The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-21
around. Then it is perceived that the

around. Then 1t is perceived that the
apartment is divided, by wooden rails or
partitions, into three portions, one being
occupied by the judge. members of the
bar. and newspaper reporters, another Ey
the spectators, and the third, forming the
dock. by the prisoners. The witness
stand is placed in the first named enclos-
ure close by the side of the judge, and its
occupants generally enter from a small
side room. Occasionally, however, the
stentorian voice of the court crier will be
heard reverberating through the entire
building and out into the street as the
presence of an invisible and perhaps
wholly imaginary witness is demanded by
prisoner, or the services of particular
attorney required.
Summarizes may be described as the
chief feature Of the little legal dramas
which are daily enacted in the Police
Court. 1t is generally very difficult to
hear the witnesses, who, of course, ad
dress themselves exclusively to the Judge
or the examining counsel. 1t is quite re-
markable sometimes to see the effect of
lawyer closely approaching an accused
defendant, who obstinately perseveres in
asserting his or her innocence in the
teeth of contradictory evidence, and
wheedling as it were an ayowal of the
truth from the ignorant culprit. A case
prisoner was a young colored woman ac-
cused of petty theft, small teapot
being the article stoles; the complainant
was gentleman prominently connected
with charitable organization of this city.
The attorney selected for the defence
was of the same race as the prisoner, and
was an exceedingly large and stout person
age, whose employment Of the Queens
English was sometimes extremely novel
- ~.
when the accused, against the express adj
vice of her counsel, insisted upon pleading
mot guilty" 1t was then a spectacle 10
see the ponderous lawyer approach close
10 The wretchcd creature and, with the able
assistance of the Judge, force the woman TO
confession CT guilt. This she at length
gave as If she were confiding strictly
confidential matter to a couple of friends,
and there is little doubt that the ensuing
sentence came to her as great and who'll
ly unexpected surprise.
The verbal vagaries of some attorneys
are sometimes rather amusing, as for in
stance, one Of them requiring a witness
to state If he were not attending "con-
tention" hall meeting at a certain time.
There is little question but that the coun-
sellor meant convention" and his eX-
preston was so construed, but it may oc-
cur to some that 1t would, perhaps, be
uiincult 10 determine winch adjective was
the more appropriate and expressive.
The respect of some colored witnesses
for long words can only be equaled by
their entire ignorance OF their meaning
For instance, a seemingly fairly clever
witness was required by counsel recently to
state whether a certain individual In diff
fculties was accessory before the fact"
please say dat agin, sah.'' said the wit
ness, putting his hand to his huge ear
which opened out like an artificial flag. "Ah
didn't quite catch dat las" The phrase
was repeated.
do you know the meaning of accessory
before the fact?'" said the Judge in Sc
we're tone to the evidently puzzled and be-
wildered man on the stand.
We'll. ledge, yo honah." he at length !
"ah dom persactly know de
meaning OF dose las words, but l should |
tink it was something putty bad"
There is an Upper Court, evidently so
called from its being upstairs, before |
which the same class OF cases are heard, |
and which is essentially duplicate of the |
lower tribunal
The Justice and impartiality OF Police |
Court decisions can best be appreciated |
from the daily reports thereof in the news
papers.