The Miami times., 1952-02-02

only Sc - comparative small
number for a Monday morning
session yet the wide variety
of offenSeS listed and the many
senSationally highlighted cases
heard and disposed of established
somewhat of a record within
themselves. AS usual on Monday,
the courtroom was crowded to ca
pacity, with many spectators
sanding in the aisleS.
Probably the top highlight
trial of the day was the case of
Bradley Dunn, man approach
ing middle age, who was charged
with lewd and lasciviouS behav-
1our. Testimony in the case re-
Veaied the fact that Dunn marri-
ed a woman about IL years ago,
who was the mother of a 2-year
old daughter by previous mar
riage. Since that time the couple
has had two more children and
the wife's first child is now a
teen-age girl.
The young girl charged that re-
Gently Dunn had been making
improper advances toward her,
while her mother was away from
their home on 9th st. The moth
er charged that one day last
week upon her return from work
the daughter came to her almost
in tears, and told her of further
improper advances which Dunn
had made toward her to the ex-
tent that she was forced to run
out of the house, in order to pre-
vent Dunn from compelling her
to submit to his advances.
In his defense, Dunn claimed
that he had not made any i'm
proper advances toward the girl.
He explained to the court that he
had been "a father to the girl since
he married her mother. He ad-
mitted, however, that he did tell
the girl that he "could be niee to
her." but he insisted that he
meamt no harm.
&Jne mother almost cried in
count, as she told her story to the
Judge. She declared that she did
not want Dunn to live with her
'and the children any longer-ex-
planning that before she would
allow SUCH p thing to happen
agaio She would support all of
her children herself.
After hearing the pathetic
story, Judge Thomas sentenced
Dunn to 40 days, $25 or an ad-
ditional 10 days. The 40 days
were suspended, but the fine
must be paid.
Another most pathetic case
which also captured the attention
of the entire courtroom, was that
of Ronald James johnson, who
was charged with assault and
battery ON his wife, Winnefred.
Johnson was also charged with
drunk and disorderly conduct.
Testimony in the case disclosed
the fact that Johnson's wife has
had him in court several times on
Similar charges. involving his
beating ano .nandhapdling her.
On this occasion, the wife charg
I'd that johnson came home Iate
Saturday night, drunk, found her
in bed asleep, and without any
apparent cause or provocation,
began to beat severely. She also
charged that he hit her oldest
child Ca son, who is not john
sons child) and carried on in
such a manner she was fore
ed to call the police to stop him.
She explained to the court that
he has done that several times.
Johnson claimed that he did
hit his wife, but only after he
was provoked into doing so by
her. He denied hitting her oldest
child, and said that his wife was
exAggerating the incident of their
little family disturbance. He also
denied being drunk.
But Judge Thomas did not be-
Geve Johnson's story, because he
fined him $50 or IL days in jail,
following very stern warning.
Another daughter against faith
er case also developed involving
Bruce Carter, who was charged
with drunk and diSorderly con-
duct, His daughter was the chief
complainant against her father,
The daughter charged that her
father was drunk on the occasion