The herald., 1896-02-13
COWBOY PREACHERS WIFE
Mrs. Rice Appears in the Police Court
Before Judge Owens
She Denies That She Obstructed the Side
walks ana Says That the officer
Was Rude to tter

Mrs. Rice, the wife of the cowboy preach
er, yesterday appeared before Police Judge
Owens to answer to the charge of obstruct-
ing the sidewalks Tuesday evening, on
Spring street between Second and First
streets, for which she was arrested by
Officer Dixon. There are two other
charges for the same offense against the
woman, and these will come up today for
hearing, as we'll as those against her hus-
band, ''Callie' johnson, McCune and the
others arrested Sunday night for disturbing
the peace. The cowboy preacher did not
put in an appe arance in the courtroom,
but the faithful "Calle' was on hand as
we'll as the Rice infant.
When the case was called Mrs Rice said
she was ready to go to trial, and Officer
Dixon took the stand. The officer de-
tailed the circumstances of the arrest. He
said that after concluding her meeting.
Mrs. Rice deliberately stepped up on the
sidewalk. where there was a crowd, and
stopped and commenced talking to some
people. He had been instructed to keep
the sidewalks clear. and stepping up to
Mrs. Rice politely asked her to move on.
She said that she would do so, and moved
about two feet, when she again stopped
and began talking. He again asked her to
| move on, when she refused and invited the
officer to arrest her, which he did. She
was taken to the station, and later released
on bail.
Mr.. Rice followed. She denied that she
was obstructing the sidewalk and said that
the officer was very rude, pushing her
roughly along. She said that she was do
ing nothing except talking for the cause
of Christ" when she was arrested.
After hearing the testimony Judge Owens
said that he would take the case under adj
Il
his decision.
Mrs. Rice, with the faithful "Callie'' and
the infant, then left the court room.
At the usual hour last evening Mrs. Rice,
her husband, johnson and one or Two 9th.
ers appeared on Spring street, near the
corner of Second. The streets were filled
with people all hurrying along on their
way to Chinatown 10 take in the Celestial
new year festivities. 1t did not take the
cowboy outfit long to ''catch on,' and see
ing that interest in their meetings was at
least temporarily below par, and striking
up hymn. Mrs. Rice and her followers
took up the line of march for Chinatown,
followed by smell number of small boys,
with very few of their faithful adherents.
On returning from Chinatown, Mrs. Rice,
her husband and the faithful "Callie,'
with such a following as could be got to-
gether proceeded to Turner hall, on South
Main street, where a meeting was held.
ne lllcctltik WdS llDl IL SuCCSSs, us tll5 'Di-
lections were virtually nil. The hall rent
500, was paid by Johnson. Speeches were
made by Mrs, Rice. her husband and John
son. No one else spoke and the atmos,
phere was decidedly chilly, so much Sc
that when cali was made for subscrip
tions most of the small audience left the
/ hall.
! The burden of the speeches was the al
legged persecution to which Rice and his
wife have been subjected by the police
authorities and the press. The importance
| of getting an attorney to conduct the de.
fense of those charged with disturbing the
peace in connection with the street meet
ings was emphasized. johnson claimet
that the persons charged with this viola
ton of law were poor, and that it wa:
necessary to provide for their defense.
The crowd of thirty or forty people were
not in liberal mood, and the pathetic ap
peal for contributions of coin fell fiat. Tn,
meeting broke up shortly before l o'clock
Today the outfit will appear before Po
lice Judge Morrison, when the cases will
probably be disposed of.