Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-02-14
PUZZLED THEM ALL.
Prisoner lid Not Understand ANY In
terpreter, III

Irr'soneT Iiu MOT Understand Any In
terpreter. n
stranger who had dropped into
the Center street police court one af-
lternoon last week might have thought.
says the New York Times, that he had
discovered a dramatic representation
of scene at the Tower of Babel or a
school of modern languages where all
the instructors had gone crazy and
were talking at once in all the Ian
guages they knew
! A small, swarthy, frightened look
ing man was crouching in the witness
chair. staring at all the official and
several unofficial and volunteer inter-.
prefers who were jabbering excitedly.
The small man was Mike Costello.
who was arrested the night beroe with
party of Italians who were inter
rupted in the midst of a general fight
| in Eldrige street. Each of the Ital-
ians had been placed upon the stand
in turn and through the Italian inter
prefers questioned as to his part in
the fight. Costello came last and was
addressed by the interpreter in
| Italian.
The witness gave no answer to the
question, but only shook his head and
waved his hand in a puzzled way.
After two or three more questions in
Italian, which elected no reply, the in
terpreter gave the witness up In dis
gust, telling the magistrate that he
was not an Italian.
He must be French" said the mag
istrate. rs there anyone here who
can speak French"
There is no regular French inter-
prefer at the Center street police
court, but several Frenchmen in the
audience volunteered their services.
All their French, however, did not
bring an answer from the witness,
who only squirmed uneasily In mis-
chair and looked appealingly to the
magistrate. A volunteer German in
terpreter who came next only sue
ceeded in causing the witness to look
more bewildered than ever.
Another interpreter then took his
turn and addressed the witness in an
imprisoned harangue which sounded
like buzz saw going through a knot.
The witness looked at the rapidly
moving mouth and black beard in tor
ror for a few moments and finally,
placing his hands over his ears,
turned away with an expression of
agony on his face Several other in
terpreters, encouraged by this ..sn of
intelligence, started to talk excitedly
in their respective languages. This
was too much for the magistrate, who,
jumping up from his chair, ordered
them all to keep quiet.
why on earth don't you answer
any questions?" he shouted to the wit
ness. What language do you
speak?"
Sure, these guys wouldn't give me
a chanst," said the witness. II don't
speak no language at all. didn't.
want ter say anything tell they go tro'
with their jabberin. | can speak
when | get a chanst all right, and talk,
but I'm wise guy and don't git ar
rested for contempt of court inter
ruptin' court officers. See?"
| This answer which was delivered
with great rapdity, caused a disturb
ance among the interpreters, who left
the court room hurriedly. The magis-
trate, how ever, heavod a deep sigh of
relief.
Il will discharge the prisoner" he
said. 81 think that he has been suf-
ficiently punished in this court room
for any offense he may have com
mltted." j..