Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-23
DISPENSING JUSTICE
DAILY EXPERIENCES OF POLICE
JUSTICES.
Methods Of Judges Kimba1l and Scott
Human Interest Stirred by
Stories Of the Poor,

although the face of Justice is supposed
10 wear an expression of sternness, it re-
lakes on occasions, and the smiles of the
judiciary are not without broadness," said
an Official of the local Police Court this
morning as Star reporter was making
notes of the days doings."
1t must be said that strong provocataon
exists at times for the dispelling of the Sc
robustness Of the court. These spasmodic
bursts of hilarity are nowhere as frequent
as In the local Police Court. Only yester-
day the complaint in petit larceny case
applied to Judge Scott for an order to
divest prisoner of stolen pair of trous-
ers. the judicial reason being given that
the said trousers were wanted as evidence.
Mucn variety exists in the method of ex-
amlnlng prisoners at the bar, Judge Kim
bail Will not listen to irrelevant testimony.
and the following dialogue is a sample Of
what he has to submit to occasionally:
Please, yer honor, this female at the
bar, II she can call herself SIGH"
Now, my good woman, no reflections
upon the defendant. if you please"
wen, SIT, ever since last Tuesday week,
come next Christmas"
Never mind about next Christmas. Be
good enough to confine yourself to what
occurred yesterday"
Please. yer honor. she told Mrs. O'Reilly
Don't bother the court with what she
said to Mrs. O'Reilly. Tell us what she
said to you.''
We'll. judge Mrs Finch told me"
Never mind what Mrs. Finch told you:
it isn't evidence and 1t can't be taken
down.
Loses His Temper.
At this stage of the performance the
magistrate loses his temper and usually
iYr1nc fina f1x<
Judge Scott, on the contrary, believes In
letting the prisoner tell his or her story
in your own way" In this case the tes-
umony Is usually on something Of this
order:
I'm AIone lorn widow, your honor. with
out husband to protect my character and
l lives by working hard at the tub to sup
port nine children, four living and five dead,
please your honor; and ever since that fe-
male come to live In our yard there's never
been no place whatsumever; for she is that
scandalous that no one wouldn't condescend
TO have noth1n to say ter her-which she
owes her landlord nine weeks rent and ia
known to be no better than she should be.
yer honor! Not that wishes to have any,
thing ter say to her, nor the likes of her. If
she'll have the goodness not to mfllest me,
after strfkin my daughter with flatiron
and raisin' q bump on her head as big as a
coker NUT which her BACKBONE was drive
straight into, and all because the poor child
happened to upset a bucket of water on the
fire 'scape as was over her ladyship, and
splashed her by accident, and I bein' the
only mother of the child couldn't stand by
and see 1t done, and no sooner was the word
said than she struck me over the eye and
kicked me here, yer honor, and bit piece
off my dress as have brought to show yer
honor until the tears come At other times
1t becomes necessary to take the testimony
Of two simultaneous witnesses one at q
time. 1t Is thus the strange discrepancies
between testimony and fact are revealed.
A Common Experience.
The following is not uncommonly heard
in the Police Court,
Now. my good woman. that's your hus-
band. is it7''
Eyes. please yer honor. ana honest.
hard-working-"