The evening times., 1897-03-16
C0uRTlECL|N[DT0sAMPLE
Judge Kimball to Decide if Bran
died Cherries Are Intoxicants.
QUITE A NOVEL QUESTION
COnfectioner wey ynan Charged With
Selling Liquor without License.
Grant Mason Fined for Stealing
From Plucky Mrs. Bergen's Store.
Charles Thomas in Trouble.

Daniel J. Weyman, a Connecticut avenue
confectioner, was charged in the police
court this morning with selling liquor
without a license, the alleged offense con-
sisting of the sale OF branded cherries in
sealed bottles. This is the first case of
the kind that has come up in the local
courts, and consequently Judge Kinball
continued it TO take under advisement the
questions whether the liquor on the cherries
can be regarded in law as an Intoxicating
beverage.
some amusement was caused in the court
room Dy the defendant asking Judge kim
ball, who is known to be a total alb
stainer, to taste the liquor, and by the
iatter's smiling dcciination OF the tempt
ing invitation.
Prosecuting Attorney Pugh then offered
the services of Clerk Luin Harper as an
expert witness. This offer, too, was re-
jected, and Mr.. Weyman's personal bonds
were taken TO appear when the case shall
be again called.
Considerable interest is felt among gro
GERS and confectioners as to the outcome
OF this case, as upon IL rests the question
whether they can sell any preserve or
CONNECTION whatever which contains liquor.
Grant Mason a wel-known colored crook,
was arrested last night by OFFICER Lehman,
of the Sixth precinct charged with burglar
fzing n grocery store on Pierce street, near
First northwest, owned by Mrs. Bergen.
Although the crime was conlnitted about
two weeks ago, the matter has been kept
quiet by the police, as they did not wish
To frighten the criminal away from town.
Owing to the pluck exhibited by Mrs. Ber-
gen ON the occasion of the robbery, how
ever, the thief was frightened away before
he had secured much plumber. She came
into the store just as he was about TO carry
away the cash drawer and lot of cigars,
but he made his escape with only fifty
ceuts. In the police court this morning
Mrs. Bergen positively identified Mason,
who was fined SO.
"Jedge, An knows dat boy befoh he war
bohn,' was the testimony OF john Terry, a
before-the-war uncle in the case of
Charles Thomas, a bright-faced colored
boy, charged with throwing stones. Terry
testified that the lad bombarded him with
stones, and in proof thereof lahoriously ex-
tracted from lis pocket a large rock, weigh
ing no less than four pounds, which he placed
upon the judges desk, at the same time
stating that it was the one Thomas threw
at him. The prisoner acknowledged the
offense. and was fined So.
Maggie Ray, colored, an inmate of the
house at No. 1929 street, was sentenced
to three monthsin the workhoUse IN default
OF 5000 bonds on the charge OF yagrancy
by Judge Kimball this morning. The girl
was arrested last night on complaint OF "A
party of visitors from Massachusetts, who
while engaged in painting the town red
went into the house. While there one of
their humber lost $50 under circumstances
pointing strongly to Maggie as the thief.
When the case came up for trial today,
however, Judge Kimbail said that he would
not 20 into the cause OF her arrest, hut
would merely consider If she were guilty
ofthe offense with which she stosd charged
'.AS fast as these women are brought be-
fore me, said the judge in pronouncing
sentence. II do not care what pretext, so
long as the charge OF vagrancy is made and
proved against them, l will invariably
sentence them