Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-22
JUSTICE CRU7CHEzELD
DIES At HIS HOME HERE

gotten. He has been known to size
up a prisoner and to ask him how
long since he was before tho court.
| The denial would be made, and the
Justice would refer to his records
and get tho name and tho date and
nature of tho offense against the ac-
cused. That would DO followed by
hearing the evidence and when 1t
| waA shown that the accused was
| guilty, he would get severe sem
tence' and there would be added IL
| little for trying TO fool the justice.
fhe court of Justice John, the One
John. the Cadi. the Gar of the Base
inent. was used by men whose duty
was to attend the court and hear the
cases and report them for the press.
| Perhaps some OF the brightest men
III the newspaper business either
cut their teeth" on the Police Court
or helped to create the name aad
| fame of the dead Justice The late
Harvey l.. Wilson, who. for a long
time was editor of the Norfolk
Ledger-Dispatch. was one OF the men
whose style in his repor,orinl days
caught the popular favor and he made
IA reputation for brilliancy for the
justice that was remembered to his
last days and which covered the
| country.
Futrcl1c "Coyered, Court.
Jacques Futrelle, the distinguished
fiction writer. who lost his life on
| the Inflated Titanic. was another
who served his time doing the Police
Court, and just where Mr.. Wilson
] had left off Mr.. Futrellc began and
| added lustcr to the fame OF Justice
john. Then there was Jack Moroso,
o: New York. now one OF the story
| writer's for the magazines. who for
years did the Police Court and turned
| out many of the best stories that
| c,nanl'cd from the court.
Perhaps Justice John was seen at
| his best when his courtroom was
hiled with sightseers. II he was feel
ing good he would add fancy touches
TO the days business. II is recalled
that some fifteen years or more ago.
when the court was packed with
members of the chorus of the BLACK
crook, then doing the Southern cir
cult, ono Of the cases on the docket
| was row between conflicting cle-
ments IN Il colo.ed church. The mem
bers Of the BLACK Crook" company
were all from New York and other
cities of the North
The case was staged for the benefit
OIL the visitors. and the witnesses he
gan TO testify. The pastor OF the CON
! sreeation was officious and was con-
| tinuaiiy talking to witnesses on both
Sues lie was tall. slick looking
ciI!zen. very black. gold trimmed spec
'ac!cs ornaTnentinG his countenance
me evidence was ridiculous and con-
iusing' and Justice John OWNED ex-
actiy what was going on. He had
watched this colored divine for fifteen
minutes, and when the contradictory
statements began to flow thick and
last. he suddenly halted tho case.
colorcd Preacher Before Bar.
feTe. you-you niger with that
iong coat and Eoid-rimmed glasses
You come here to me-" and he had
the colored preacher before tho bar.
What have you to do with this
case? Are you n witness? What do
you mean by talking TO the witnesses
on both sides? Who sent for you?
Where did you come from"
i am the pastor Of the church, Your
Honor" said the man. and he affected
The nasal tones of tho people of the
North. Il am from M Yawk, sir.
Have been here trying to preach and
80 save souls for several months"
Just what thought" said the
justice. cylnG the man. from NJ
fawk, Oh? That is the trouble with
my nigEcrs now. You NJ Yawk Mig
gers get a little education and then
come here and undertake to tell my
folks what they must do. Been here |
several months. ch? Well. you have |
been here too long. You arc the chief |,
devil in this row in this congregation.
and ! do not propose to let you or |
any other Nu Yawk Niger come down |
here and ruin my people. These pco- !
pie were getting along all right up
to the time you came and they have
been quarreling ever since. am |
going to continue this case for three |
weeks. I am going to give you three |
days to get out OF the city and to
stay out" The justice had sized the |
was never again heard from.
Judge of Human Nature.
Justice Jonn had a faculty for get
ting at the bottom Of things right
at the start. and he was perhaps the |
best judge OF human nature that pre-
sided over this popular branch of
the criminal court OF the city. He |
was fair. and he has often been |
forced TO discharge people whom he !
knew were guilty. but there was a |
lack OF evidence TO warrant con-
viction.
Time and time without number nc !
has had parties in court who had
sworn out warrants. and before the
trial could be called they would reach
basis OF agreement. That WAS done |
to save the fines and costs that would |
lie imposed on'the offender. and the |
settlement was made to prevent tho
payment. The justice would call
them.
II desires to withdrew dis warrant |
MIR. Justice. Your Honor" the accuser |
would say.
Here 1t goes. I'm beaten again.
All right. When you wifdrew dis |
warrant just withdrew $3.50 for the
warrant and for tho costs, and then