The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-02
IA DAY In THY COURTS.
Meaning Judge AtchisOn's Court
at the Police Statind.
Colored CuIprits and Colored
Lawyers Occupy the Time.
Ben Jordan and Geo Buckner Figure
as Leading Characters in the
Proceedings.

Lawyer A. M. Thomas was at police
station early this morning, arrayed in
long black alpaca coat, narrow crash
trousers turned up three inches at the
bottom, negligee shirt and thick soled
shoes. He was after game, but to his
disappointment his prospective client
decided to plead guilty. He had heard
that Della May and her sister-in-law,
Mrs. Ernest May, had quarreled in
front of police station yesterday after
noon while in an intoxicated condition
and were arrested. His early visit to-
day was for the purpose of being re-
tanned as attorney. But they both
pleaded guilty and were fined SIS and
IS respectively.
During the trial of the Ben Jordan
case for selling beer, several witnesses
swore that they bought beer of James
Arterbridge, who is a son of the color
ed ex-policeman. Accordingly a war
rant was issued for Arterbridge, and he
left the city. Yesterday he was found
and today in police court he pleaded
not guilty. The police think they have
a sure case against him, and Saturday
when the case comes to trial many
witnesses will be present to testify 1t
is said that Ben Jordan, who has late
ly been prosecuted will be an i'm
portant witness for the city.
Was John McCrow really sick, or had
motor nerves were paralyzed? This is
a question which will have to be set
tied positively before Judge Atchison
tomorrow morning. Certain it is that
McCrow was found about midnight last
night at Fourteenth and Kansas ave-
nue. lying PROSTATE upon the hard soil
of the street. The patrol wagon was
sent to where the man lay, apparently
dead. He was loaded into it and ia
ken to police headquarters. This morn
ing he came to" and says that he
n Orl' aINS1- hot ho cd h
Now, if your honor please" began
Attorney w. 1. Jamison, as usual, this
boy was not drunk, l think. He tells
me that he was seized with a severe ill
ness and can't remember what hap
pened.''
Detective Kesson said: HE was dead
drunk 1 didn't smell his breath, but
know he was drunk
Judge Atchison said he would con-
tinue the case so that positive evidence
of some sort could be obtained.
John McCrow said: 81 started home
last night and after awhile I got sick
and my head began to whirl and I
seemed to be jumping up In the air. I
hadn't taken a single drink
Il don't want to fine a man for drunk
enness if he was simply SICK" remarked
Judge Atchison.
Tomorrow Chief Steele will have wit
nesses in court to tell what McCrow
McCrow was let out of the city jail
yesterday, having served a Is days sem
tence for drunkenness.
me and Ella has busted" said Geo.
Buckner, the colored Smoky Row resi-
dent who has given the police so much
trouble for years, as he stood before
Police Judge Atchison today under the
charge of disturbing the peace and be-
ing drunk. ''She kept bothering me all
day yesterday and threw rocks at me.
am done with her, now"
But Ella Buckner had a different
story to- tell. Both she and George had
been arrested. She explained it:
ct moved my goods away from the
house yesterday, but couldn't take my
piano. George said he would chop the
piano to pieces. I took an officer there
to help me protect it and we found that
he had bent several of the strings and
broken two hammers. I staid in there
screamed and that is why I was ar
rested"
Patrolman Frank Sommers who made
the arrest said: ELLA came up the
street following and George was after
her. He was drunk. I saw the piano
in the afternoon. It had been badly
damaged. The strings were pulled out
of place and the top was broken off
and lay on the floor"
The charge against Ella Buckner was
dismissed.
George threatened to cut my throat"
said Ella, land I was afraid of him.
''You have given us much trouble"
said Judge Atchison, land I fine you
$50"
Ella Buckner, though she has had her
husband arrested dozens of times and
always later paid his fine swears that
she will never go back to him.