The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-15
Causes Trouble for Judge Cam
and Attorney De Bruler.
COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.
Curious Complication in City Temple
of Justfce-WroDR Men brought
10 BAR, While Real Defendant
watches Proceedings with Great
saffsfaction-Inter Makes
the Case sim More Complicated.

deaf F-renchman, who was unable TO
speak English, and an interpreter whose
ideas Of Anglo Saxon were evidently pick
ed up on the street kept affairs lively In
Judge Cams court room yesterday after
noon for about half an hour Before the
ludicrous complication developed by the
twain was cleared up the scene looked IKE
an act from an up-to-date comedy.
TIE deaf Frenchman, whose name IL
shroaded In mystery. owing TO the many
different spellings OF It given by his
friends, was present 70 give evidence
against John cronin. The latter Is alleged
TO have stolen purse from the unhappy
son or France some time ago In down.
town saloon. The Celts natural impetu-
osity led to his case being called before
its turn. BY some unaccouniabie mistake
Edward Tanner and Claire McCulloch, VINO
were 10 have been put on trial on sus-
picion OF being professional drunk rollers
were brought 10 the bar, while the real
prisoner. Cronin. watched the proceedings
with open mouthed amazement. Tanner
and McCulloch apparently did not realize
that an .rr,r had occurred.
The Freuchman was told to take the
witness stand. Naturally he did not obey
tho order, he did not understand the
language, and, as stated before, could
not hear A friend pushed him forward
toward the chair, but he seemed puzzled.
0Ourt I0ke8 " H0nO.
"Come, hurry up" said Judge Cam.
A regular torrent OF lively conversation
In French between the two foreigners fol-
lowed. Ultimately the deaf man was got
ten into the chair. and the judge started
10 deliver he oath. The witness looked
slightly bored for a moment, turned away
from his honor and spoke 10 his friend.
Tho spectators laughed. and when the tu-
mutt subsidized the friend explained In bro
ken English 10 the court that the other
Frenchman was deaf.
fsty Attorn ~ ra Dr, Ter then took n
hand In the affair and putting his mouth
to the perplexcd witness ear, shouted d.
rections to him. This was repeated sew
eral times, Il being evident from the pain
full expression on the witness face that
he was making heroic efforts to under
stand Judge Cam spoke soothingy TO
him. but still he did not know what was
wanted
Another volley of French between the
two friends followed. ad then the second
man explained 90 the court that the other
one did not understand English
This was the end Of act one
The second act opened with the French
mans friend In II. role OF Interpreter
lie was sworn IN after some difficulty and
the city attorney asked the witness
what IL your name?''
After an excited conversation with the
witness, the Interpreter replied. About II
o'clock" The spectators laughed. and the
judge threatened to clear the court room
''Is there anybody here who sneaks both
French and Engiishg' he asked
A Mistake All Around.
To the surprise OF the court. half
DOZEN men volunteered AT once 10 act as
Interpreter After a choice had been made
the case proceeded with more rapidty. The
witness was asked TO point out which OF
the two prisoners at tho bar took his
money He indicated In a general way
tho judge himself
II can't gee which one he IL pointing
at" said Judge Cam, who was beginning
IN 1af u,.fa
closer
They were brought within arms length
OF the deaf frenchman. and he Identified
the one who took HIS money. Tedious
questioning brought out the fact that a
black pockethook containing ten or eleven
dollars had been snatched from his hand
In Be-lay de Mugs cafe"
In the meantime Tanner and McCulloch
we're In a deep quandary, They seemed 10
feoiise there was mistake somewhere,
but were apparently unable to fathom e.
Cronin, the real defendant, sat In the pris-
onsrs row and watched the case with
great satisfaction.
Finally IL was discovered that the two
prisoners were not the proper men
Your homer" said MIR DO Bruer II
have Just learned that Tanner and Me-
Culloeh were In the city Jail At the time
OF the alleged robbery. and therefore could
not have committed Il +"
Release those men" satd Judge Cam
with deep. dissuat on His face. and the
prisoners hurried out into tho street. as
badly prrplexed as ever
The Frenchmon began an excited con-
versauon. ana with difficulty were sup
pressed Their case Was continued This
ended tho play as far "a the laxative
telts were concerned but as IA sort of
epilosuc 90 the affair an officer was sent
IN soarvh OF Tanner and McCulloch to
hrinE them back 10 answer tho real
charges against them Their short Npeli
or freedom had not cleared up the inyS-
tory Tor them. ana when theV were order.
ed held for further suSeatigAti0n thew
seemed Just as perplcxed as ever