The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-27
Court Was Preparing to Fine
Father of Curly Lad.
bill" BILLS STRUCK HIS WIFE
Family Walked in Court Room
During the Trial.
Had No Money to Pay City
But Gave 1t to His Wife.
f'Hello. daddy. "

f'Hello, daddy.
aThat, and nothing more, from a
1itfle curly-pated negro lad. saved
gin" Bills from long term in the
city Jail this morning. Bills is a ne
gro His wife is a negro and his two
Children are negroes. but the Hello.
d&ddy'' from the little boy touched the
heart of Judge Robert Yates no less
than it would have. had the boy and
the man been white.
Bills was arrested Tor striking his
VIE. He was in Jail over night and
tflts morning he was ushered into the
cart room for the brief formality that
determines whether or not a police
subject is guilty.
Phil" said Judge Yates, you are
charged with striking your wife. Did
yd1I do it or not ~
81 reckon as how l did. judge" re-
Pred Bill. I'VE had a sort O. argu-
mknt."
f'Drunk were your"
Emo, 1 wasn't drunk, I had a drink
orstwo."
Shut you struck your wife, said
JHdge Yates. You hit a woman. A
great big strapping fellow like you
stuck a woman. There is less excuse
iffyou were sober than if you were
dI9lnk
Il want to tell you something here
a nd now. You can't beat woman
ard stay in Topeka. We won't stand
fog it. That is one of the things this
cualrt can't excuse and will not toler-
ate. 1t is more manly to run than to
stEke a woman. Don't you know
that"
e'Yesssir. judge, yessir. All knows"
Then the Door Opened.
E'Wen, just in order that you may
nqF forget I am going to fine"
Just then the door opened and a wo-
man and two little children came into
the courtroom. back of Bills. The
woman wore a dishtowel around her
head FOR a hat. The older boy was
ragged but clean. The younger child
was in a cart. pulled by the mother.
just as Judge Yates was going to tell
Bais how much he was going to fine
him, the oldest boy sighted his father.
$Hcllo. daddy" he. shouted. paying
nd attention to court decorurn.
Bills turned in his chair instantly
ana replied.
us that your family?" asked the
Judge.
Juflge Yates continued:
f'That's the woman you struck and
those are your children. Is that so :?
Any man who has wife and boy
who will show the happiness that boy
showed when he saw his daddy ought
to4be decent enough to keep out of
jan. If 1 fine you as you should be
IlHeQ ana SenQ you TO jail VINO is go
ing to support your family? You have
pm me up against a fine proposition
haven't you?
MRS. Bills said the judge, turning
to4the woman, lis your credit good at
ting stores? That is, can you get
groceries and other things on credit %
$Wen, Judge" said the woman, 'he
don't pay like he ought to and 1 don't
know whether L can get groceries or
nH"
She stated further that Bills makes
approximately two dollars a day and
could keep the family well if he so de-
sired.
Kissed His Boy
aIll tell you what I'm going to do"
coatinued the judge. I'm going to
fiT1f you thirty dollars and hold you
here until tomorrow night. You can't
Wdsk on Sunday. Then I'll parole you
ans if you make any further trouble
1rA going to put you in Jail and keep
you until your time is served
Before Bills left the court room he
walked over to his family. He kissed
the baby and slipped a bill to his wife
slipped" is right. for he had told
the judge he had no money with
which to pay a fine. Then he went
back TO the bull pen to stay until to-
znatrow night.
SIll see that he behaves himself
when he gets out" commented Mrs
Bids as she guided the baby cart out
f6A dOor