The evening times., 1896-02-22
PUZZLED 8T Tue elsl|
{. c. Robinson Goes Scott Free
Although Believ; d Guilty.
MRS. vARNELLE'S COMPLAINT
Arrest of Church Members Who Re-
fused to Let q Policeman Into the
House Where a Benefit Entertain
ment Was Going On-Crank Halls a
WOrkhouse Sentence with JOY.

IL the spirit OF the good man who ncve
told falsehoOds could have lowered abou
the old police court building, at the cornc
of Sixth and D streets, this morning, wher
twenty-one alleged evildoers stood In tn,
dock and awaited the judges sentences
as a sort Of dessert to the coffee and sand
| witches Policeman Flynn had distributed
he would have doubtless said his namesaks
city had advanced in more ways than one
The spirit would not necessarily have L
come on washington's birthday TO see
strange things and hear strange things, bu
then it would be- more apt to get around
on that day than any other.
Edward C. Robinson was charged witt
the heinous offense Of indecency. He ID
white, a married man, and lives at Second
and streets southeast. He Is short, hard
faced, dark-haircd, gray'eyed, and wore
a bright blue necktle.
Mrs. Maude varnclie of No. 631 ] street
southeast was the principal and only
witness against him. She Is a very tall
woman and when she appeared in the wit
ness box wore felt cape trimmed in fur
and carried n gray muff.
'This man came TO our house yesterday
with a FRIEND" she said. HE bought
( some beer and then asked us to cook him
some dinner. Then be wanted to borrow
some money from my husband and be loan ed
1t. My husband went out OF the room and
| open and when happened TO look back
into the room Robinson was sittin g oppo-
site my little five.year-old girl and COM
mitting the offense charged.
"Then he came back last night and black
laJ 4 r..,&
| they refused to interfere. Ny husband
they had fight"
PUZZLED BY THE CASE.
~ am puzzled what to do" said Judge
Kimball. addressing District Attorney Pugh.
The law says man TO be convicted for
this must be seen on the streets or through
q window"
"You can't sentence him here, evi.
IDENTIFY" said Mr.. Pugh. But / would
ask you to Lold him while the woman tells
her story to Mr.. MuIIowny. He can be
charged with assault"
"Oh, you can't hold him here in court"
said Robinson's lawyer. ''while you so
somewhere else to make case"
''Well, we can," said Mr.. Pugh.
II think it doubtful whether under the
conditions Mr.. Muiiowny can make out
q case as the law stands" said the court.
II Will have to dismiss the man."
Robinson and his lawyer hurried out aud
Mrs. Varneii went upstairs.
Charles r. James is colored, thirty-five
years old, lives ON Tenleytown road, aud,
though in sympathy with churches and
church work, is not a member. He de-
cided to give &; dance for the benefit OF Rev.
Noble Watkins church last Wednesday
night. Rev. watkins is Methodist, and 50
is his church.
A policeman went to James house and
wanted to get in. He had not the price
ten cents-and they turned him away.
Then he had Charitable Charles arrested.
They wouldn't gimme ticket" said
the officer in police court this morning,
They said the dance was for the Metho-
dist church, and most Of the guests were
Baptists."
NO Mcthodists don't dance" said LAW
yer Holland, who appeared for James.
James took the stand.
CHARITABLE CHARLES ON THE STAND
II wus goin' to glib a surprise benefit
TO dc Methodist Church." he said. Il got
no money TO- de trouble
Ibid the minister know OF it?''
mo; 1t wus surprise. Use gwine to
glib 'em de money mex Sunday"
Robert Toles was a witness.
I'm q Baptist. understood de enter
tainmcnt wus TO be fO' de bcneficium oh
de Methodist Church. One brOder played
he accordion an de rest oh Us danced"
Lucy Jones Is a Baptist, and she danced.
She said there was one Methodist at the
entertainment.
..wen, don't believe this defense"
said the court; but you may go I his time,
and the next time you do 1t you must tell
n more reasonable story"
William Perry Thompson is crank.
Not only that, he is one of the quiet,
pious kind, whose insanity often breaks out
in some deed OF violence, and then people
ask why he wasn't kept in an insane asy-
lum.
Thompson was in the police court few
days ago on the charge OF vagrancy. He
was there again this morning. Meanwhile
he had been down to the hospital, and
DR.. Bovee examined him and said he was
but not crazy.
The crank had hirsute stubble OF IA
weeks growth on his chin. 1t was red,
likewise, and his hair the same
color He kept his hands piously clasped
as he stood there in the dock.
ANYTHING SUITS him.
"I want to do the Lords will as much as
possible" said he in soft, measured tones
rs he took the witness stand. I'm not /
strong, but am ever ready to stoop down |
and do what the Master would have me do"
Here Thompson leaned over the box rail- |
ing and scooped up lot of the heated air |
with his hands to demonstrate this point. |
II think this man isn't well,'' said the |
court. He'd better go down to the hos
pital again. How would that suit your"
Anything this noble court says an