Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-10-25
A SUNDAY CLOSING CRUSADE
By EDWIN j. WEBSTER

despondently. Baseball players have
been arrested before, anG the police
justice has discharged them"
Pat beamed with the air of a man
who feels that his services, while
freely and cheerfully rendered, are
none the less essential.
Right there is where l break into
the game strong" he declared with a
sincere appreciation of his own value.
When these fellows are arrested
they will all be taken before Police
Justice E~vans-Tommy Evans, you
know. Everything Tommy has had in
politics he owes to Pat Weldon-hon-
est Pat Weldon he always calls me.
All the boys suppose l am trying to
steer you off from making trouble
about Sunday games. Even Mcdowell
doesn't appreciate that I'm laying for
him."
Now for the first time the Rev.
Ezekiel P. Jones began to realize the
guile of his unexpected ally. But the
~eVer-active Pat, seeing no necessity
for conversation after a plan of OPP
erations had been outlined, already
was busting down the steps of the
grandstand on his way to Elk things"
with Police Justice Evans.
Ezekiel P. Jones, reformsr and rep
resentative of the Ministers associa-
ton, hastily wrote down the names
of the players and of Mcdowell, the
owner of the baseball club, and then
hurried to the nearest precinct sta
ton, where he made application for
the arrest Of the offenders.
In the second half of the ninth in
ming the police marched across the
diamond under a fire of jeers from
grandstand and bleachers, and mott
fed Mcdowell and the team that they
were under arrest. The players.
headed by Mcdowell, wrathfuly de.
nouncing the police, the Ministers as.
ISOLATION, and the world in general:
were led to the precinct station. There
they were paroled to appear before
Police Justice Evans the next morn
ing.
The Rev. Ezekiel P. Jones returned
to his home. His heart was filled
with gladness as he thought of the
success of his invocation of the strong
arm of the law.
The next morning Mr.. Jones
reached the police court building be-
fore court opened. AS he strobe up
the corridors leading to the court
room he met Pat Weldon. The broad
countenance of the new ally of the
Ministers association beamed a well
come. He seized Mr.. Jones by the
buttonhole, and, despite his wavering
indecision, led him to a corner of the
corridor.
81 saw the judge yesterday" said
Pat in confidential tones, land told
him Mcdowell was knitting him in the
Ninth. OF course Tommy was wild
in a minute.
Then / looks up Mcdowell.
Mac l says to him, you know
Tommy Evans, and how he hates tc
have anyone delaying police court by
calling for a jury trial. Now I've had
a talk with him, and when the cases
are called tomorrow, plead guilty and
throw yourself upon the mercy of the
court. Tommy will see that you are
treated as you ought to be- And Mac
said he would"
And Mr.. Jones received a friendly
but staggering poke in the ribs from
the stubby forefinger of the Ninth
ward leader.
But the representative of the Min
isters' association was shocked.
"Oh, this will never do, Mr.. Wei
don!" he protested, almost in despair
of making Pat understand his atti.
tude.
Pat and Mr.. Jones entered the
court room just as Police Justice
Thomas Evans, a short, fat little man
who loved the sound of his own voice,
read the charge.
Mcdowell had a short conference
with his attorney. Then the lawyer,
with an easy air of confidence, en-.
tered a plea of guilty for ell cor.
cerned, and asked for the mercy OF
the court. Mcdowell glanced at Jus.
tice Evans. A half-smile was on the
! baseball magnate's face. Re seemed
almost impatient as he waited in full
confidence for the expected discharge
of himself and the baseball team.
But Justice Tommy Evans had q
look Of the sternest severity. He
pounded the desk in front of him with
a plump hand and half rose from his
seat.
According to the pleas of the pris.
oners themselves" Numbered the lit.
tie justice, they have been guilty OF
a most fragrant and open violation Of
the penal code. The duty of the court
is plain under such circumstances.
The sentence of the court is that Nc.
Dowell, the owner of the club, pay a
fine of 500, and that each player pay
a fine Of $40. And let me tell you,
Mac" continued the judge, dropping
into a more conversational tone, that
the next time you are up on this
charge it will be no fine, but six
months straight that will be COMING
to you"
CONSERVATION filled the heart OF
every player at the words OF the little
Judge, But the bitterest cup of woe
!, was that which fell to the lot Of Nc.
t Dowell. The etiquette of the baseball
world required that he should pay the
fines of the players as we'll as his
own. and this would eat up a goodly
/. portion Of the profits Of the baseball
. season.
In the corridor Pat Weldon. a smile
! Of triumph on his face, turnWi to the