Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-23
Gets JUSTICE FOR
HEBREW PEDDLER
DEFECT IN COMPLAINT AND
PLEA SAVE HIM
H. Jeneski, Father Of Ten Children,
Arrested on Complaint Of Deputy
License CoIIectors-FamiIy
In Poor Circumstances

The story of the Shylock in the
Merchant of Venice" was re-enacted
yesterday in the local police court, with
the city playing the role of Shylock and
a gray haired and emaciated Hebrew
father of ten almost destitute children
unwillingly starring in the part Of the
unfortunate debtor.
1t was a pathetic sight as the old
man, H. Jeneski, approached the bar
of Justice to plead to the crime OF
peddling without a license. And the
triumph of justice over law was quicker
and more distinct than is usually the
case.
Jeneski was arrested on complaint Of
two deputy license collectors, who all
legged that Jeneski was guilty of
peddling without license
1t is said that the deputies had been
following him for some time to secure
evidence to convict him on the charge,
and when the old man drove his one
horse wagon up to the curbing in front
of shop on East First street yester-
day the deputies are said to have re-
sorted to trick to entrap him.
Bought His Bananas
Rushing up to his wagon they pointed
to bunch of half rotten bananas which
to name a price for them. Jeneski is
said to have told them that he was
taking them home for supper and did
not care to sell them, but the willy
deputies jingled a handful of coins be.
fore his eyes and offered an unusual
sum for the fruit and the old man
sold it.
Policeman Ditzen was hastily sum-
moned to arrest Jeneski for peddling
without a license. Ditzen knew the old
man and was aware of the miserable
existence which Jeneski and his family
were compelled to lead and the great
struggle which he was making to pro-
vide the bare necessities of life for his
wife and half score of little ones, and
he pleaded with the deputies to permit
the old man to go, but without avail.
Unwllingly, the policeman arrested
Jeneski and took him to the station.
Complaint Is Defective
In drawing the complaint the attorney
charged the old man with selling fish"
without a license, when it should have
read fruit" When Jeneski was ar
raigned in police court the word fish"
fell upon his ears like a call to freedom
and he hastened to attempt to explain
that he was not guilty, but in his ex
citement and defective use of the Eng
lish language the court was unable to
understand the prisoner.
Policeman Ditzen stepped to the rail-
ing and asked permission of the court
to explain the case and said Your
honor, 1 arrested this man on the
charge of peddling fruit not fish, and
there is a mistake in the complaint,
And 1 would say one word in behalf OF
the prisoner if your honor will permit
me.
This man is very poor and has a
large family. I do not know it to be a
fact, but 1 am told that he deals in
fruit on the wholesale plan and does
not peddle as a rule.
HE has ten children and wife to
support, and 1 am informed that he
leaves home before dawn and returns
after nightfall with his wagonload of
fruit for the markets. In this manner
he ekes out a miserable existence.
"I would plead that the charge be set
aside, inasmuch as the complaint is de-
fective, and that the old man be dis
charged"
Judge Austin questioned the prisoner
and became convinced that the officers
information was correct and imme-
diately discharged Jeneski from Gus
tody.
When informed of the courts action,
Jeneski could not restrain the tears Of
joy. To him and his family his freedom
meant the opportunity to continue to
labor for their support, miserable
though this support might be, while a
fine he could not pay and his conflne-
ment in Jail meant privation for his
wife and ten children. 1t also meant
that if he was adjudged guilty he
would be forced to pay for a peddler's
license, which he says he cannot afford,
or cease to follow the only means
whereby he could exc out an existence
for himself and family.