Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-02
SENTENCED TO TALK
DAILY TO HIS WIFE
CHICAGO JUDGE GIVES UNIQUE
PUNISHMENT
Man Almost Faints the First Time
He Tries It, but at Last Sue
ceeds and Obeys
Order

CHICAGO, Jan. 1.-"You are hereby
sentenced by this court, Adolph Fielder, to
talk to your wife half an hour every day
for one month"
you. Michael O'Nell, are sentenced by
the court to buy a bouquet of flowers
and box of candy for your wife once
week for four weeks"
OF all the queer judgments ever pro-
nounced by the courts of the world since
the beginning of civilization the foregoing
DEGREES by a Chicago magistrate are de-
clared by lawyers to be the strangest.
Record breakers though they be, however,
the Judge asserts that they are not so re-
markable in themselves as In their execu-
ton and in the salutary results accom-
plshed.
By means of one intemperance was
driven out of a home that was rent with
martial discord. By means of the other
solemn visaged philosopher who was
accustomed to sit by his hearthstone for
hours and days year in and year out,
without ever uttering a word. was trans
formed into companionable husband and
father. And today two happy wives are
blessing the reform in the judicial sys-
tenn of Chicago that placed Mckenzie
Cleland on the bench of the municipal
court
Judge Cleland imposed these sentences
and released the men on parole instead of
decreeing a fine and sending them to the
workhouse His object. as in nearly one
thousand similar cases, was to reform
them rather than punish the defendants.
The wives concerned have informed the
Judge that the reformation has been COM
plete.
Michael O'Neill is man Of such glrth
and height and muscular development
that he passes among his neighbors as a
giant He lives at 1854 West Harrison
street. Chicago. His wife is not little
woman, but beside the brawny husband
she looks almost like a Liliputian. In her
home everything is in order, and the fur
niture is unbroken. But it was not al
ways so.
There was time when Michael used TO
forget to come home with his fat pay
envelope at the end of the week. When
he did come it might be o'clock or day
night on Sunday morning. but whatever
the hour 1t was not the weight of gold
that made him stagger up the steps. His
burden was of a dieffrent kind. 1t was
a load that destroyed his good temper.
and no matter how fearful his wife, no
matter how gentle, the giant sometimes
let loose his wrath on the furniture or
on his wife.
It was on an occasion of this kind that
Mrs. O'Neill finally lost patience and re-
solved on heroic measures to maintain
the peoce of the family, and incidentally
to keep the furniture together. She fled
from her husband to Judge Cleland.
No Defense to Offer
what have you to say to your wife's
charger" asked Judge Cleland, turning to
the strapping man who stood shame
faced and silent in the prisoners dock
when he was arraigned.
your honor. l guess I'm guilty. an
swered O'Neill.
"why do you beat your wife; don't you
love herr" inquired the Judge.
The prisoner Strengthened up, threw out
his mighty chest and raised and shook a
big, calloused hand.
Judge" he began. I'D fight for that
little woman. She's all live for. Love
her? I love her better than my own
life"
what makes you bruise her face like
that, them" went on the judge, ques-
tioning the prisoner and pointing at the
woman's face.
ST don't know when I do it," replied
O'Neill "You see. there's lot of good
fellows down at the shop, and when we
get off work Saturday night and draw our
money we feel pretty good natured.
Somebody'H say, Let's have a drink be-
fore we go home and so we stop at the
saloon. and after that never know what
happens till wake up IN bed at home"
well" said the judge, II can't SEN
tence you to receive forty lashes, as you
deserve, but can send you to the work
house. Before I pass sentence. however,
1 want you to promise me that you will
quit drinking and will stop abusing your
wife"
"I'n do it, judge" said the prisoner.
"Well, instead of sending you to the
workhouse. which probably would make
you worse rather than better" continued
the magistrate sternly, the court sem
fences you, Michael O'Neill, to buy
bouquet of flowers and a box of candy