The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-27
Curious ParaphraSe by a
Member of the Police.
How Proctor Understood Plea
Of NOl0 C0ntendere.
Dangers Of the Practice Of Carrying
Babies on Bicycles.

From his occupation and the frequency
with which he hears them, one would
suppose a policeman would be reasonably
familiar with such court terms as 'snolo
contendere," ''sentence deferred" etc.
1t appears, however, that such Is not the
case, and that one at least OF the blue
ooared guardians of the city's peace, who
has secured promotion from the ranks, at
one time didn't even know the words,
much less their meaning, but had gro
tesque paraphrase of them, which greatly
amused his fellow policemen when
they heard IL. 1t was during prohibition
days that this particular officer betrayed
his Mrs. Partington proclivitics. With
other members OF the force he had
good deal OF extra duty IN the way OF
watching places where IL was suspected
liquor was sold and In securing evidence
TO be used in the prosecution OF liquor
cases. For q time all went we'll, but
as defendant after defendant went into
the common pleas court, pleaded nolo
aontendere and had sentence deferred
there began TO be growing among the
policemen at the useiessness OF their ex-
ira LAHORE. One night when Knot OF
policemen were discussing the situation
relates delivered himself somewhat after
this fashion: 81 think IL shame to
make US DO all this extra duty. Here
We have to lose our rest watching places
and when the case goes up to the COM
mon pleas court all the liquor sellers have
to do is TO 60 there and plead noble
tender ana have their sentence furred.
That's the last we ever hear of them and
Ill our work goes for nothing.
Apropos of this amusing paraphrase the
Gossiper recalls an incident that occurred
in the Common Pleas Court in case
similsr TO those the policeman was in
Weighing against. it was in the days
conspicuous figure in the liquor business,
and somewhat prominent also as poll
tician. Proctor's place had fallen under
the ban OF the police with the result that
he was hauled into court for illegally
keeping liquor for sale, or something OF
that sort. The particular charge Is not
necessary TO this story. Proctor IN due
course OF time was indicted and went into
court to plead. He had previously con-
suited his counsel, and had been In
structeo as to how he should plead. When
he stood up at the bar the clerk read the
indictment, end then asked the defend
ant what he had to say, guilty or not
guilty? Proctor promptly answered that
no pleaded nolo contendere. The judge
looked at him minute and then In
quired: "Do you know the meaning of
tnat plea, Mr.. ProctorY "Weli, don't
know as / do, exactly" was the answer,
"but l think it means that / pass"
which shows that Mr.. Proctor knew
something of poker as well as OF politics.
Sometime ago a lawyer in the police
court made q very amusing slip OF the
tongue. His client was a citizen who had
never been arrested before, but on this
occasion he had been engaged with COM
panlons in an attempt to paint the town
rod. The, result was that he fell by the
weyside and was gathered in by the
police. When arraigned before the court,
however, he insisted that he had not been
drunk and demanded trial. This was
accorded him, and he engaged the lawyer
TO defend him, very unusual thing in
police court cases. After ell the testi-
mony had been put in, the lawyer for the
defendant made vigorous plea. 1t was
very eloquent effort and seemed to be
making the desired impression on the
court. Finally, by way of still further en-
phasis, ne said: "And there is one point
desire your honor to bear in mind in
deciding this case because 1t Is matter
OF the'most vital Importance ana that is
that my client is gentleman OF the
most unscrupulous integrity" The
court smiled and fined the defendant So
and costs.
Last evening the Gossiper saw wheel
man over on the East Side with an in
FAINT that could not have been year and
q half old percned in basket seat just in
front of the handle bars. The little one
seemed TO enjoy the ride Immensely, and
laughed and crow cd at great rate. But
after ali, with the frequency of bicycle
collisions. the practica of carrying young
children in such a dangerous position
seems to be one that ought to be dis
couraged. II may be well enough and
reasonably safe on country roads that are
not much travelled over, but in crowded
city thoroug hfarcs where teams OF every
description and bicycles innumerabIo are
constantly passing and repassing the.risk
ia too great, and ought not TO be taken.
Experiences has proven that the most ex-
pert wheelmen, even when u1encum-
bered by an infant freight, do not enjoy
entire immunity from mishaps in the
city streets, so that considerations of
humanity should step in and stop tho
practice OF baby-caryinR before some in
nocent little life IL sacrificed.