The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-04
SEATTLE JUDGE
CHANGES FRONT:
FINES RENTED
Judge Humphries Aston
ishes Socialists Before
Him by Lenient
Attitude

Seattle Wash, October 3.-Surerior
Judge John f.. HUMPHREYS. who began
the day in belligerent mood with his
docket full of contempt of court cases
against socialists. adjourned court late
todaN after dispensing pardons and re-
missions to all comers His change of
attitude came after a consultation with
a representative of eight other SUI
perior Judges.
Until the middle of the afternoon
Judge Humphries continued to hear the
cases of the So signers of the defiance"
making frequent addresses to the
crowd. In the morning the penalties
G imposed were severe, in the afternoon
g mild. The court frequently warned
r the defendants not be sassy" Those
who were Sassy Jared i'll.
After the defiant persons had been
disposed of the case of DR.. Titus, on
the charge of violation of an anti
street speaking Injunction, WIS called
The judge delivered long address and
then discharged Dr. Titus to the lat
ter's intense astonishment.
When Millafd price game forward the
Judge greeted him with y smile, say
ing: another friend of mine Price
answered "A few questions and was dis
charged.
Grows Sarcastic
Kate Saddler. a street speaker was
brought from the county Jail, where,
she had been confined for interrupt
ing the court proceedings yesterday.
Questioned by Judge Humphries, she
declared she had not assailed him in
her speeches but, on the other nand,
had praised him as an object lesson
of the need of the recall of Judges To
I her amazement the court said he would
reduce her fine of 500 to $40.
"Ill not pay it," she shouted.
Don't get sassy" said the Judge,
adding, "the fine is RENTED any
how"
"What became of the woman with
the two babies?' the court asked next.
HIS was told that Mrs. McNally would
be released from Jail tonight. The
Judge then inquired about Mrs. ispen-
Ger. woman with, four children, and
remitted the fine against her. The
prosecutor objected, saying:
She was very defiant, your honor"
At the close of court tonight the
principals of the socialist contempt
cases were free and more than i score
of persons were in Jail In default of
paying fines varying from $50 to s30n
for talking back to the court. Three
of the latter had been sentenced to six
months each in prison.
Five Women in Jail
Five women are in Jail tonight for
non payment of 800 fines. They are
Mrs. l.. Fred a stylishly dressed young
woman who resented a remark by the
prosecutor about her good clothing and
pleasing appearance: Mrs. Katherine
Stirtan. who lil<ened the court 10 Pom
thus PLATE; Mrs. Millard Price. who said
she was from Missouri; Mrs. Annie An
derson and Mrs. Mary jarvis
The other eight judges would not
give out details of their meeting ex-
cept that it had been agreed that Juogc
Humphries' branch of the superior court
was coordinate with their own and
they could not take any action to re-
strain it. 1t was agreed that Judge
Everett Smiths granting of writs of
habeas corpus was lawful but not eth
ical and that no more such writs should
be issued.
The opinion of the judges was that
relief must come from the Supreme
court. which already has issued two re-
straining orders against Judge Humph-
ries and will pass upon appeals from
sentences imposed yesterday and to-
day.
After court adjourned Judge Humph-
ries said he had not decided what to
10 with the hundreds of signers of the
"resolutions OF defiance whom he had
not yet cited.