Evening star., 1896-09-30
IN THE POLICE COURT
The Unfortunates Wh9 We're Before Judge
Kimball Today.
Some Slept All Might IN the Storm
s~.'5
Some Were Victims pR
..t--.
Strong Afink. -

II plead guilty to hedhg blind, II that's a
crime" said Charles Hinton, a tall colored
man, when arraignef1iin Judge KimbelFs
court this morning ON IA charge Of vagran-
cy. II sells Hatchess" he added. land
earns my living In that way, but l am
blind"
"This man is blind" said Policeman Hor-
ton. II had a warrant for him charging
threats. The warrant was sworn out by
colored woman. but had that case nolle
pressed. and thought would bring him in
here to have your honor deal with him as
an act of mercy"
Il know this old man." said the Judge.
Il think he usually has girl on the streets
with him.
The officer said he knew but little about
the man. but there were witnesses In court
who did know him. ----s
II know him, Judge, your honor" said
Mrs Cross. a colored woman. who may
daughter to go with him all the time when
he's begging and cause she can't go with
him he wants to beat her. and then he
called me out Of my name" -.,
Whats the trouble with him?"
There amt nothing the matter with
him Mrs. Cross answered. He says he's
blind, but he Amt no more blind than
Her daughter, she said. lives with him.
but II they are married she has not seen
the license.
MY daughter has three children" the
woman said. but she had them before
Was she married before she met him?"
mo, indeed
The unfortunate man was then called up
on. and he denied that he was beggar.
do you ever beg?'
mo, sir. 1 sell matches"
Are you married?"
II am, sir. 1 was married a year ago by
Bishop Johnson"
Mrs. Gross daughter came forward and
claimed the blind man rs her better half.
He sells matches and begs," che said.
DO you work for your living?'
"Yes. sir"
And a.e you able to support your hus-
band?"
No, SIR"
Judge Kimball said that he could send
the old nan to the work house or poor
house, and asked him to make the selec-
ton.
Send me to the aims house, then," said
Hinton, 'if I'm to be sent anywhere for
selling matches. 1 don't want to go to the
work house."
And he was sent over the hill to the poor
house.
Slept Out in the Storm.
Another unfortunate colored Individual
was Sarah Wilson, and she, too, was
charged with vagrancy. With her was her
son. who is about seven years old. Sarah
had been in court before. She is one of
the easy-going people who imagine the
Lord will provide for them without any ex-
ertion on their part, and some of her friends
think her mind is affected.
Sarah and her boy slept out in the storm
last night" said Policeman Ellsworth.
They have been living in the yard of
house III Schott alley Some time ago
they were put out Of rooms in which they
lived. and since then they have lived in
this yard"
This woman was here some time ago on
a similar charge" said the court.
II can't help it If I was" said Sarah. II
ain't got no home just now, and was doing
the best couh until get work.
When the Judge had concluded the uues-
tioning he decided to hold her for an ex-
animation as to her mental condition and
turned the boy over to the board of chill
drens guardians. ~.
A Light Sentencs>,.,
Mrs. Jessie. Ford, whose maiden name
was Jessie Mccoy. has been recorded on
the police records scores OF times, pre-
sented the appearance of a widow, minus
the charming and young, when she ap-
peared at the Fail to answer a charge Of
habitual drunkenness.
Judge, your honor" she said,H II am
not guilty this time"
She's been around my beat drunk for
a week." was,the complaint Of policeman,
''and last night she was about there for
three hours '
Not on your life. I wasn't" said the
wife of soldier inmate Of Soldiers Home,
when he isn't an inmate Of some other
home.
But the officer says you've been drunk
three times in week." said the Judge,
when Jessie had made denial.
I've turned over a new leaf" she said.
Must have turned it over recently" the
court remarked.
''It's never foo late To do pood
1t was stated that Jessie had not been
in court for a long time, and Bailin Ken
dig explained that she had been given a
long sentence the last time she was In
the tolls.
But this time" pleaded Jessie. IT hope
you will make the sentence light one
II WILL" said the judge. You may have
fifteen days"
And may God bless Judge Kimball."
she said she started back. and she re-
turned to her cell singing.
Result of Strong Drink.
Richard McQuillan. prosperous citizen
of Northwest Washington, owns houses
and lots. and has a good income, but his
fondness for strong drink was the means
Of getting him in the procession this morn
Ing. Policeman Lynch made the complaint
against him.
He was out in the storm last night"
said the officer, 'and he was so helpless
that took him in." The officer related to
the court what he knew Of the mans in
temperate habits, and the man himself was
heard.
His wealth did not save him from con-
viction on a charge of vagrancy, for Judge
Kimball held him IN $50 security or fifteen
days on the farm. +-
Drunk and begging on the street." was
the charge against William Carroll.
"If 1 was begging don't remember it."
he said, "for had been drinking" -" sr
He certainly had been drinking" the
policeman said, land I saw him begging"
Thirty days."
May Go Out OF Town.
John Daily and William Kennedy, guests
Of the city, were spending the light in q
box cardlast: night, when found by. an