Evening star., 1896-10-07
MEN WHO WERE GUILTY
One Thought His Constitutional Rights Were
Threatened.
The Cases Tried in the Police Court
This MOrninK-SOme of Those
in the Line.


morning there were only two spectators in
the room and the judge did not know
whether the small audience was the result
of the weather or whether Policeman Flynn
had been on guard at the door all the
morning and had kept out the regulars who
insist on occupying the reserved seats.
But this condition of affairs did not last
lcng for soon after court opened the guests
began to arrive and among them was an
elderly colored man, whose efforts TO ap-
pear stylish caused some merriment.
The old man wore good clothes,and seated
as he was in the front row, twirling MS
Grand Army hat on golf stick, he attract
ed the attention of the courts officers as
well as of those in the audience W nile ne
amused himself with the golf stick lie
manipulated a big fan with his other hand.
IN which he also held big Old goid SILK
handkerchief.
When the procession started the old man
was very much interested in the proceed
ings and he regretted very much the ar
rival of the time when he was called as 4
witness iE the upper court.
First in the procession was a tall, comical-
looking colored man. with a cleanly shaven
head, and he was simply shocked at the
idea that any policeman should have the
audacity to charge him with being
vagrant.
Policeman Muller was the officer who
thought he had reason to enter such a COM
plant.
.sHe does very little work" said the Off
Ger, land a great amount of loafing.
The officer explained how he had seen
Jones' the prisoner, lettering about South
Washington bar room. and on street cor
hers and he thought few days in custody
would straighten him out.
Judge yo' honor. I'm sick. and can't do
hard work.. said the prisoner, cause
when l was working on the airy docks at
the Capitol a bank of dirt fell on me and
hurt me, and the doctor won't let me do
hard work.
"On what were you workng?" the court
asked.
"On the airy docks
DO you mean air ducts''
"YeS, sir
Now. Sam" said the court, what about
your Drinking"
Il drinks by order of the doctor, and
here's my card to show it,
Then l suppose you offer this as an ex-
cuse for your getting drunk?"
Il don't get drunk personally" said Sam,
land nobody ever accused me of it,
IF you don't get drunk personally, whom
do you get drunk?'
Nobody answered Sam. II mean I
don't get unconsciously drunk and commit
nuisance of myself
Have you ever been arrested before?"
Il was arrested and got four months
cause l knocked a niger in the head with
| switch
Ever been in the work house,"
Fifteen years ago. but, deed. honest,
| the doctor ordered me to take whisky for
medicine. Now, judge, it's evidently known
| that couldn't get drunk and DO my work.
| I'm an oyster shucker. and l might run the
knife in my hand and ruin myself for life
Ten days on the farm, l think, will do
you no harm, the Judge said, and you
| may go down.
Advice Not Taken.
| Next in line was stylishly dressed
l
raised a question Of constitutional right
/ when he appeared on the witness stand.
This young man was in the Division
| about l 30 o'clock this morning." said Po-
liceman Carlson. land he asked me for a
match. Later when 1 saw him, 1 advised
him to leave the Division and he be-
came 4rofane"
| LAS an American CITIZEN" said the young
! man. Il have the right to be on the street
| at any hour without being called to ac-
count by policeman.
| Then you are mistaken in your rights
| the court told him. IAN officer has the
| right to overhaul people on the streets at
| that hour"
The young man denied that he was pro-
fame A fine of S. was imposed, and the
court asked If he wanted to pay his fine.
"Of course, 1 will pay my fine he said.
| land l think I have charge to enter
| against the policeman"
| Daniel Benton, a stranger in the city,
whose face resembles the setting sun on a
| hot summer day, was in the procession as
| a vagrant, but the question Of how his
| face and nose became Redeemed was not
| discussed.
Pm guilty of the charge" was the man 8
plea, and the policeman said If he had the
mans face he would plead guilty to any
| thing
d He called at my house last evening beg
| ging," said Policeman Morgan. Il was in
my shirt sleeves, and he didn't know ]
was a policeman. Neighbors said he called
at their houses also and begged"
What have you to say?"
Nothing"
Thirty days"
A young colored man named John Saun-
ders, who lives from pillar to post, sleep
ing in wagons, on lots and in dry goods
boxes. was In court again. The last time
he was in court his plea was that his uncle
supported him, but this his uncle denied.
This time he was found wandering about
the streets in Georgetown. and the cour;
sent him down for fifteen days.
II guess I'm guilty. but don't know
If am. cause 1 was drunk" responded
Joseph Doyle. when arraigned on a charge
which had resulted from his intoxication