The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-30
Judge Tracy Tries Blackford,
Who Charged Customer $6.15 =
for One Sitting.
SAYS HE DISTURBED PEACE.
Question of Extortion Not With
in Magistrates Jurisdiction
Jokes Over Hair
Dyeing.

Barton d. BIackford. the barber of No.
| 1705 Market street who was arrested last
Saturday on the charge of making a
| stranger pay s615 for haircut and ex-
tras. was fined so by Judge Tracy In the
First District Police Court yesterday
morning. He took an appeal to the Court
| of Criminal Correction.
Judge Tracy did not fine Blackford
for extortion. as he admitted that he had
no Jurisdiction in the matter of alleged
overcharging, but found Blackford guilty
of disturbing the peace.
Roy c. Crawford of Calhoun County,
Kentucky, and Wilbur l.. Mobson of Paoli,
kas.. who caused the arrest of Biackford,
were not in court. as they were unable to
remain in the city to prosecute the bar
Der.
Central District gave the testimony on
which Judge Tracy found Blackford
guilty. Bambrick stated that when he
went to the barber shop to arrest Black
ford, Crawford and Hobson pointed him
out as the man who had charged them
such high prices. Blackford called Craw-
ford a liar. This. the court held. consti-
tuted the disturbance of the peace.
Blackford took the witness-stand and
denied that he had called Crawford names.
Despite the fact that he admitted that
he had no jurisdiction in the matter Of
cvercharging, Judge Tracy permitted City
Attorney Anderson to go into this point
and Blackford was questioned about it,
especially the price OF hair dye.
when 1 had finished with Crawford
footed up the bill and found that 1t came
to Sis. He told me that he did not have
enough money, to pay that much. and
How long did It take you to do this
work" asked Judge Tracy.
About two hours" answered Blackford.
Pretty good wages" remarked the
William F. Baird. barber at Eight
eenth and Market streets. testified that
Blackford had charged the usual prices
Tracy the cards issued at his shop, which
dye at S.
eenth street also declared that it was
worth IS to dye hair. In some cases, he
said. the cost would be less.
How do you figure thatT' asked Judge
Well, it depends upon the head of hair.
To dye a full head is worth IS. If man
is bald it is not worth SO much.,''
glad 1Grs for once nee in my Life besd ge
is getting bare. that haven't much
hair. It won't cost me SO much If I wish
to hide these gray locks at any time"
William Jennings declared that he had
worked in shops where 81 is charged for
dyeing hair. These shops, he said. are
in st. Joseph. Kansas City and Omaha.
He is not working In st. Louis.
What would the charge be in a first
class shop like that at the Planters?"
asked Judge Tracy.
81 expect they would do 1t cheaper than
S." replied Jennings, but it Is hard
work, and they would not want it at any
price"
William Kane proprietor Of the shop at
No. 1705 Market street. where Blackford
works, stated that Crawford, who made |
the complaint appeared to feel all right |
after the work was done.
WAS his hair dyed?" asked City Attor- |
ney Anderson.
Yes" replied Kane.
What color?"
Black
'T'll bet he felt blue when he had to |
pay for it." put In Judge Tracy.
Fred Winkel, who owns shop at No. !
20 South Twelfth street, testified that, in |
his opinion, s. or $3.50 was enough to |
charge for hair dye, and that he never |
charged more.
Blackford filed bond for an appeal to |
the Court of Criminal Correction. and |
Judge Moore will hear the case Thursday, |
October