Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-18
Today's Procession Of Delinquents in
Police Court.
OVER WATERMELON RINDS
A Religious C:an% Who Swore at a
Bicycle.
WORKHOUSE CANDIDATES

the tolls this morning. Il amt gwIne ter
come here any mo- II de driver of Iat
Nara don't come for us earlier in de
mornin'. Here tits 8 O'clock and ives jes'
gettin' breakfas'. You knows dat when a
man what amt got no teeth have ter eat
his vittles in a hurry. faint gwine ter do
him no good. and he's mighty ap' ter get de
'spepsia. Use gw!ne ter tell yer fer de last
time dat il I amt given better treatment
Use gwine ter stay away"
Seated on the front seat of the BLACK
Maria" was an elderly colored man, who
wore an army blouse, white vest and brass
buttons. In his hand he carried a small
cane. He was the only favored prisoner,
for he was not made to ride in the vehicle.
I'm here" he said as he alighted from
the vehicle. "and I'm going to answer the
roll Of glory in the morning"
why are you here this morning. he
was asked.
Antf-Bicycle Profanity.
why am 1 here?' he retorted. I'm
here for nothing in the world except that
was arrested. Last night 1 was coming
down 10th street when white man an.
woman came along. The woman tried to
break my leg with bicycle"
And did you swear?'
AS God is my judge. never used any
cuss words You gentlemen know that if /
cussed couldn't get to heaven, and that's
where l want to CO."
This man is John w Shelton a furniture
mover, and 1t is said that he is worth about
$2o,NO. But his parents say he Is relig-
lous crank. and Lawyer Kicks says he once
made loan Of 5000 to a church. and this
transaction has worried him considerably.
amt guilty." said the old man, when
arraigned
A citizen bicycle rider appeared in court
and told Judge Scott that last night Shelton
got too near bicycle ridden by a lady
friend. and for this he became loud and
abusive.
Did he use any profanity the court
asked
Il didn't hear any," was the witness re-
Spouse. but he was abusive"
Shelton was then sworn to tell the truth
and. lifting his right hand, he said: IT'S
the truth as sure as there is God in glory
ways keep to the right These people on
bicycles don't keep to the right no time
ana when the lady stole up and hit me on
the leg the man taken the wings of the
morning on his bicycle and left"
MY client is crazy on the subject Of re-
hgion, said Lawyer Kicks, land he preach
IS and prays on the street as If he were an
evangelist"
He does lots Of queer things" said
young man who appeared in a friendly
capacity, and his wife Is DESTROYS of hav-
Ing him examined. He sweeps people down
and stops bicycles on the street
Lawyer Kicks asked that Shelton lie held
granted.
But later Lawyer Holland called attention
to the case. and argued that the court had
no authority to commit an alleged insane
man to the Workhouse. The prison, he said,
IS not proper place for persons who are
not of sound mind.
Judge Scott listened TO the argument Of
counsel, and said he would take the mat
ter under advisement and give his opinion
later on.
Veteran in Trouble.
Michael Lanhady. an old offender, who
prefers liquor drinking and life on the
farm to a home at Hampton, was released
from the farm Friday on his good behavior
and this morning he was in the tolls again.
During recent days Mike has performed
little II any manual labor, but he manages
to get what rum he wants and then he is
certain to fall into the hands of the police.
What's the charge this timer"
'Disorderly conduct"
rs that an"
Mike was very much surprised at the
nature Of the charge and he willingly said,
I'm guilty"
vagrancy, but he had no complaint to
make, because under the charge against
him the court fined him only s. or ID days.
and at the end of the two weeks he ',in
William Bird was in the procession and
the arm of the law had SO badly wounded
him that he could not fly away.
But he was willing to go down on the
farm, where there Is plenty of water and
where he will probably have chance to
roam about the watermelon patches and
fruit orchards.
I'm guilty" he answered when arraign-
ed on charge of vagrancy, land have
nothing to say.
Bird hasn't worked for a long time"
said the officer who arrested him, land he
won't work. He has been sent to Jail for
stealing, and he's really no good in the
world
We'll. Bird" sad me court, this is a
serious accusation against you. What have
you to say about tt?'
answer.
You will have to give bonds in the sum
of $780, said the judge, "or go down for
six MONTHS
blackbirds will be slaughtered in a few
days.
Idle and DisOrderly.
James Fitzpatrick, a young man, was
also before the court as vagrant, and he,
too admitted that he had no excuse for
being at large.
This young man hangs about the streets
all the time the policeman said, land he
says he does not intend to work"
six months.
Lena Carter and Harriet Ward, young
colored women. were in the procession on
charge of disorderly conduct, and the po-
liceman told of their actions on the street
last night.
They were growing at each other" the
officer said, land each was telling the other
what she would do in event Of certain
things happening"
I'VE had some words" one of the women
said, but, deed, Judge. we didn't intend to
fight. This is the first time I've ever been
in court, and 1 hope you won't send me
down this time"
And what have you got to say" the
other woman was asked.
This is the first time I ever was ar
rested" was her response. 'antI wish you
would take my personal bonds"
Both of you maze a bad START the
judge told them, land you are fined s.
each"
A Charge of COllfdfnE.
Sarah Poindexter, colored, who hired a
bicycle last night, and then collided with
Mrs. Youngs baby carriage, was in court
on a charge Of colliding.
Il don't want Mrs. PoindeXter fined, be-
cause she didn't hurt my twin babies" said
Mrs. Young, but l do think she ought to
pay me $40 for my carriage. Ny husbands
% or.t oAro