KinSource - Tale of the Week - A Part of Pope Bob's Hell

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Daily Globe, July 16, 1884, p. 2

A PART OF POPE BOB'S HELL,

Where the Little Sinners of St. Paul Take Their Punishment.

The Usual Variety of Offenders Subjected to Judge Burr's Judgment.

"This country is not like the old world," said hizzoner, as John Janoschiski stood up in the bull pen to answer to the charge of wife beating yesterday morning. "In this country," continued the court, "a man is not permitted to beat or choke his wife, but on the contrary he must treat her in a human and courteous manner always." The prisoner, a fine looking man with stylish clothing and neatly trimmed black beard, hung his head, and his eye moistened as his wife appeared. The latter is an American lady of more than average intelligence and refinement. She was handsomely dressed and her face was concealed behind a thick veil. She was accompanied by her little girl, and as she stood before the court she wept. Judge Burr, who is always kindly and just, called them to him, and in a low voice inaudible to the vulgar crowd outside the railing, he gave them some good advice. The prisoner was advised to endeavor to make home pleasant for his family, and warned that if he came before the court again it would go hard with him. He gave bonds in the sum of $250 to keep the peace.

"There are two things a man can't gamble on and keep his temper, a scolding wife and a kicking mule," said Bailiff Clouse as he snatched the hat from the head of an irreverant bum, who insisted on wearing his tile in court. Just then the court called the case of G. W. West, the street car driver who was fined $10 on Monday for abusing Officer Gibbons. The case was reopened and several witnesses were sworn to show that the accused was in [charge] of a pair of balky mules at the time of the misdemeanor and that he was therefore justified in using profanity. The council for the defendant toyed with the business end of the mules for a half hour or so, figuratively, and the court became disgusted and continued the further hearing until to-day.

John Miller was attired in red whiskers and an overcoat. He and a couple of other snoozers were yanked out of a box car and they were charged with vagrancy. They were sent out for ten days.

Henry Osenberg is tall and lean and hungry looking. He was found on the levee and when arraigned he said that he wanted to go to White Bear lake for the summer. The court ordered him to get out.

Wm. Stanton, the young man who is supposed to have been implicated in the robbery of a young woman on the Omaha road, was up for larceny, but as his pal is in the hospital the hearing was continued until the 21st inst.

Chris Froman is a laboring man, and at the last place he worked he thought he was not getting enough for his services, so he cabbaged a roll of plush just to get even. He will tackle wind pudding at the work house for the next thirty days.

They met over a bowl of beer in a saloon and Paul Th_r_arden called Frank Miller, his chum hard names. The latter resented certain reflections bearing on his maternity when Paul pasted him. It was one of those sad cases in which Miller got the worst of it. Paul was taxed $20 and he put up a shining double eagle.

Joe Sladeck used to own a rat dog, but the canine departed this life yesterday. The dog had a hearty liking for pants, and for the trousers of Joe Becker in particular. Last Monday the animal tried to make a meal from the latter's pants, and Brecker had a narrow escape from being lacerated. Sladeck said he would kill the dog, and the case was continued until to-day.

John Gannon swore out a warrant for the arrest of a man, and he afterwards settled the case. When the case was called yesterday Judge Burr said he could not permit the court to be used for blackmailing purposes and Gannon was fined $20 for contempt.

The cases of Wm. Merany and Thos. Carroll, both suspected of the larceny of watches, were dismissed, as the prosecuting witnesses were not present.

John Graff is not so great a graff as he thought he was. He was before the court yesterday for making an uncalled for assault upon a little woman named Mary Horish. They reside near each other and the latter owns a flock of geese which gave rise to all the trouble. The testimony showed that Graff had knocked the woman down and choked her, and he was fined five bills, which he paid.