Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-10-30
A SENSE OF DUTY.
BY Michael Williams.

charge winch Drought Joseph McGlnills
before the magistrate sitting i'll one OF
the New York police courts.
Around him were the witnesses. the
policeman who had arrested him. the
election officer who had challenged him,
his employer and his wife. The latter
ing than the prisoner, neatly dressed,
and very pale. Her lips we're tightly com
pressed. and she looked anywhere save at
her husband.
McGinnis was disheveled after a night
in a prison cell, and was trembling with
the after effects of intOXicatiOn, and with
nervousness. He was a meager, short,
q teamster.
Magistrate Dwyer was sitting that
morning. Bluff hearty, good-natured,
suspected of undue political affiliations,
but much beloved in his district. Magis-
trate Dwyer secretly pitied the pG5r dew
il who had been brought before him, and
who, no doubt, had intended to vote
right at the coming elections. But the
magistrate was aware that under the eyes
Of the deputy from the office of superin-
tendent 0f elections it would behoove him
to deal with the offender in the letter OF
the law. So it was in a severe voice that
he called the prisoner before him.
McGinnis started violently. then a q
vanced and stood before the magistrate
humbly. His wife changed her place to
a bench nearer the desk, and bent for
ward to listen.
Policeman Schwartz gave his testl-
monvI He had been at d registration
booth when the prisoner entered and
tried to register. Deputy Burns had at
once challenged him. McGinnis being
pointed out as he entered the booth by
John Pagan. the prisoners fellow team
ster in the employ of Beekn;an, the con-
tract II.
"'That man has no right to register
said the deputy. He is an ex-convict. and
l challenge him The prisoner hustled
out lively, your honor, an / didn't find
him until last night. He was drunk at
the time. i'm Hennessy's saloon"
"Deputy Burns" called the clerk.
The election official testified that he
had been instructed to watch out for lie
gal registrati n
"Oh. cut that short" exclaimed the
magistrate. brushlv. Tells what hap
pened."
This man. Fagan,' said the deputy,
pointine to TIN. informer "came to us and
said that he knew that a former convict
was going to try 10 register. Joseph
McGinnis. he said, was the former con
vict's name, and the detective bureau had
his record. Here. your Il nor the dep
utv went on. producing some documents
from his pocket, lis a certificate fromithe
court of sessions showing that McGinnis
was convicted of stealing; and hc'e is a
certificate fl m the Office of the secretary
of state showing that McGinnis' citizen
ship was not restored. So ! challenged
him. as was my duty
"Oh. lave your duty he! Have We a
witness to prove that this man is the
same man as was convicted? Yes? Well
call him up"
Sergeant Shr"chneSSv of the detective
bureau was called and depOsed. Yes this
man before the desk was the same Joseph
NcGinnis who had been convicted in
1873 # stealing a set of furs from his
EMPLOYERS. The sergeant reluctantly
made his Identification and hurried on
to say that he lived in the same neigh
borhood with the prisoner and knew him
to be 4 respectable man. who had never
been in anv trouble since he left prison.
where he had earned a communication OF
his sentence bv his q cd behavior
'Why. the crime is 80 years old!' ex-
claimed the magistrate, who had been
studying the documents. and You say
that the mans record has been good since
that timc?"
Good as can be. vow honor" said the
detective sergeant He got married three
years ago-there'S his wife by the railing,
your HI nor: and has been a steady, hard
working man."
Call up this Pagan, who squealcd on
him"
John Pagan was called. and advanced
and took the oath with much fervor.
well. Fagara me man." asked the mag
~iStrate. "an' why did We 20 an blow on
McGinnis?"
Il considered it me duty. Judge. your
horir." said Pagan.
"Your duty. The court room is full Of
this kind of duty this marnin.' seems to
me- You step down, Pagan, me dutiful
jewel"
Magistrate Dwyer leaned over his