The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-19
WHEN JUDGE
dunno WAS
POLICE JUSTICE
AN OLD print" RECALLS REM
INISCENCES OF DAYS
GONE BY.
COAL OIL" SMITHS HISTORY
How Witness Got Even on The
Court For Refusing Him 81
During Election Times.

One of the most prominent figures
in the western limelight today is
Hon. Judge Dunno, of the superior
court of San Francisco. the man who
saw Abe Ruef throw aside his cloak
of alleged prosecuted innocence,
cast off his numerous legal advisers
much against their arguments and
confess to the crime with which he
was charged. He is the man who
heard this same Abe Ruef testify
that one Eugene Schmitz. the dis
graced and ousted mayor of the Cali
fornia metropolis. did accept moneys
which the French restauranteurs
had paid for protection.
As elimination OF ms testi-
mony he heard the attorneys on both
sides rest and then read the instruc-
lions to the jury that brought in
verdict of guilty as charged.
Then the day of Judgment came and
this same Judge Dunno made n
statement or rather statements that
are now being used as food for edi
torial thought by the men who fill
the editorial columns of the Ameri-
can newspapers. In fact, he gave
the convicted Eugene" one of the
most elaborate roastings ever de-
livered from the bench. That every
word struck vital spot was made
evident by the sqnirming mayor who
stated he was present to he SEN
fenced and not to be lectured.
This little preface, however, has
probably no connection with the tale
t1lI ntati lx
by an old print one who pro-
fesses to know whereof he speaks
and one who has travelled over every
section of this western country. A
man OF experience and one of the
old school of San Francisco news
paperman tells this little incident
concerning Judge Dunno when he
was starting at the foot of the lad
der In other words, this alleged
anecdote is said to have occurred
several years ago when Judge Dunno
was on the police court bench:
"Old Coal OIL Smith had been
arrested for committing the Of
Tense whereby he obtained the name
that has stuck to him to this day"
said the old print"
He was accused of stealing coal
oil from one of the newspaper Of
fees and disposing of it to a person
who, ii is said. was Judge DUNES
brother-in-law. Old Coal OIL was
doing a wholesale business and was
coming money. Like all who under
take such schemes he became too
brazen and in his anxiety to supply
the second man with the combustible
fluid he called too often on the Of
fees supply and one day was cap
tured in the act.
Smith was hauled before Justice
Dunno and the complaint charging
him with stealing coal oil was duly
read. He was informed of his rights
and asked what his plea was.
Not guilty replied the prisoner
as he glanced at the five-gallon can
of coal oil in one corner of the court
room.
Mr.. Clerk instructed Judge
Dunno, record the plea
In few days Coal Oil was
brought before his honor and his
trial was begun. Several witnesses
We're sworn and testified that they
had seen Smith drag off the can of
oil. The case was going against him
witness to the stand to cinch matters
1t happened that this witness had
had a little experience with the court
when the latter was running for Of
flee and had waited long for an OPP
pOrtunity to get even.
What do you know about this
case?' asked the court.
There was no response.
Did you see Mr.. Smith with the
can of coal oil?' continued the JUS
tice
lyon go to" replied the wit
ness
Sir, said the court, 4 will send
you to jail for contempt
~ was just repeating the reply
you gave me- said the witness,
when ] struck you for 81. You. re-
member the occasion as it was when
you were running for Office
The court was non-plussed and
allowed the witness to go without
carrying out his threat to send him
to jail for contempt.
The case was continued and
when Coal OIL took the stand he
was questioned quite closely by the
prosecuting attorney concerning the
affair. Finally the court took a hand.
What do You know about this
matter?' he asked.
All | know is, replied the de-
PENDANT, that | obtained some coal
oil, just where | do not care to re-
peat. and disposed of il to your
brOther-in-law. That's all there is
TO the matter
And that's all there was To II
said the old print Goal Or
was not convicted
say he said to the newspaper
man, You haven't loose quarter"
--.--
Work at Nevada Con.
Several wagon loads of lumber
have been taken from the freight
yards to the Nevada Consolidated