The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-01
ONE DAY IN POLICE COURT.
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS IN THE
CRIMINAL DOCK.
Justice Davis Disposes Of = Batch
Of Chronic Drunks and
Assorted VagrantA.

There was an interesting assemblSge
Of petty offenders at the City Justices
Court yesterday morning, and when
Judge Davis pTped into the dock ne
beheld a half-dozen pairs OF shifting
eyes. Some Of the offenders had q
hang-dog look, while others trembled
with fear, or shock from the effects OF
too much firewater.
The first case was that OF the old
timer Brock" Doran, who trembled
like the man with the ague, having
been on one of his old-time drunks the
night before. Mr.. Doran eplained his
condition quite humorously. He did
not want to be sent to jail for being
drunk
I'm growing older than I was once. :
said he. IAN If yer honor will allow
me to explain, I'll tell We how got
drunk this time
|. You may explain" said the Judge.
WELL" said the penitent Doran, i
sometimes get patriotic, an wan OF
those waves caught me yesterday, but
my getting drunk was an accident.
didn't intend to get bilin' drunk, as
did. 1 am nurse at the County Hos
pital, an if ye'll let me go I'll return
an take care of myself"
AS there was no objection, the nurse
was allowed to go, with the admonition
that he ought to nurse himself better
in the future.
Fred Twist, a typical "ne'er do well.
was the next man on the list. He was
charged with vagrancy. Twist arose
with difiidence; his eye was uneasy,
and with stammering tongue and shift
ing glances he explained that he had
once worked-a long, long time ago. He
thought he had a few traps and equip
ments at a house on Fifteenth street,
where he had once worked. and If he
could get a few hours leave he woulo
be glad to fold his tent and steal out
of the city.
Twist was sentenced to one hundred
days in the County Jail. but the COM
mitment was withheld for twenty-four
hours. during which it is expected that
Sacramento will lose the citizen with
the shifting glance and the lazy habit.
Frank Latimer was the next man COR
boy, rather) on the list. Though OF
mans proportions, he swore that ne
was but 16 years of age, and his fair
face bore out the statement. Latimer'
features are very refined for man IN
a criminal dock He has bright, intel
ligent brown eyes, and a fine crop OF
hair, the color of old gold. His voice
was the black spot in his career in
court. Though still piping in the pee
toral tones of boyhood. the accent was
that of the typical tough.
Latimer said he came to Sacramento
to find his brother-in-law. He admit
ted. however, that he had been arrest
ed once before for the same offense
-vagrancy-and was given three hours
in which to withdraw himself from the
city limits. He hurried away with as
much gfee as characterizes happy
school boy.
He was fine example of wasted
years and lost opportunities. Such a
lad, in a proper school, with good envi-
ronments, has energies that might
adorn the Commonwealth. Under
present circumstances he will probably
be swept over the precipice, and Will
doubtless spend many of his days IN
jails, or leading the worthless life OF
tramp.
Amelia Sequard, who is not supposed
to be even remotely related to the
famous DR.. Brown Sequard, was al
lowed six hours in which to leave Sac
ramento 'Amelia's French accent and
hardened manner showed that she is
probably 4 hopeless case of depravity,
belonging by choice and education to
the ranks of the lost.