The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12
JUSTICE JOHNS COURT.
4 THRILLING AND UNINTERESTING
MOR4yIsG DOCKET.
Promising Case of "A Boys Hero-Wor-
irping Based Upon the Yeliow-Back
Literature Of the Day.

While Justice John hates crimes and
criminals and is always glad when the
days work is over and the wicked ones
fined or carted off TO jail, It is certain
that ne feels a tfihe hurt, little mis-
used, or a least bit neglected when the
morning docket falls TO record enough
cases 10 occupy him at lease an hour or
two.
Yesterday morning Justice John came
upon the bench with a lace radiant and
a smi truly cnildlike and bland He
glanced hastily at the dockA and "A deep
cloud. even an omlnOus scowl settled over
his erstwHie happy c0untenance.
The doclo { in the Police Court is rare
and curious instrument In writing. IL
is manufactured somewhere by somebody
who uses a withered violet colOred ink,
and writes In n system of hlerog yphfcs
such as wag formerly used by the early
settlers on Penobscot bay. and later by
the snake charmers who haunted the
Dismal Swamp I'm Virginia.
when the docket arrives in the Police
Court I'm the morning II is first assaulted
by number OF leading attorneys who.
after finding out the names OF the pri-
]
and II appearance IS indicate the remnants
of any avail able assets, either cash or
money producing chattels, they are ten
dered the kindly offices of gifted coun-
sci
The leading attorney" however. in
this business Is still attending the OPEN
ing Of the Chamberlain Hotel, and as a
consequence. many prisoners recently have
escaped jail sentences.
The docket then Is taken in charge by
n few selected or self-appointed citizens
who always have ha.f day TO idle away
II anything particularly narrowing or dis
gushing is in sight, If not. they move
on I'D the streets and watch for the
free-lunch hour, or friend sufficiently
intoxicated, as to be reconciled 10 the
ready spending OF his money. and not
over squeamish about the companions
he selects TO assist him.
Then Justice John Chances over the won
derful sheet. and Sergeant Thomas begins
his guessing at what the writer intended
TO convey.
HISsONNERS DAILY MAIL.
Whenever Justice John desires 10 ex-
pressly show his disdain for the insignih-
cance OF the docket. he says nothing, but
gathers up his morning mail. puts on his
glasses. leans back in hts chair and let's
the audience wait until he has comp eted
tho duty.
II is amusing to watch the facial play
OF Justice John as he scans the pages Of
a dozen or two letters. He will fling one
aside with an expression that clearly be-
trays,
Here are a few OF the unpleasantst
words.
That ever Cited paper"
lie will sit gazing at one fallen 10 his
lap as IL he would say with Mrs. Brown
ing:
my letters; all dead paper. mute and
white;
And yet they seem alive. and quivering
Against my tremulous hands. which loose
the string
And let them drop down on my knee to-
night"
Now and then he Will muse over one
until the men around anxious for the
court 10 begin will attract his attention
and break his reyerie. Then he Will lay IL
aside with a sigh as Longfellow did when
he wrote
kind messages. that pass from land to
land;
Kind letters. that betray the hearts deep
history,
In which we feel the pressure or
One touch Of nre-and all the rest Is
mystery"
Then we will wind up the whole busi-
mess with n Solemn shake of the head
that shows plainly enough that he does
not approve much of letter-writing, or at
least that there are two sides 10 the
question and that while some letters are
sweet and nice, some are dangerous anu
unkind, or, in other words, he agrees
that
.sThe pen flowing in love, or dipped black
in hate,
Or tipped with delicate courtesies. or
harshIy edged with censure,
Hath aulckened more good than the SUM-
more evil than the sword
More ioy than woman's SMILE more woe
than frowning fortune.
Many Of Justice Johns letters are from
nrisoners IN the Jail. where the spehcerlill
system Of penmanship Is not taught ""u
the writing material IS not OF th' "ess
quality. ,
,,nIomstic ingenuity. They all begin as
sr,oothlv as Paul did TO King Agrippa, ny
COMMUNICATING Justice John on ms great
tnovlsdve tsLching these mats :. ana
then they proceed to put In some stasser-
ing blows "a themselves. q.
eve ~ ,ns favorite argum nt' s'd
90 ,ha, ...ouu. re & dying at nom" mn
this. CO - 81 vith RI ct and pc ~ con-
,r,,,or ,s,,I,. hr- 3. a discharge
THr VIII, .-ND UNTAMs)
Tho tnt:-c court yesterday on o.
cupied tvsn.rUs minutes. snh the eu.y