The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1903-01-19
Diminutive African Has
Been in Tolls Early
and Often.
DANCES IN BAD LANDS
Other Lads Accused of
Doing Stunts in the Line
of Hypothecation.

George Washington was in Judge Nc
Clernan's court this morning to answer
to charge of incorrigibility and vag-
rancy. Judge McClernan asked if Abra-
ham Lincoln or any other illustrous per-
sonage was present But George Wash
ington stood all alone. George very
truthfully admitted that he helped several
other boys steal cowhide, and confessed
to other high crimes and misdemeanors
and upon his own showing was awarded
free pass to the reform school.
There were five other boys tried at
the same time as George, but he was the
only one who boasted such famous name,
and also the only one of color. The other
boys were: William Post, James Drs-
coll, James Burns, Willie Johns and Will
lam Gallagher.
Willie Post.
Willie Post was also sent to the reform
school. Young Gallagher and young
Burns were dismissed. Willie Johns was
released upon the condition that his moth
er should send him to school at Salt
Lake within one week. If she fails in
that, her youthful scion will be taken up
and packed off to the reform school with
the others.
Driscoll was also released upon the con-
dition that he be good. The commitment
hangs over his head, and ii he falls down
he will be arrested and sent over the road
as well.
Washington and Johns were tried to.
gether, and the testimony against them as
well as their own statements was quite
racy in many particulars. A cigar man
named Brinton said that Willie swiped
everything he could get his hands on. But
it turned out that Willie's swipes had never
been witnessed by the witness. Willie had
grabbed box of gum in his store, but
it was not Willie who did the grabbing.
Willie Is a Bad Boy.
Chief of rolice Reynolds said that Willie
was tough little customer" He also
said that George Washington had been ar
rested several times. George always sue
ceeded in begging himself off. But"
said Reynolds "the last time he said he
hoped he would go to the reform school if
ever he got arrested again. That is the
bunch he handed to me-"
Il understood" the chief proceeded,
from man and woman who sent him
out on the street to earn money for them
that he had no parents here and had been
turned away from home. asked them
to kep him off the streets and they be-
gan to say they needed the money"
Officer McGillic said Willie was a
tough little boy and that he had once
broken a Chnaman's window and had
stolen gun, being arrested for both
feats. Washington, he said, once stole a
cowhide and had been arrested in Ana
conda for something or other, and the boys
uncle had been killed at the smelters in
that city.
Sol Levy said Willie was noisy and vio-
lent
Mrs. Coughran, the little boys mother,
testified that she had never seen Willie do
anything wrong Sne said that when alb
sent from home he had a habit of getting
Into Jail. She said: Some times | give
him rs or IS cents to go to a show, and
then he gets arrested" 1t came out that
while Willie had habit of getting jailed
when attending the opera his mother had
a habit of begging him Off
He Gets the Worst Of II.
Then Willie had his whack at the court.
He explained the terrible noise he makes
in jail by saying, THE kids always be
hittin' me an everything"
He never "hollered at nobody" he said.
1t was his opinion that other boys stole
all the time and that he was jailed for
their crimes.
George Washington said he made a liv-
ing dancing and singing in the bad lands
lie had home in California, and he had
already been in Alaska. He laughed
good deal on the stand. and declared that
ne refused to take dollar for the hide he
helped steal.