, 1922-12-28
CONTRACTOR DOES
SANTA CLAUS ACT
BESTOWS CHRISTMAS CHEER ON The
WRONG C0L0RED Man. OTHER
JUSTICE COURT HAPPENINGS

JUSTICE COURT HAPPENINGS
The local justice courts f%unctioned
once more Saturday after a brief
period of quiescence and four minor
cases were heard and adjudicated, in
nearly all of which moonshine and
bootleg figured prominently as an
impelling feature. First came AL
bert Miller, very dark and of gener-
u dimensions. charged with vag-
rancy, which in his case covered a
multitude Of sins. Albert said he
was an engine washer and that he
had last performed at Green River.
but was nursing the hope of getting
similar employment here, so far
without success.
During his less-than-two-weeks
here he could not recall having done
any work except for a certain colored
lady who had assisted him in keep
ing the wolf from the door by letting
him dig a trench and fix her clothes
line. altogether about $13 worth. AL
bert, however, did have one unique
experience which made his otherwise
commonplace tale stick out like the
proverbial sore thumb. He was
standing on the side lines of a crowd
ed pool hall whom a white man
beckoned to him to come hither."
He obeyed with the same alacrity
sometimes exhibited by Pullman
porters at the moment when a tip
seems imminent and the man asked
him II he (Miller) wouldn't like to
have that 50. explaining that be (the
co%ntractor) had been unable to go
ahead with the concete mixing owing
to the failure of a truck driver to ar
rive with some ingredients. All this
was Greek to Albert-all bit the SO,
which he understood perfectly, so he
reached out a massive mitt, took the
money and his departure at the same
time.
Mistaken Identity
Soon the contractor, who was no
other than our old friend Harry
eastman playing Santa Claus. IA
importuned by the real colored man
who had really toiled and sweat
while stirring up that cement pan
cake batter and playing a star part
in Mud and Sand, for the wages due.
Whistling "All Coons Look Alike to
Me-" Harry began q search for the
vanished Albert. party OF the first
part IN this sketch. The man was
found. but the SO had evaporrted in
food and wassail. Then came the
arrest for ~vagrancy. for Albert had
been the subject OF police surveillance
for several days.
Mister Miller's explanation of how
come he took SO from a stranger,
knowing that he had nothing coming
to him, was worth the price OF ad-
mission. but 1t availed him not. He
was found guilty as charged. de-
clared persona au gratin in Rawlins,
given $40 or 12 hours to get out
OF town. He expressed a wish to
take the latter horn Of the dilemma.
Dusky Drunk
Homer L. McQueery, a smiling and
laxative Sepegambian. next faced
His Honor. charged with intoxica-
ton. He had pleaded guilty before
the court had finished reading the
official complaint. II won't tell you
no stories. Judge, It's the truth. I
got a holt OF some of that rough stuff
and II done put me OUT He then
told a few pertinent facts Of his past
and present life and then justice was
tempered with mercy and $40 and
costs melted out with the admonition
to lay on OF that rough stuff" In
the future.
pcnttcnt brakeman
A brakeman on the Union Pacific
wns e to answer roll call. He was
accused OF being drunk the night be-
fore and he also FASTENED to admit Il
by a plea OF guilty. This man had
evidently seen some hard shedding
for n side OF his face looked as II
II had beer massaged either by the
side OF n freight car or n horse rasp.
vyn rnrildnft aYnar,h nr a fhtr~ oft.~
taking a few potent potions of forty
rod moon until he woke up in the
hoose-gow. with his money and watch
gone. He vas also fined $40 and
costs and permitted to 20 under
escort and dig up the money.
Hot Time for Snow
Dan Snow was tho fourth Of the
crring brotherhood and no stood &C.
cused OF grand larceny In that he was
alleged to have rolled" n Fred
Johnson. while no and tho latter
were drunk. Tho offense was sup
posed to have been committed Thurs
day night Mt q local rooming house.
Snow. Johnson and Mt least two 9TH
ers were. according to the testimony.
hodsting white mule and in duo
course OF time Johnson fell by tho
wnysidc and had TO be put In dry
dock for repairs. While no lay
spraddIed out on his couch. which
was one OF several In the same room,
two witnesses declared they saw
Snow "frlsk'' the unconscious victim
and take divers and sundry bills. n
watch and some silver from the
sicepcr's pockets. II began to look
like \ hard winter for Snow.
But when he was put on the stand
by County Attorney McMickcn there
was evidence OF thnw and the
weather cleared pcrccptibly as far ~
Snow wnn concerned. The defendant
admitted freely that hc had John
sons watch and insisted he took II
10 prevent some lcss honest men