The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-02
JISIICE JOHN'S COIRT.
The Spectators in the Police Court Yesier'
day Were Amused

day Were Amused.
Many witnesses were on hand yester-
day. and the session was lengthy one.
The most important case was that OF
a score OF Assyrians who had engaged
in general melee at their rooms In the
tenement house at 1893 east Main street
Habib BashIra was charged with cut
ting John Joseph. and also with Striking
John Mausora on the back of the head
with a chair. The testimony offered 10y
both sides was mainly in the syrian IAN
guage. The friends OF John Mausora
and John Joseph were on hand IN fuli
force and along with them came Iomy
Elliott. a young Anglicized Syrian. who
acted in the capacity Ct an Interpreter.
IL was shown that the row started sun
day night about O'Clock Habib Bashara
had been drinking. and. with one Of his
friends. was creating considerable
amount OF noise in his apartment on the
third floor OF the tenement
Just below him lived John Joseph and
his wife and two small children. and
John Mausora. Mrs. Joseph wanted to
get her children to sleep, and sent her
husband up 10 request Habib to refrain
from the disorder he was making.
The latter told him in choice Syriac
that he was In his own room and would
"A warrant against Habib Tor being drunk
and disorderly. and he was arrested md
PLACED under collateral for his appearance
u the Police Court
When the crowd OF foreigners were
about to start on their pilgrimage to the
court yesterday they ran dioui or each
other again. and a regular knock-doWn
and drag-out affair resulted.
In the fracas somebody cut John Joseph
on the arm. inficting flesh wound.
which was examined by Or. Chas. Laben-
berg and pronounced not dangerous. and
John MausOra got struck IN the head
with a chair. a wound being inflicted that
required TWO stitches. Mrs. Joseph got
mixed up in the affair. and was struck
i'm the mouth by some one. the dow
bringing blood and loosenng tooth.
Tho whole outfit came into court, and
before the case was heard Habib found
himself confronted with two additional
warrants. one for assaulting Joseph and
the other for striking Mausora over the
head with a chair.
Several witnesses swore that Habib cut
Joseph and HIT John, and none Of the
evidence he introduced could break down
that testimony.
Attorney Mosby. OF the firm OF Mosby
& FOlkes represented the accused, and
Councilman Pollock looked after the in
yers engaged I'm several wars OF words
because Of the fact that the interpreter
appeared TO be preiudiced in favor Of the
prosecution. and he seemed 10 be the only
man in the court that could understand
what the witnesses said.
The prisoner. on several occasions. at
tempted 10 show that the interpreter was
wrong but he failed. and II was seen that
the young man was making an effort to
act fair In the case
At times the witnesses became vocifer-
Gus. and the conversation between the
interpreter and the witnesses grew ami
mated. Twice the former threw up his
fob OF translating the gutteral words OF
tho sons OF Mohammed. but he was pre-
vailed upon TO continue In that capacity.
The case was sent on 10 the grand jury.
and will be heard In the Hastings Court
at tho March term.
Pauline Flournoy (colorcd). employed MS
"a nurse at the residence Of Mr.. Charles
Schremp. l07 east Main street. distracted
"a pocket-book from Mr.. Schremps pocket
Saturday morning and took about SJ
from a roll that he had. Mr.. Schremp
did not miss his money until after neon,
and his suspicion was at once placed upon
the girl
lie followed her 20 a place where she
had gone with his children. and recovered
the money. with the assistance Of a pO-
liceman. She was sent down for ninety
days.
Henry Russell and Richard Cash got
into little row over game and grew
loud. boisterous. and threatening. and
yesterday the Parsonage fined them
each s. and costs.
James Brown colored man. got into a
controversy Saturday night with a white
man named Walter Toler in a bar-room.
which resulted In TOlers Selling an oyster
knife and innicting a deep wound on
Browns shoulder. Both were taken to
the First Police Station. where Toler was
locked up ana the ambulance summoned
20 attend Brown. Or. Labenberg re-
sponded and dressed the mans wound,
which is not serious.
The men had been playing cards and
drinking together and became involved I'm
a. discussion Tho case went on 10 the
grand jury
\ number OF DRINKS were disposed OF.
some OF them joining the society and
others going down. and two or three
cases Of minor importance were dismiss
ed.