Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-13
Before His Honor
Why the PnsonsrWss
Discharged

charge was wife-beating and distur-
bance. This intelligence made the
Judge settle back In his seat again.
His honor took special delight In such
cases; never In the whole history OF
his judicial career was prisoner
known to escape with less than the
extreme penalty.
The present culprit was suffering
from cold. The Judge vas in a like
predieament. and whenever the man
IN the dock cleared his throat. the
judges bronchial tubes began 20
tickle. This caused him to treasure
up animosity against Lapidus before
the hearing began.
The fact. too. that the judges din
ner was waiting made the clerk, who
knew the judicial temperament. de-
eide that the repr!mand which al
ways followed the imposition of the
extreme penalty would bs well worth
hearing in this case.
Judge Quade's court wes conducted
on most informal lines. When the
charge had been read and the plea
entered. the magistrate called out:
Mrs. Julia Lapidus. stand up and
be sworn. You. too. Lapidus. get up
and swear. Administer the oath. Mr..
Clerk. and let's get the thing over.
Now. Mrs. Lapidus. don't be afraid"
20. judge" sighed the prosecuting
witness. I'm so frustrated. This is
the first time I've ever been In court"
You should have come here long
ago Does he abuse you much?"
mo. indeed; this is the first time
he ever had a chance"
"Hum-m; sit down minute. Well.
Lapidus. what have you to say? Do
you want to change your plea to gull
ty, and save timer"
HE won't do 1t. your honor" ex-
claimed his wife. He never would
for me about the simplest things. even
when I'd catch him in the act"
Come. come" growled the magis-
trate. make your confession"
The prisoner cleared his throat and
began: Last night ! came home with
my head tied up-been having cold
for two weeks-regular grip-ringing
in the ears-pain in the head and
neck-eyes running-also nose-tick-
ling sensation" He stopped TO
cough.
Here. here" rubbing his eyes and
nose, and coughing in unison with the
prisoner. Il don't care about the symp-
toms Go ahead"
I yuffh
tied up she came out in the kitchen
and said she had caller in the par
Ior. / asked who he was. and instead
of telling me. she went on about there
being a monkey odor in the house.
There's young preacher at our
church. and he's very high-church and
monky and thought at first that he
was making a call. and that it was the
odor OF sanctity she was talking
about"
The wagging jaws of Mrs. Lapidus
grew articulate at this point and she
sprang up.
Il didn't" she asserted. Il said /
had supper In theparior because there
was a musty odor IN the rest of the
house"
IL don't care what led up TO the dis
turbance," cried the magistrate. black
browed with wrath. Tell me the spe-
cific act of ill-usage, and let me get
this fellow sentenced and go home to
dinner"
20. / can do that all right" ex-
claimed the woman. IN never for
get IL as long as l live. Why. after
he choked me into swallowing that
dose was so sure I'd die the next
minute that I wrote to my sister 10
come see that my bones were laid to
rest in some reputable charnel house"
The Judge leaned over to his clerk
and whispered:
Perhaps i can hold this fellow for
murder Just get COM
mitment blank ready and make the
charge attempt to poison. Now.
madam. go on"
Ever since Basil's been sick. I've
been depending on the neigheors for
good. old-fashioned medicines to give
him. Last night had a pint Of real
good remedy I'D got from woman
who uses II for all her children. wheth-
er they're six feet OF only span long.
and"
Judge Quade held up his hand for
silence. A strange emotion held him
in thrall.
Never mind that commitment" be |
said to his clerk. Now, Lapidus. my |
man. you finish the story"
There's not much to tell For two |
weeks the neighbors have been dosing |
me with every known Kind OF root. |
herb. bark and berry. boiled. fried
and roasted; and when she had an
other brand ready for me last night
I lust took hold and made her svai
low It herself And MY colds been
better ever since"
As one IN q dream the Judge took
his overshoes from beneath his desk