The San Francisco call., 1904-04-29
ATTORNEY ASKS QUESTION THAT
PRODUCES SENSATION IN COURT
Demands to Be Told Where and How Policeman Got
Cigars Which Were Stolen From His ApaTtment
and the Prosecution Objects and Is Sustained

Now" thundered the attorney for
the defense. Il ask this complainant
where he obtained those cigars!"
II a bombshell had exploded with
out previous warning it could hardly
have created more of a sensation in
Judge Mogan's court. For the COM
plainant was policeman. J. Edwards.
and the cigars in question had been
stolen from his room by one Frank
Williams.
Counsel for the prosecution was
quick 10 appreciate the embarrass-
ment into which the question plunged
the person to whom ii was addressed
and he at once entered objection on
the ground of irrelevancy, incom-
potency and something else. But the
defense firmly contended that it was
necessary for the complainant to prove
that the cigars were his property.
We must know where he got 'emi"
he insisted.
After some brow-corrugating study
the court sustained the objection.
Then l ask him to describe the
cigars-their quality and brand" re-
Joined the defense.
Again was the prosecution visibly
fluttered and again objection entered.
But this time it was overruled.
Then came the expected disclosure
as to both brand and quality that the
complainant could not remember how
many of them he had in the box, how
good or how bad they were on the
average, or how they were titled.
Whereat the defense waxed facetious
and quoted some OF the titles, among
them the "MegaphonA" that can be
heard in Oakland when it is smoked
IN San Francisco, and the 'Putmeto-
sleep. Of soothing effect.
Then the prosecution rested and the
defense announced that 1t viii be
heard to-day.
Steering his steed through "the
dumps" as the garbage depository at
the Potrero is colloquially titled.
Mounted Policeman Gaughran was
startled TO see a pair of human
neither limbs, badly shod and trouser-
ed, projecting from the mouth of a
large water main reclining amid the
ashheaps. He's a dead one. and it's
( either suicide or murder" solilouuized
( the officer as he unhorsed himself and
grasped the brogans. But he was mis-
I taken. A sharp pull brought to light
the person of Charles Stevenson, mid
dle-aged vagrant and he was alive
and kicking. Voluntarily following
brother 'vag." An unlovely couple
4 they were as they stood before the
/ policeman and complained of his dis
! turbance OF their slumbers. Mr..
Stevenson, whose face was almost hid
den by unkempt wlflskers,' threatened
/ 10 notify the Police Commission and
I have Gaughlan deprived of his star.
That pipe is my home" said Mr..
! Stevenson, and you have no more
right TO pull me out of it without a
warrant than you have to break into
the White House and arrest President
/ Roosevelt. All my personal belong
/ ings are in there"
Exploration by the officer corrobo-
rated ocularly Mr.. Stevenson's state
ment. The bottom of the pipe was
! thickly carpeted with gunnybags and
the sides and roof were embellished
with pictures clipped from Sunday
newspapers. Bread and cooked meat
and an empty tin pail, which evidently
had been in recent service as a
''growler," completed the contents of
( the queer abode.
IT'S a very strange thing" said
/ Mr.. Stevenson to Judge Cabaniss, to
whom the policeman had recounted the
/ foregoing facts. that in this land of
/ freedom a mans home is not respected
as his castle. Mr.. Brown was visiting
/ me and we had dined and were enjoy
I ing post-prandial nap"
In the pipe?' interrupted his Honor.
Yes. sir in the pipe"
And YOU were arrested for pipe
/ dreaming. eh?"
When the court had recovered from
( the CONFUSING effects of it's own joke
! it bade Mr. Stevenson and Mr.. Brown
begone.
He was registered as Charles Mac
1 kenzie, but his complexion was swart
and his plea of not guilty delivered
with a Spanish accent.
"HOot mont" exclaimed his Honor
I MOgan; surely ye Gamma be Scoat-
ish2"
The defendant grinned. shook his
+ head until his raven black locks re-
volved like a lamp cleaner in action
and muttered. NO sabe, senor."
We'll, senor. you are accused Of dis
turbing a Salvation Army rally in
Chinatown and / find you guilty and
impose a fine of SO"
Isl, senor," said Carlos Martinez as
/ he paid the fine.
Every time see a good-Iooking po-
liceman / get the blues and take a
drink" said middle-aged Mary Schoen-
berg to Judge Cabaniss. One of her
/ eyes was bruised and she looked alto
/ gether disreputabIe.
May 1 inquire why the sight of a
4 handsome peace guardian has such a
responding effect upon you?" gracious
~ ventUred the court
Twenty years ago 1 Tilted the pret-
tiest boy on the force and married A
Swede," was the defendants reply.
and since my wedding day have not
] had a happy moment
And the Swede has been reveling In