Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-26
"W0T, JUVENILE COURT FOR
DIS KlDDO?"
Couldn't Get a Mount at Ascot, Sc
Little Johnnie Jones Rides
Bicycle Not His
Own

Without the glare of the footlights
and the dainty chorus girls, the sweet
strains of music and the glitter of
tinsel and scenery the story of Little
Johnnie Jones was enacted yesterday
before Judge Wilbur in department 8
of the superior court with a little
Johnnie Jones for the hero, but with
no kind playwright to weave fortune
and good luck for him.
Johnnie Jones, like the Yankee
Doodle boy of the comic opera, is a
jockey. He is not the greatest on
earth, but youth and not lack of am
bition has thus far prevented him
from being such.
Several years ago his parents died
back in Tennessee, where he had al
ways had a home and people to care
for him. According to the lads state
ment, he was just kid then. He Is
now about IL years of age and looks
younger.
Johnnie Tells His Story
And here is Johnnies story, told by
him after Judge Wilbur had decided
to give him one week more before
settling his case, for the lad is charged
with the theft of a bicycle.
me homes de place where I hangs
me lid," said Johnnie, as he pushed
little negro out of the way. with
the remark that a "smoke" always
gave him bad luck.
''Onct l had a home" said the man
of the world, but dat was long time
ago when / was just kiddo. I'm
II now When me fadder and me
mudder dies, why deres nuttin' else
to do but to skidoo, so 1 hikes on me
good duds and hits de trail. 1 was
little and light and the race track
looks good to me, so I asks gent
for a ride. l heard about them guys
wot made fortunes at that game.
Well, l sleeps in straw wild de horses
for a while and den we moves from
town to town. Sometimes I'm scraped
and sweated fer to keep me small and
then I'm half starved and sWeated
some more so I will be little and be
a good jock Dat was all right wild
me, and den we comes to de Moo
York tracks and lives swell for a
while. About dat time 1 gets dumped,
and me fer de hospital. When some
one turned back de sunlight on me
de track people had went and L was
alone wild no friends. Dat was how
come to come west, fer heard about
de tracks out here and / hits de
bumpers. Sometimes l slept wild
tramps in de box cars. A gent can't
be too pertickler when he is riding
on de railroad. 1 guess 1 was graftin'
off de road just like de big senators
ana ptOplS WOl lluSS lSl hulllIl DuL
yer kin just put it down ter five
ter one shot dat l wasn't bodder'n
me nut about dat kind er graft. When
/ couldn't get de inside of de cars I
rode de bumpers. When 1 was kicked
off I walked to de next town and
found out wot state l was in and
asked fer a handout.
Gets Another Mount
"Den l meets a gent Wot saws dat
/ kin go wild his horses. l come west
in great style. 1 slept wild de horses
till 1 hits de Emeryville track, and
dat's me home.
But me luck was on de blink fer
1 had just about showed dem pikers
wot society kind of a gent 1 was
on de ponies when one day l gets on
a horse Just ter exercise him out, and
de mule goes de wrong way. Tink
of a ole timer like me lettin' a fool
beedle of a mare turn round and run
away wild me. She went pretty durn
fast. until all NV suddint she hits
de fence.
"When somebodyd stopped dem bells