The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-08
A BLOW FOR A LIE
THE HIGHEST LAW
Justice John Will Not Punish in Such
Cases.
CASES FOR THE GRAND JURY.
A Man Who Beat His Wife Was No
without sympathy-Hc Had Ire
mendous Provocation - Com
piainant Got Wrong Gang.
CASES FOR THE GRAND JURY.

Justice John annunciated certain prlh-
cples In the delivery OF an opinion In the
Police Court yesterday. which, II such
q thing were possible, frightened the lead
pipe cinch he has on the chair OF the
4 .ce .us,i,e OF Richmond, and won MIN
the enthusiastic plaudits of the multitude.
The decision was in a lighting case III
which it was shown that the defendant
had been called liar with a prefix sug-
costing liquid control, and yet another
epithet regarded in Police Court ethics as
the Eiffel Tower of Insult.
The Great Dispenser said the law he
was going to apply was not In any statute
book in the world that 1t was higher
than any written law of the land. and
law fully recognized i'm the South, espe-
cially in Richmond. that TO call man
the epithets mentioned above Is equivalent
10 blow.
A BLOW FOR AN INSULT.
lie would blame no man for hitting
another who applied these insults to him.
and that so long as he was on the bench
OF the Police Court OF Richmond he would
never punish man for striking anoth-
er who so insulted him-that he never
had done so. and never would do so; that
If law was passed in Virginia making
the use of such words applied as an in
suit TO another. the first blow, II would
be better for everybody.
Justice John came upon the bench
I'm good spirits feeling light IN heart
at the prospect Of a short days work,
and smiled blandly when his experienced
eye took in the innocent-looking docket
contained on a single page.
Many a time he has disposed Of a
witnesses. bulyragged the lawyers and
lectured the prisoners.
HORNS, TEETH AND CLAWS.
He reioices in a small and harmless
docket but he soon discovered that this
one had horns teeth and claws.
From the fire Of the first gun the en-
gagement became general all along the
line
The assaults Of the enemy were very
determined and bushwhacking and am
bushing took place at every turn in the
road
The Great Dispenser not only had 10 ex-
ercise the incest Judgment in the COM
phcated cases before him but Withstand
all sorts Of influences brought TO bear 20
warp his Judgment in favor Of prisoners
with friends. whose persuasion. caioiery
and even deception were practiced on his
well trained ear over his shoulder from
behind. even while the cases were being
tried.
A STAR CASE
The star case was the charge Of fight
ing between y. Marshall and Antonio
Marchetti at the latters fruit stand at
the First Market.
Both men were represented by counsel
and the evidence was gone into in much
detail and both lawyers made lengthy
speeches.
They were each very courteous about
letting the other have the first 20. JUS
uce John said It did not make any diff
ference 10 him who had the first 20 SO
he had the last shot. hut agreed 90 settle
as to which lawyer should speak first by
drawing straws.
Mr. Marshall proved a clear case OF self
defence. Mr. Marchetu was badly used
up by a stick in the strong right hand
of Mr.. Marshall
The decisions OF Justice john which
are always an unknown quantity TO the
closest observers Of his judicial methods.
disposed of this one in manner accord
ing TO his respected predecessor. Solo
mon.
ALL GO FREE.
Mr.. Marshall was discharged because
justified by the evidence IN assaultiHg Mr.
Marchetti. and Mr. Marchetd was dis
charged because the punishment meted
out to him by Mr. Marshall was sum
Client for the offence.
Eddie Jones, colored. charged with bru-
tally kicking Jennie Johnson, who imme-
dlately afterwards became a mother
was sent on to the grand jury.
J. NJ Page was placed on trial charged
a. Page. The case was postponed pre-
viously TO permit Mrs. Page 70 recover
sufficiently from her wounds to appear.
BADLY USED UP.
She had broken nose a black eye, a /
cut lip and knot on the temple. Both |
husband and wife took the stand, be- /
sides several other witnesses. Mrs. Page |
was very tart i'm her evidence, and de- !
MED that she gave Mr.. Page any provoca- |
ton.
He. on the other hand told story |
Of violent temper and improper conduct, /
which latter was confirmed by others. |
one young man justifying his association |
with Mrs. Page on the ground that she |
declared 10 him she was a single woman. /
A lady. who was a witness, when asked |
II her daughter was a girl Of good chaiac- |
ter replied In distress that her daughter 1
was girl Of good character until she |
made the acquaintance of Mrs. Page.
Mr.. Page testified that when he struck /
his wife she was about 10 brain his 1
mother with an axe. This the woman de-
MED and the mother was not there to tes-
tify.
TREMENDOUS PROVOCATION.
The evidence showed that the man had |
tremendous provocation. and the estimate
Of the case in the mind OF the Great Reg
ulator was reflected in the remark in the /
Great Dispensers summing up: This Is
one OF those cases in which you can't !:
let your sympathy get away with your
Judgment" the sympathy being for Mr.. |
Page
He was sent to the grand fury
Everett Green, coored, answered TO the
double charge of being drunk on the |
street and contempt of court for not COM
ing when first summoned. His bill. if
formerly made out, would read as follows:
Everett Green
To
Justice John
TO one drunk........ .......s.s......s... u W /
tfOSts........ ......... .................s.. ~
Contempt. .................. ......'... -
Total amount of fun. ................ 81 20
CRIME AT LAST.
William IAandFlln. a drink fend was |