The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-15

GEORGE II. PERRINE MINGLED HUI
NOR AND PATHOs IN COURT.
He TfrkIed Judge Allen by His Cute
Remarks, but Failed To Win His
CaSe-Court Matters.

Judge Allen. Of the Circuit Court. yes
terday afternoon gave little Charles Brad
field. one year and One-half old, into the
custody OF the Board OF Childrens Guard
ians. The child was founding. and was
taken by Lewis and Abbie Bradfeld when
ne was three weeks old. The petition Of
the board for custody Of the child stated
that the foster parents were drunken, as
ISOLATED with dissolute chara cters. and that
the surroundings were not proper for the
training of the child. George K. Perrin
represented the Bradfields and made a
long plea I'm an attempt TO prevent the
child from being taken away. His speech
was at times humorous as well as pointed.
One of the charges against the foster par
ents was drunkenness. Forgetting the dig
nifty Of the court, Perrin figuratvely en-
tered into a "heart-to-heart" talk with
Judge Allen about the matter. He said
there were different kinds of drunkenness.
and added: Your Honor knows that many
of our best men take a drink occasionally.
A man may become intoxicated until ne
loses his senses and get over 1t, but a
ID fool never gets over it," At this
Judge Allen tried to look stern, while Per
rim went on with his argument as if moth
ing had happened. The judge began to
sink lower and lower into his big chair,
then placed his hand over his mouth, and
when his eyes were about even with the
bench broke into a laugh and everybody
in the courtroom did the same thing
Perrin said: These people have simply
got off the track You know new locomo-
tive may run along smoothly and not have
an accident for twenty years, and then,
when an obstruction is placed in the way
il will be derailed. So il is in this case.
No one would think of cOndemning a loco
motive because it got off the track, and
do not think your Honor will take that view
OF this case Continuing, he said: Even
the Nazarene himself was accused of min
CLING with wine bibbers. The first great
miracle He performed earth was to
turn water into good wine, and now, when
more than 4OOOOO,OO0 people worshiping
Him as a deity He is charged with min
Cling with wine bibbers.
Getting down TO the purpose Of the Board
of Children's Guardians he indirectly made
several pointed remarks against the board
You know. your Honor he said, that
when it's lawyers and the judges themselves
make up a case they sometimes become
overzealOus and go TO a great length 10
Introduce testimony and evidence 10 make
the case That is true in TINS case. You
take these temperance retOrmtrs IOf III
stance. They become enthusef and some
Of them would eat nothing but snowballs
the year round TO show people how tenn
perate they are. Men may be incorporate
in many things and not drink liquor. The
MOhammedans are temperate people,
they do not drink liquor, out lney nave
their harems and smoke. So you find IL the
world over where men are temperate in
one thing they make mistakes In others.
None OF US is perfect Why. If all the men
and women in the country that make mis-
takes or do wrong were decapitated we
would have a headless nation; there would
not be man on the globe with "A head on
him..
In this strain Perrin continued his argu-
ment. first causing amusement with his
wit and then sympathy with his real
pathOs He argued at length about the
Bradfields being on the wrong track, and
Judge Allen finally asked: do you think
they are on the right track nOw?' Perrin
hung his head a moment and replied:
Yes / think they are. They have moved
out Of that ueighbOrhOOd.'
Judge Allen in deciding the case said
IL was apparent that Bradfield and his wife
had become attached TO the child, but il
would be a dangerous experiment TO allow
him TO grow up in such surroundings, and
ne thought IL would be best to give him to
the board.