The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-27
JUSTICE JOHNS
ESSAY ON BOYS
All Boys Bad on a Question Of
Degree.
BORN WITH ROCKS IN HAND.
Old Folks in Gillie's Creek Take up
the FUSES orThcir Children and
Make a NJ css of the Neigh
borlOotl.
BORN WITH ROCKS IN HAND.

The rarified breezes that cut the SAND
around the City Hall yesterday made the
tropical atmosphere Of the big White
Chamber a pleasant refuge for people
who stand around and watch other people
work. and a goodly audience warmed
the chairs behind the bar and the DencneS
adown the wall.
The Great Dispenser was in MS cher-
lest humor and had a friendly bout with
everybody, big or little, VINO dared put
on the gloves.
The fact that one hundred and nine
civil cases were to be tried after the reSu=
lar work OF the day would have appalled,
an ordinary Judge, but to the Great Law
Giver of the people it was like sauce to
the daily meal.
The cause celebre from the banks of
Gillie's creek, where Riehmond's turbid
,Tiber rolls, was called.
Eddie Miller and Bruce Iatlmore.
two small boys. were charged with throw
ing rocks at, Horace Loczett, and stuff
fling sand down the back OF Horace.
The scene of the drama was Sugar
bottom There are two Sugar Bottoms
in Richmond. one in Madison Ward, the
habitat of Squire Sugar Bottom Jones,
which by reason of the celebrity OF its
leading citizen, ranks as the best "cut
Loaf and still another one on Gillies
creek in Marshall Ward, where the word
lear would not apply, because Of the m
dustry of its inhabitants.
They are an energetic people. Inc Wo-
men are fine takers, the men hard work
ing and the boys make their living by
throwing rocks.
DRAMATIS PERSONAL
The dramatis personae came up out of
this sweet vale.
Mrs Latimore, whose mind works so
fast that it keeps her tongue on double
duty, was on hand, the case having been
before postponed at her request.
She opened up with shrapnel at the
first opportunity and the facts about the
social status of society in Sugar bot
tom flew from her mouth like sparks
from a dry emery wheel.
Mrs. Latimore agreed with Justice
John that her boys were bad. She had
had thirteen children and ought to
know something about children, and she
never had taken advantage OF the court
to settle children's fuses.
She wanted her children to tell the
truth if it killed EN-. Yes, they threw
rocks, and so did the sons of the men
who reported them. She had seen EN-
all throw rocks and they were all bad.
Eddie Miller spoke up and said if he
threw rocks the other boys stole coal,
and Frank Brooks, Il nervous youne.
man with one eye, who constituted him
self prosecuting attorney for the Lock
etts said if Eddie Miller carried many
bigger turns of coal Than he saw him
with a few nights ago, he would never
grow any more.
SAW HIM THROW.
He saw Eddie Miller throw rocks at
him while he was going to his sisters.
Mrs I,atinore scored another point
when she made it known that the said
sister was Eddie's mother and that it was
q family affair
Frank Bowles charged that boys played
craps all day Sunday in Mrs. Iatimore,s
ward. except when the old man was
drunk and drove EN- away.
Eddie Miller got in a soar-plexus sblow.
by charging that Frank Brooks himself
was one Of the crap-players. Frank
dared him to prove it. Frank. being asked
il he denied it, said he didn't say he
didn't play; just said they couldn't prove
it..
Mr.. Hamilton said the Latimore boys
took his dog and tied rock around his
!! neck and threw him in the river and
drowned him..
Somebody said the dog didn't weigh
but one pound. and Mrs. Iatimore didn't
think it amounted to much to drown 4
one-poGnd dog.
ALL TARRED WITH; SAME STICK.
! Charges and counter-chargess were
brought until 1t was proven thatEevery
boy in the gang threw rocks, and that
the neighbors in Sugar Bottom had been