The evening times., 1896-07-06
PEN FULL OF PRISONERS
One Hundred Of Them Chafed.
in Police Court.
TRIALS WENT SLOWLY
Cornweil's First Arrest
Resulted in the Conviction of Buck
the Slugger"-George Robinson's
Frankness Saved Him From
Fine or the Workhouse.


ing. There We're an even hundred men and
women, white and black, jumbled and
crowded in the narrow confines OF the pen.
In the sickly, close atmosphere of the court
room, heavy with the sultry summer air
struggling reluctantly through the windo VS.
the wretched. perspirinS prisoners chuied
and cursed in low mutterings to themselves
Those standing up dinched the iron net
ting separating the cage of crime from the
spectators with their dirty hands, surg
ing restlessiy against the slender wire bars,
more like dogs in leash than humans.
All the perfumes OF Araby could not have
swectened the sodden. damp smell of the old
gloomy tribunal, reeking with sin and
degradation. His honor rested in his big
chair in a sort of comfortable WEAKNESS.
and an occasional sip of ice water out OF u
big glass.
Every occupant of the pen gazed yearn-
ingly at the glass. Many of them would
have given year off their miserable lives
to have touched their parched tongues to
the cold water-bcad on the outside of the
tumbier.
MANY TRIVIAL ARRESTS.
The proceedings were irritatingiy slow.
thanks TO the efforts of variuos lawyers re-
tained by defendants. 1t was an ill wind
blowing considerable good for the gentle
men who practice before the court.
The police were largely responsible for
this i'll making SO many trivial arrests. On
Saturday and Sunday they were seized
with an epidemic in seeing that the law
was carried out to the very last letter, and
a great many individuals who. as far as the
good OF the community is concerned, NIGH.
have been warned and sent home, were, in
stead, locked up.
A great many officers have an idea their
record is improve by the arrests they ma ke
There is where they err. The Commission
ers and Ma jor Moore long ago came to the
conclusion that the Officers securing the
most convictions in the police court We're
not necessarily the lest policemen.
Policeman George Cornwcll is one OF the
Officers recently appointed, and lie made his
maiden arrest Saturday. John Parker, a
black colossus, known i'll his own particular
bailiwick as Buck the Sluggcr,' was
cursinG and acting in disorderly manner
on the Fourth of July. He was staggering
along 7 street, supported by two men. who
We're trying to get him home.
Every few feet Buck wrestling with
his supporters. halted and poured out a vol.
ley of oaths at the world in general.
Cornwell gave him tile chance TO proceed
home ward, but Parker Indignantly re-
jected the good advice, and was locked up.
Cornwell comes very near being hand
some man, with his fresh complexion,
crisp, curling black hair and tufted mus
tache. He was little pale and nervous as
lie mounted the stand for the tirsttine. All
the other policemen watched him curl
ously TO see wlat sort of a debut he would
make.
Il would like, your honor" said Corn.
well deferentially, Ito make statement y
His honor smiled slightly at this re-
mark. and told him to 60 ahead. The 20
liceman who has begun his career auspi'
ciously by giving a man chance To get nut
of the laws clutches before arresting him.
said: This man was drunk and disor
derly. l started him toward home. but he
acted so badly was obliged tn arrest him
When did he drew a knife on me. l knock
ed il out of his hand and tussled with him
all the way to the box. That. gentlemen,
concluded Cornweli, bowling 10 Clerk Lun
Harper and the reporters, lis my state
ment.'
1t was good one, the judge thought, for
the refra ctory Buck" got thirty days.
Policeman Auldridge had the first two
cases, both colored men. George Robinson
was arrested for obstructing the sidewalk
T., ,t,n Do,
court the natural sequence is that he was
drunk; indeed, TO reason otherwise would be
unusual.
George carried out tradition, for 1t was
an overdose of the inevitable blackbcrry
and gin that caused him, in the language
of the information, ito obstruct the free
passageway of Seventh street, much to the
annoyance and impeachment Of divers good
citizens of these United States"
George made Il confessor out of the
judge, although his honor wears neither
cassock nor slavep face. He said he had
never been arrested in his life; never hat
missed days work with his boss, Mr.
Cooper. and drank gin frequently, to the
detriment of the gin but not himself.
"Suttin an sho'," concluded George
pathetically, "rze no longer a drinker."
I'm glad of it," said the court, ask
ing Mr.. Cooper, who was in court, wha,
Sort of a man George was. Mr.. Cooper sale
splendid"
The court said: Take his personal bonds
George said thanks" and marched out
with his employer; while a little, short rar
he ran into going through the doors EEK
claimed "dammitalr' in an audible voice
| and the bailiffs yelled themselves husky cry
Ing "Order" and "Silence."
In the ether case the prisoner was no
so fortunate.
He was David Johnson, a decent-look
/, ing colored boy, who, In the cerebral and
liquid excitement OF the Fourth of JULY
used "A few "cuss'' words outside a So
| loon-not loud enough, possibly, to bring
the neighborhood to arms, yet sufficient,
distinct for the officer to hear and cause
| the arrest.
johnson was fined $5 so quick It made
his head rotate as he CROPPED his way back
and Auldridge seated himself as a brotbe,
| officer whispered, 1T now stands horse
and horse
A GEORGETOWN TALE.
William. Henry Harrison, one of Lieut.
| swlndclfs stars, who used to be known al
"svengalf' before he had his Prince ol
Wales yThiskers amputated. came near tax
ing an Involuntary bath in the dirty water
Of the canal yesterday. - ~
1t was twilight in Georgetown and Harri
son, standing on the bridge, gazed pen
sively at the Scene before him. Sleek cat
tie, standing fetlock deep in the green nusi
Of Cooling pools overrup with juicy clover
i stood silllouettes of white and red agains
the background of trees, lined like bars o
! iron against the scarlet and gold of tn,
| evening sky. 1t was glimpse OF natur,