Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-22
SU M M Err PRISONERS
Some Of the Disoomforts Suffered at the
Police Court.
The EARLY Morning Demand fol
the Judge Today.

The people who suffer most from the hot
police who find themselves unable to leave
collateral or give bond, and who conse-
quently get in the Police Court cells. Four
cells are provided for the prisoners, three
for men and one for women and sometimes
there are nearly hundred occupants of
the four cells. Today there were twenty
five prisoners confined there, four Of them
being colored women. These unfortunates
had slept in police stations in the small cells
built for one, and then they were given
ride. for which no fee was charged. Some
of the overheated men were nearly ex-
hausted by the time the early morning pro-
cession started. A requisition for electric
fans has been made, but the court officials
hardly expect it to be filled before Christ
mas as, they say, 1t usually takes long
time to get necessaries from the District
officials. So far ice water is concerned
the prisoners have no reason to expect such
a luxury Those who are extra dry on
account of the designations of the previous
night will have to be content with the
binary Potomac water. In today's party
there were several victims of intemperance
the condition of whose stomachs called for a
large supply of liquid. Although they re-
queSted a little ice in their Potomac cock
tails, they did not refuse straight water.
Not Migrants.
Two of the men who were in this condi-
ton were William Butler and John R.
Bursee. They were extremely nervous and
Buffers face showed evidences of large
conflict with strong drink
You are charged with being vagrants,"
said the clerk. ARE you guilty or not
guilty?'
Not guilty." was their plea
Judge, your HONOR said a policeman,
complaint has been made about tramps
sleeping in vacant house Sth street
northwest between G and H streets. and
men drunk and asleep in the house,
DO you know anything about these men
other than finding them in this house," in
quired the court.
NO, SIR
II do, our honor" said another officer,
I've seen them about the streets under
the influence of liquor
We'll. Butler" said Judge Miller. what
have you to say about this charger"
I've been drinking, but when / get out
I'm going before Justice Mills and take the
pledge
Did you ever take it before?"
months"
What do you do for a living?"
L worked yesterday huckstering chick
ems and took several drinks. Last night 1
was caught in the rain, and when l met
Burgee he asked Ele to go to this vacant
house with him.
And you went, of course?"
Yes, SIR
where's your family?"
My w!fe's sick in Richmond" answered
the man, but If you will let me go I'll
take the pledge and keep it,
We'll, BurSee. what's the matter with
your Judge Miller inquired.
Il haven't been here before Cor ten
years. he answered. Recently I've been
working and 1 take an occasional drink
What about your family?'
They get along all right and I earn my
living without any assistance from them
What were you doing in this house?''
I'm hard of hearing. Judge" said Bur-
gee. you will have to talk louder"
The question was repeated and Burgee
said he knew that the house had been
vacant for years.
This one act the court said, docs not
make the men Migrants, but if you are
caught in there again You will have to go
TO the workhouse."
They were discharged.
Looking for His Relatives.
In the tolls was Joseph Berry, a colored
boy, who wants a home. His parents are
dead, if his story is to be believed, but he
has a brother and sister who live near this
city.
He was walking down 7th street this
morning about 1870 o'clock" said Police
man Cats, "and when he saw me he ran
L soon caught him. and he told me his par
ents were dead. and he had come in from
the county looking for his relatives
step around here. jack said the judge.
and tell me something about yourself
Where are you from?''
'HagerStoWn."
where's your father?'
Hes dead"
What about your mother?'
She's dead, too and l amt got nobody
but myself. except q brother and sister,"
And where are they?'
''Snna oft he how
swered. Il don't know just where"
when 1 arrested the boy" the officer ex-
pl1ined, 'he was hungry and tired
"And hasn't he had anything to eat yet?'
the court asked.
Yes. indeed your HONOR" said Mr.. Pugh
He had breakfast at the Hotel de Flynn"
The boy thought it was the best break
fast he had had for a long time Judge
Miller said he thought the boy should not
be sent to the work house, but should be
given good home, and with this idea In
view he made an order turning him over to
the board Of children's guardians.
A Crap Game.
There was a crap game in Schott's alley
not many days ago and Policeman Arch
ambault managed to get the names of sew
eral of those who participated in 1t. John
Gray, Fred Butler, Spencer Snowden and
William Kelly were those whose names he
learned and they figured in the process
sion.
This alley is inhabited chiefly by Italians
and colored people. There was time when
the Italians and colored people frequented
"speak-sasies'' there and then engaged in
fights, but since these quiet drinking places
have been closed by the police crap shoot
ers' seem to have taken possession and do
most of the law breaking.
You are charged with disorderly con-
duct was the charge read by the clerk
Are you guilty or not guilty?''
Guilty" cborused the quartet, and the
usual fine, s. or fifteen days each, was i'm
posed
Tourists.
Three colored strangers, Julius James.
John Thomas and Roy Ambush, were in
the procession because they had been
caught in a freight car.
I'VE are travellers" said one of the trio,
"and don't belong here
Where are you from?''
Alabama but Prosecutor Pugh, who is
from the same state, failed to recognize his
fellow citizen.
TN from Smithburg, Nd" said another
while the third man says his home is also
in Maryland.
What were you doing in this carr"
only in there for nights lodging"