The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-06

Are invariably Ac-
cused and Tried for Breaking Into
Jail, and II Found Guilty They
Must Furnish Tobacco for All The
lnm"tes-OIdcst Prisoner Is Gener-
ally Selected to Preside ns Judse
Disputes Among Themselves Adj
justed.
From the Washington Post
speaking about this junior republic agi-
tauon here In the city reminds me of a
peculiar institution We have out West"
said gentleman who halls from, the other
sde OF the Missouri river. the other day.
DID you ever hear of the Kangaroo
Court? Probably not, for it is not preya-
lent here in the East Perhaps they think
1t is too barbarous. 1t Is code and fully
equipped judiciary system practiced amops
the prisoners of the county jais in most of
the larger cities. 1t belongs entirely to the
prisoners ana the sheriff and the jail Of
hcials never interfere with 1t. The men
behind the bars regard 1t as a bIrthright
sacredly their own. on account of having
dared to fracture the laws Of the com
munity.
THE oldest inmate of the Jail. and in
many cases the man who is there for the
most heinous crime, wears the ermine of
the judge, and no one Is so foolhardv as
TO appeal from his decisions He is nine
teenth century Draco, and his sentences
though not attended with the penalty of
death, are enough TO cause the boldest TO
obey his mandates without a murmur
Accused of Breaking Into JniI
Every man who passes the barred gate
Is tried for at least one offense As soon
as prisoner arrives the court is sum
moned, and the Culprit is placed on trial
on a charge that Is always pending against
any newcomer The primary accusation
Is that the said prisoner has broken into
jail without The consent of the residents
thereof II is needless to say that the ac-
cpsed is promptly convicted The judge
thereupon fines him the tobacco for the
inmates Of the bastle. If the convicted
man has not the cash to purchase the weed
he Is ordered in lieu thereof to perform the
duties of janltor for the Jail until the next
prisoner arrives.
IF the prisoner demurs to executing the
sentence of the court. he is then treated
10 summary punishment that will make
him exceedingly anxious 20 comply with
any decree handed down by the court.
These punishments consist of whippings
not your ordinary mammals spankings,
either; deprivation of all use of tobacco,
being strung up by the thumbs, and sew
eral other species of torture.
"Of course every prisoner is found guilty
of breaking into jail without the consent
of the inmates but there are other
charges the new arrival has to face. The
judge inquiries of the warden of the Jail
the reason for the prisoners incarcara-
ton He is always told, and the magis-
trate may take notion to order a triad
for the offense charged by the state. These
cases are always conducted with a fair
ness that is surprising. There is no petit
Jogging, no brlbing of jurors, and no bull
doing of witnesses. Frequently the pris-
oner at the bar is the only witness called.
If he is confined on a serious charge there
is no attempt 10 pass on his case, for the
reason that 1t might prejudice the safety
of the prisoner when he comes before an
authorized tribunal of the commonwealth
Rewarded on Verdict of AcquittaI.
"In case of some such mlsdemeanor as
wife-beating, petty larceny, where the
final sentence has already been imposed,
and a number of smaller offenses, the
Judge sometimes calls a jury to decide up
on the guilt of the accused. In case the
prisoner is found guilty as charged he has
to execute whatever sentence the court
imposes. If the jury finds that he has been
wrongfully accused, then the much-abused
man is given chewing tobacco or cigar
cites at the expense of the corporation for
the period of from one to three days.
Sometimes, in lact, quite frequently,
disputes arise among the prisoners. The
Kangaroo Court has both civil and Grim
inal jurisdict ton, and, whether the case IS
based upon a blow struck, or has its ori-
gin in debt for cigarettes borrowed and
not returned, the court passes judgment
occasionally a new trial is ordered, but
no one IS bold enough to consider that an
appeal is due him.
Few prisoners refuse to comply with
any orders the court directs. l remember
one case of how an arrogant arrival was
tanned. He was a correspondent of a
Kansas city paper, a periodical that was
very notorious throughout the West some
years ago on account of its obscenty and
blackmaling procivities The authorities
found out that this young fellow had been
responsible for most of the wild gossip
that appeared in the paper under the date
line Of certain locality, and they had
him arrested. While his trial was pend
ing he was placed in the Jail on account
Of his failure to give bond. He was a
spruce young feAow, and when he made
his appearance among a lot of hardened
criminals he refused to associate with
them.
Defied the Judge and Court.
Kangaroo court was Immediately call
ed to pass upon his case. The journalist
was brought before the tribunal to an
swer to the charge of breaking into jail
without the consent of the inmates He
insolently told the court, the bailiff, and
all its officers to go to land that was
hotter than this.
II consider that the prisoner pleads
not guilty announced the judge, a great,
brawny desperate, who was awaiting SEN
ence for horse stealing.
THE trial went on and the prisoner was
found guilty as charged, and fined the to-
bacco for the crowd.
This the naughty prisoner refused to
produce.
wal said the judge. as he bit off a
large chew of star plug, i sentence you
to perform the dooties Of janitor of the
jail until your successor arrives and is
qualified. Mebbe we hain't got much
money
81 have all the money / need, and
more, too answered the scandal mon
ger, as he shook a handful of silver dol
lars in the face of the court.
d" Then I order you punished for con-