the prisoner, Il
wouldn't let them"
Handy asked that the charge of va
grancy be dismissed, saying he had q good
home here, and had lived here all his
life
My people own property he said, land
l don't want to go to the work house"
I'll see about that charge later on" the
judge told him. You may have eleven
months and twenty-nine days in this case
and We'll attend to the others when the
jury case is heard"