Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-22


policemen and the many others who
frequented his tribunal from time to
time He was nimble- wittcd. often
sharp. and there are few who ever
managed TO get the best of him in
Il duel OF words and quips. lie bub-
blcd over with good humor. and while
ut times he appeared hard, stern. and
bitter. those who knew his nature
rarely had fault to find with his rul-
inGs.
AS the police justice OF the city.
he handled all the criminal cases
for the State at first hand. and he
also had the matter of violation of
the ordinances of the city to dispose
of in the courSo OF his duties. In
the old days, as the ante-dry period
is referred to, he had hard work
dealing with the men and women
that were victims or add;cts of LIQUOR
lie knew every one of the old-tirncrs,
and when they began to appear too
often he would have them called from
the cage and ask Them:
Guilty or not guilty?"
lie knew his man every time. and
when they began to humble and to
undertake to minimize their onenses
he would say:
Ten dollars or ten days" The
chances were than ten days followed.
Case of Jimmy Jones.r
Years and years ago there was a
character known in the city as Jim
my Jones" The man WAS just one
OF the type shat would get tight just
as often as he had a chance. and that
was his sole offensc. Justice John
knew him. and IL was reported that
ne ana Jones were in the Same COM
mand in the Confederate army, bu,
THIS is not known. Jimmy would
come at least once week, and when
the shaking and trembling form
would saunter UP to the bar. the JUS
iico would say:
Good morning. Mr.. Jones'"
Mornin'. Justice"
What is the matter this time, Mr.
jones'"
Feeling 4 little sick last night,
and l rather expect got /; little
too much liquor"
SOP
''fcs. sir: little too much. Your
Homer"
Jimmy, l have been your friend
IL long time. haven't !: And the last
time you were here | told you that
IL you came any more this year
woulo make it IA ycar-conditioncd
On my lettin.: YOU go tina; time Now.
Jimmy. i am not going TO give YOU
a year. You and / can compromise
this matter. New. what Is the bcs,
you can do?"
Jones would reply and say he
thought ten days would be enough.
But Justice John would demur, and
say that he would knock off six
months and then ask Jimmy to add a
!lttle more time TO his own sentence
We'll. Jimmy. if you won't make
II thirty days. III have to make IL
fifteen; but you are cheating me,
Jimmy"
We'll. make 1t hfteen days; but
you are making things too strict for
me. and I'll have TO quiz your court"
And in two or three days, after
would release him.
MiSinterprctcd by Public.
Much OF the criticism of the scenes
of the court have been misinterpre,ed
by the general public. lie would
hear the most pitiful cases of women
whose husbands had mistrcated them,
and TO this class &c had little mercy.
lie could not give the offenders the.
sentences they deserved, for the rca-
son that If they were sent to the
roads the families would suffer for
food. and there were many who tool;
OF this condition and were
frequent visitors TO the court. and he
would end b. giving them the limit
of the law
There was one thing that Justice
John could not tolerate. The coIoreti
people from North Carolina would come
TO the city and they frequently Gre
ated some sort Of rows that landed
them and some of the colorcd resi-
dents OF the city in the Police Court.
Tho justice had his docket made ont. |
and every case carried the name. the
date and place of birth of the mar
ties in the court. lie would scan tho
list and see that the offenders were
usually from North Carolina. lie
would then pretend to he very mad.
Where are you from. sir?" he
would thunder. just as though he had
never looked at the docket,
"Nawth Car'iina. sab"
"Ahd! Another North Carolina Mig
ger up here mcddiins with ny mig
gers. What did you come here for?
Who sent for you? Don, you know
that | Will net allow North Carolina
niGgcrs TO come here and make my
nifScrs mean? What about th.-?
Did you hit this woman"
.Sdmonished Them to Hrhuvr.
Then there would be flock of wit
ncsses To tell the story Of Whatever
the case happened TO be. and there
was the usual conflict In testimony.
and the justice would let them talk
to their hearts content II there was
little before the court. He usually
wound UP by Diminishing these trivial
cases with IAN adfnonition to the col
"rcd Tarhccls TO behave while here
or 10 move on.
Once man or woman was before
Justice John they were never for