Evening star., 1896-03-09
Police Say a 0ne-Legged Man
Climbed a Lamp Post,
BEFORE THE POLICE JUDGES
Youthful Prisoner Thrown With
CD Hardened Offenders.
TIE FINES AND SENTENCES


every tree il. sight of the Police Court
this morning. They were awaiting the ar
rival of tine vanin order that they might get
a glimpse cf The unfortunate men and wo-
men who had been arrested. AS 500 as the
van arrived these men swarmed toward the
court entrance. and had taken their places
across the sidewalk with the grace of
Men paid for that purpose. But when the
driver put the key in the lock of the van
door Policeman Flynn appeared at the
door of the court, and this was a signal
for the crowd of curious people to scatter.
And it required but one word of warn
ing.
You people will have to get away from
here" was the order of the policeman, and
backward they moved.
One step at time was taken until the
sidewalk was cleared. and the officers nee
essary to guard the prisoners were on duty.
First to step from the prison vehicle was
coiored man. who was minus a leg, and
as he moved slowly toward the dark cor
ridor leading 10 the cells he turned to the
crowd at a distance and called to a friend
sport nave you got cigarette?" The
sport W2S minus cigarettes and money,
ana the one-iegGed citizen mad to go in the
cell and postpone his after-breakfast
smoke Behind him followed several able
bodied cclore1 men. who had been ar
rested for trivial offenses, and several white
men. who had indulged in strong drink,
as Wen a. several colored women.
1he last 10 leave the vehicle Was a col
cred woman. who carried a tin bucket and
a Plate Der Sunday dinner lad been
sent to her in them and she had kept the
bucket, hoping Policeman FlSnn would
I'LL il with coffee this morning instead of
giving her q cup of the bevaragc and .he
would thereby get double dose, but she
was given only the usual dose, with her
roll and sausage.
There were forty prisoners in the tolls.
and those who figured in Judge Eimbalis
procession made an early move into court
rrst IN line was cid soldier named
Michael Nhaien. and the charge against
him was vasrIncy. Found drunk and
begging in the Capitol were the a!lega-
tions- in the information and .I'r,
guilty answered Mike. who still showed
Inc effects of what liquor he had cons lmed
last week.
II found him in the House corridor in
the Capitol Saturday afternoon" said Can't
fol Policeman Sinnott. He was drunk
and was asking people fer money When
l arrested bin he said he had helped elect
him. While waiting fer him he thought
he wouid pick M a few cents"
JUDGE. your honor said the old SOL
Gler- Il was in the Capitol to see Joe ore
Of the !oorkeepers. l lend hin, mcnev
and was there 10 see him about getting
it. LII eyesight is bad and I spoke to
the "rUiis man. L confess 1 made a little
mistake
Il think You made big mistake" re-
marked the court
Where are you from:' Whalen was
My home is in Troy" he answered.
but / II from the Hampton Home now"
He got S2i pension money Wednesday,"
Ine oiecer toia the court, and now he has
hot ore cent Of it
What did you 90 with your pension
money!
Spent it,
'On a Snree?''
Not eSaCtty.''
We'll. Mike said the court ''you went
to the wrong piat~ this time and now YOU
Will have to go down for fifteen days"
Making Criminals.
There was a story told by little boy
who next appeared He gave his name as
Walter Nay, and his father was in the au-
dience to hear what was said and done
Walter, who is perhaps ten years OIL had
been arrested Saturday night because he
had stoDrcd at houses cn 18th street and
asked for food. Policeman Stewart had ar
rested him ard he had been confined in a
police cell and driven to court in company
with old offenders against every law on the
statute books.
I'm guilty" responded the little fellow
when the clerk read to him charge of
vagrancy preferred by the policeman.
Just then the boys father. a cripple left
his seat in the audience and advanced to
the rail. where he could hear every word
that Was said against his hoy.
Il saw this boy going from house 10
house apparently begging" said the police
man, and when i went near o0c of The
houses 1 heard him ask for money"
Why were you begging" the judge
asked Walter.
Il was hungry and wanted something to
eat. was his response
w here do you liFe?''
Seventh and Botindary."
He said his mother had just died and his
father hsd s.x children to support.
Did you nave anything 10 eat at home?"
only little
Judge KirshaIl said he had received a.
communication about this case and asked
II the hoy's father were in court.
I'm his father said the man who had
stood at the rail and listened attentfvely
10 the hearing. But he answered. Il
knew nothing about my boy begging
Dld You nave anything at home to eat 1'
Il had a little bread and coffee"
May said lie lived at No. 2;es9 9TH street
and had recently buried his wife. He had
net ha6 mach employment recently and
he found II rather difficult to get along
The court required the boy to give his
personal bonds and released him.
Remarkable Charge.
Next IN lire came the one-legged man,
whose name was given as John Brown.
My name is Sinclair" he said, but when
got arrested l gave my mothers maiden
lame
What's the charge against this man."
Judge kimball inquired.
tilfllhihS lamp post without ladder -
responded the deputy clerk.
Doing what?,' asked the judge, who was
either surprised who thought ne had
misunderstood the clerk.
The clerk repeated the charge and before
hearing the evidence the judge tried to pic
ture in his mind the scene charged to have
been enacted near the o street market
Saturday night. But in this effort he was
lot successful.
There must he some mistake about this
case. the judge remarked, ''for l can't
imagine how one-ieggei man can climb
q lamp post"
He got up there to light a cigarette, -
was Policeman Sweets statement.
Il wasn't up lamp post. Judge" said the
prisoner. You know man with one leg
can't climb. and the policeman didn't see
me till 1 was turned over to him by a
watchman."
The judge listened again to the police
nan's statement, and again he expressed
ms inability to understand how John could
nave ascended the iron post and released
him on his own bond
Guilty" answered Tony Anderson, a
Coiored representative of South Washing
ton. There was charge of disofderly
against him, and he expected to get off
Of