The San Francisco call., 1904-12-09

that Joseph, her husband, was in
steady receipt of SIS a week for his
services as a laundryman. but instead
of supporting her and their three young
children with the money he spent near
ly all of it for ready-made clothing for
himself. Their home at $50 Alabama
street was chock full of hand-me-doWn
garments, but no food would be pur-
chased or rental paid if she did not de-
vote her scanty earnings as a laundress
to those lines of expenditure. While
she was ashamed of the raiment worn
by the little ones and herself, Joseph
was ever q glass of fashion. He read
all the clothiers' advertisements in the
daily newspapers while he was at home
and when not at home or at work he
could surely be found in some apparel
shop inspecting and trying on the lat
est things in ready-made suits. Since
last June his contributions to the
household fund had not exceeded a to-
tai of SIS, and during that period he
must have spent ten times that amount
of money in sartOrial dissipation Could
not the court persuade or compel him
to remember his domestic responsible
ties?
The court thought Joseph ought to be
ashamed of himself. While a passion
for stylish attire was less reprehensible
was difficult to see how Joseph's family
was benefited by the distinction. Jo-
seph must understand that the first
duty of a paterfamilias was to his wife
and children, even to the deterioration
of his personal aspect, and If he does
not Immediately begin buying more
food and firing and other household
neceSsaries he will soon find himself de-
prived of opportunity to buy anything,
fnf in he fy TafI
pay days nor clothing stores.
Joseph Curran complained to a po-
liceman that he had been robbed of a.
revolver by J. Lodiare, liquor dealer at
121 Sixth street, and when the officer
accompanied Mr.. Curran to Mr.. Lo-
diare's store he found that the pistol
was Communicated because it had been
brandished threateningly by Mr.. c. in
the face of Mr.. L. during a dispute oyer
some small change. So instead of ar
resting Mr.. Lodiare the policeman ar
rested Mr.. Curran and booked him for
carrying a deadly weapon. of which
charge he was pronounced guilty by
Judge Conlan.
With due respect to the court. Mrs.
Alice O'Brien would prefer to plead her
own case. 1t was in no spirit of con-
tumacy that she declined Judge Ca
baniss' offer to appoint a professional
advocate in her behalf Confident of
the righteousness of her cause and of
the uprightness of the bench, she did
not fear the outcome of her trial. nor
did she believe that any lawyer could
improve the defense which she was pre-
pared to submit.
Il don't want to have any of them
shysters talkin' for me-" said Mrs.
O'Brien, and if it's all the same to
your Honor I'll do my own arguing"
1t was all the same to his Honor, and
the examination proceeded. Patrolman
w. +. Monaghan testified that Mrs
OBrien's small saloon, at Kate street.
off Bryant and between Seventh and
Eighth, was hotbed of disorder, to
the great annoyance of her neighbors,
many of whom had audibly maryeled
that the law did not protect them.
ITO show your Honor that no such
complaints have been made" said Mrs.
O'Brien, 'Ill now call my chief wit
ness Mrs. Julia Ballinger. who lives
right opposite my little place, to say If
she ever heard voice above a whisper
comm from me or my customers, and
I'm sure she'll tell the truth, for there's
no woman l know who has a better
reputation for mindin her own busi-
s..
Ballinger. and after your Honor has
heard what she has to say I'm sure you
will take her word and let the police
man know that"
Call Mrs. Ballinger!" shouted the
Judge.
Mrs. Ballinger, rosy-faced young
matron, fulfilled Mrs. O'Brien's expec-
tation to the letter. How any one who
did not want to hurt poor lone widow
trying to make an honest living could
say that Mrs. O'Brien kept a disorderIy
house was more than Mrs. BaIlinger
could understand. Although in prox-
unity to the premises in question morn
ing, noon and night, she (Mrs. b. had
never once heard or seen anything
about Mrs. O'Brien's management of
her business discreditable to that lady's
respect for the law of the land and the
comfort of her neighbors. There were
some people on earth however that an
angel from above could not please.
Mrs. O'Brien then took herself in