Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-27
IN REVIEW
Unusually Long List Of Offenders in
Police Court Today.
STORIES TOLD 10 JUDGE MILLS
Explanations Offered Which Failed
to Satisfactorily Explain.
THE SENTENCES IMPOSED

The collection of prisoners who passed in
| review before Judge Mills this morning in
the Police Court was the largest for weeks
past. The recital of their woes to the
| court embraced statements that were in
some instances pathetic, others amusing,
| and most of them interesting.
Dennis Mitchell and Frank Hutchinson,
colored youths, were among the first to be
| arraigned by the clerk. Disorderly conduct
was the charge, and each entered a plea of
guilty.
THE court fines each of you S." said
| the clerk.
But I wants ter 'splain ter de jedge,'
remarked Dennis, Indignantly.
We'll, what is it?' inquired the court.
"Jedge, this other fellow took my boot
| black chair and brushes and started to
throw 'em out into the street." explained
the prisoner. Il was merely protecting my
things"
How about this, Mr. Oficer?'
These men were scrapping on Penn
| sylvania avenue yesterday" stated Police
| man Schultz. They occupied the entire
sidewalk. 50 that pedestrians had to take
to the street. Both were equally involved
Fifteen days EACH This from the court.
Step back
INDUCED In Crap.
badly frightened colored boy advanced
to the rail when the clerk called James
Williams"
This man was in, a lively crap game in
an alley on my beat" was the statement
Of Policeman Lynch II had a long chase
before finally overhauled him."
ledge began Jimmy, and there was
noticeable tremor in his voice, Il was look
ing at that game. l wasn't playing at all
When the policeman came the fellows that
was playing started to run and knocked
me down. got up and ran, too"
The wicked flee when man pursueth,"
murmured Judge Mills, or something to
that effect. Fifteen days"
Want of n Bicycle Light.
Norfolk Payne, well-dressed white boy,
was in court because he rode a bicycle last
evening without displaying a suitable light
thereon
THE light was out" admitted the defend
ant, but 1 didn't know it. 1t had been
lighted"
THE law was violated nevertheless" the
court said. I'm make the fine only 3d."
Ccuntenance Mnrred.
The first member of the procession to be
called upon to explain information set
ting forth vagrancy was Frank Gray. He
is young white man, but his countenance
was woefully dilapidated, evidently the re-
suit of blow.
From the testimony, Gray appeared at
house on NJ street last evening, and asked
for assistance.
You have too much whisky aboard" he
was told.
Gray thereupon began a TRADE that was
frightfully profane, so it was stated. He
proceeded to another house, and inquired
for the wife of the party who lived there.
Trouble followed, the prisoner receiving the
worst of the engagement.
Il had no reason to ask for aims" said
Gray to the court, for 1 had money in my
m n MT toll fh<t r,rfh
judge, l was drunk, and was not respon-
sible for my actions"
"A man may be poor and compelled to
seek assistance" commented Judge Mills,
in diSposing of the case, but when a man
has no necessity to seek aid, gets drunk
end abuses respectable citizens without
cause. he deserves the limit of the law.
You will have to furnish a bond in the sum
| of $1G0 or spend ninety days in the work
house."
Clipped on Souvenir.
James Quinn is a poor little country
youth. He is poorer today to the extent of
$40 than when he reached Washington
Saturday morning from farm in Charles
county, Md. He had never seen the Wash
! ington monument, so he lost no time in
attempting the ascent of the granite shaft.
Had he stopped with that, his ambition
would have been not other than laudable.
But he didn't. The thought occurred to
him that it would be a great thing to
carry back to Charles county a section of
the monument as a souvenir.
With a pocket knife he Clipped off a
piece from a handsome stone on which was
| carved a locomotive. James was greatly
surprised when placed under arrest by
Special Policeman F. NJ. Stromberger.
Il saw the stone was cracked" said the
prisoner, so 1 just knocked it off,
This Is one of a class of cases in which
the court must impose n severe penalty"
stated Judge Mills. "A fine of 500 would
not be an adequate amount. Defacing the
Washington monument is an injury that
cannot be repaired. AS you have been
locked up since Saturday and are merely
a boy I'll impose on you a fine of only So
A relative of the boy paid the fine, and
he was released.
Brass Button Pinchcd Him.
Another alleged ''vag" gave his name as
Thomas Hogan. policeman said lots of
things concerning the habits of Thomas
that could hardly be scid to be cosnpli-
rentary.
guardian of the peace said. ''and When 1
arrested him he vas provided with a pint
flask of whisky"
Thomas was aggressive when he mount
ed the witness stand.
L was born and raised right there where
the brass button pinchad me- he remark
ed. defiantly. land I'm going to keep on
all they please
Sixty days." was all the court had to
say.
Much Obliged" was the sarcastic utter
ance Of Thomas as he stepped back
william'. Brief plea.
To the ordinary observer William Bundy
would be classed as tough" He is col
oied, and he was a prisoner on complaint
of young colorcd girl named Sarah Miles.
Il was crossing a vacant lot Saturday
night" the girl explained, when this man
tcstled against me. When inquired what
he meant by such action he cursed me
dreadfully. The policeman heard him and
took him to the station house,.
1T was whisky" was all Bundy had to
say.
Judge Mills was even more brief. His
statement was: Five dollars"
Court Took His Word.
John Henry is an individual of ebony hue.
He suffers from an affection of the vocal
cords, and 1t required nearly five minutes
for him to relate his simple story to the
court.
Crap game on New York avenue" said
a policeman, who evidently realized that
John Henry would consume with his ex-
PLANTATION the full quota of time allowed