The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-02
VISITORS FAIR IN
COURT OF ONE JOHN
Police Court Thronged With La
dies Here Attending Meet
ings of Druggists.
DISPLAY DEEP INTEREST
DISPLAY DEEP INTEREST
The Inimitable Genius Makes a
Few Special Remarks for the
Benefit of His Guests.

Presenting a picture fit for the pen
OF an artist the basement in the city
hall, where Justice CrutchfieId is
monarch of all he surveys. was trans
formed Monday morning into q re-
ception saloon more than thirty ladies
who are visiting here invading the
room and scattering to the corridors
the usual motley crowd that hangs
upon the words Of the imitable JUS
tice.
The feminine visitors were the
wives, mothers, sweethearts AND
daughters OF the visiting PHARMACIST
who are In convention In Richmond
at this time. They came early and
remained until the One John closed
the criminal docket book almost at
noon and announced that court would
not be In session again until Tuesday
morning. Attorneys were made to re-
dneuis their seats behind the rail-
ing and every policeman left the long
bench that extends all the way on the
north side of the room from the en-
trance from the private office OF the
justice to the barred door or the pen.
Into the press box two charming
matrons came--however much the
reporters would have preferred slight
iy younger ones--and behind the
GEEK Oh I1iS ikukS ltie BIittCN WbohCs
standing and taking notes as best they
could while wit came rapidly from
the lips OF the man who Is known tn
people In every State in the Union
as being a most unique character.
Time and again he convuised his an-
dience with laughter.
Never before have | seen such an
array OF beauty. ! am fortunate in
deed that ] viii not have to try ono
If iad fIsr II would forget the
law and dismiss you right at once. No,
upon second thought. / don't think
would. I'd keep you prisoners FOR
life fYou reporters keep that out
of the papers. My wife might get
after me-" spoke the justice during
a lapse In the proceedings
stole His Wtfe's Clothes.
One of the amusing incidents of the
court WAS the trial OF Richard Tay-
lor. negro. charged with having
stolen his wffe's clothing Richard said
he had received Information to the
effect that his wife was fixing to leave
him ana that he held her clothes to
force her TO remain at home.
It's my law" said the justice. that
a wife has right to steal anything
from her husband. She can rob him
OF money. shoes, clohing and every
thing he possesses and will be acquit-
ted here. / reckon the law ought to
work both ways. The single ladies here
thank me for deciding that they can
rob their husbands in after years, and
the married men here know that | am
right in saying that IA husband has
right to steal from his wife. The mar
ried ladies here may not be satisfied,
but they don't count"
II developed In the hearing OF the
charge against John Collins, q negro,
for breaking into the home OF Joe BIZ
coff, $50 Brook avenue: that Mr.. BicoM
had whaled the negro over the head
with stick and chased him directly
into the arms OF a policeman The
negro Was sent to the granny jury.
Justice John reuiarking that zone yfr-
ginia niger won't bother me again for
a number of years"
In filming Archie Bass, an ugly look
ing negro, &i03 and sentencing him to
jail In default of security In the sum Of
sIo0 for twelve months, upon the
charge of carrying razor concealed.
the One John explained to his fair
visitors from other States that while
TO them the punishment might appear
excessive, II was absolutely imperative
in Richmond to break UP the habit OF
I concealed weapons among negroes.
And when we get a Northern niger
down here try To send him to jail for
life"
Shake Hands With Him.
There were many more amusing as
we'll as serious cases tried. The WISH
tors were delighted with their treat
ment in the courtroom and were at
forwards escorted through the City
Hall proper. First. however. they Wis
tied the private Office of the justice
and shook hands with him. His Anal
remark was that he wished they would
come every day and lend their presence
TO the court-room's atmosphere.