Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 201, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1918 — INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE CITIES

All He Wanted to Do Was to Get to the Camp DETROIT.— “Say, boss, kin yo’ gib me a pass to hop a freight fo’ Camp Custer?” queried a lanky negro of Officer Lambert of the A. P. L. force at the bureau of delinquents, municipal building.

“Why the rush, Charlie?” asked Mr. Lambert. “Well, boss,” replied the darkey, “I don’ lost-mah cahd an’ Ah done want to get in de army jes’ as quick as ever Ah kin. I jes* got fifteen cents to mah name,, an’ I’se goln’ to be a hungry nigger.” “You must want to go to war bad, Charlie,” remarked Mr. Lambert. “Ah don’t cahr whah I go’ cause I only got one lung an’ Ah ain’t goln’ ( to live more’n a yeah an* I jes’ as soon die fightin* dem Dutch.”

i. “What makes you think you have only one lung?” asked the officer. “ ’Cause every time Ah git into a warm place I spit black, Ah do.” “What have you been doing for a living?” was the next question. “I’se been shovelin’ coal. Ah done had fo* dollars and seventy-five cent* de udder day when I cum from Alabam and'now Ah only got fifteen cents leF. Lordy, dis am a expensive place to live. Mah room done cos* me a dollar and I jes’ had thirty-five cents worth of grub and- I’se sure full up, boss.” “Well, Charlie,” said Mr. Lambert, “we have already sent 1,200 of you boys tor camp and pretty soon you can go along, too.” “Wha’sat?” exclaimed the darkey, “1,200 colored boys gone to camp? Ah don’t cahr no mo*. Jes’ gib me dat pass, boss. I’se going to hab lots of money jes* soon as I hits dat camp.” “What are you going to do, Charlie; shoot crap?" "Well, Ah uster shoot a little crap, boss.” This Is one of the bright fights that creep Into the bureau of delinquents occasionally and dlspfel the gloom that too often hangs over the office. Another colored man who was asked If he was going to enlist In the navy replied: “Not if I kin help it, boss. JTse willin’ to go to war, but when Ah falls Ah wants to fall on Bumpin’ solid, Ah does.”

Didn’t Mind Being “Pinched,” but Barred Hoodoo SPOKANE, WASH.—While her husband, whom she accuses of associating with white women, was sitting in the kitchen of their home calmly eating a watermelon Detectives Fordyce and Markwood found Fanny Hopkins, colored.

prayerfully parading back and forth in the living room sharpening an 18inch butcher knife. “Oh, God, hear my prayer,” ejaculated the angry negress. “I will cut that man’s throat tonight as sure as I am living. Oh, God, take him away and snap a fool nigger head off. I don’t want him round here taking up room in my house.” In response to a telephone report to, the police station that Mrs. Hopktns was going to kill her husband

the detectives hurried to the scene and found a crowd collected in front of the house In anticipation of a melee when she was arrested. She is noted in the neighborhood for her numerous fights with officers on previous occasions. The audience was not disappointed, for the woman, who weighs nearly 200 pounds, threw herself, on the ground and fought and kicked with all her strength. It was necessary for Fordyce and Markwood to summon Emergency Officer Dan Phelan to assist them. At sight of Phelan the woman shouted: “There’s my baby,” and quietly accompanied him to the patrol wagon. She was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and drunkenness. She nearly fainted when she discovered that the date of her arrest was the thirteenth and that the booking agent had assigned box 18 to her for her personal possessions. “Don’t give me all them thirteensshe walled. “I don't mind being pinched, but I ain’t going to be hoodooed, I ain’t 1” Judge Extends Clemency to Mouth-Harp Expert KANSAS CITY. —“For five years John has been a model roomer at my house. But he brought home a mouth harp and two bottles of French wine lasttnlght. He played the harp so long and hard my family and I could

not slew. X knocked on his door and begged film to be quiet He seized his Springfield rifle and threatened to fill me with bullets. I called the police.” Andrew Gippner 2322 Tracy avenue, finished testifying in the South side court against John Raschitsch, a bartender, short and plump. John pleaded guilty, adding, “That French wine— ” , f “Ten dollars,” Justice Casimir J.

Welch interrupted. “Call the next case, Mr. Clerk.” John didn’t have money enough to pay the fine. He was taken to a small cell adjoining the courtroom. Justice Welch resumed trying cases. Suddenly music was heard, emanating from the nearby cell. The courtroom occupants listened. Justice Welch smiled and nodded his bead, keeping time to the strains. “Bring out that person who is playing,” Justice Welch ordered. An attendant went into the cell and reappeared a moment later with John Raschitsch. John had a harp to his lips. The music continued. The tune was “Ireland Must Be Heaven, for My Mother Came From There.” Justice Welch listened until John, almost breathless, ceased his efforts. “Man,” Justice Welch exclaimed, “you’re not Irish, but you’ve sure got Irish ways. Mr. Clerk, cut that fine $5.” John paid.

Man Kidnaps Own Wife in Fast Yellow Taxicab ST LOUIS.—A woman’s screams issuing from a yellow colored taxicab speeding southward attracted the attention of persons in a street car near Twenty-fourth street They caught a glimpse of a man and woman struggling In the cab as it passed. The woman’s

clothing was torn, her hair disarranged, and she was screaming for help. The man was attempting to stifle the woman’s cries with a bath towel, itwas said. Once he had her head half out of the window, his fingers about her throat strangling her. Capt Dennis Whalen saw the struggle from the car, and leaping Jnto the car of a passing motorist started in pursuit Through the park the cars raced

They attracted the attention of a special patrolman of the park, who stepped Into the middle of the road and with drawn revolver commanded the driver to stop. The womantold her story later. They had been separated formore than six months and several weeks ago she sued her husband for divorce. She was employed In a private home. Her husband drove up to the door of her employer’s home in a taxicab and asked to see her, she said. When she appeared at the door he seized her In his arms and carried her to the waiting rah, she aaaerted. The man told the chauffeur his wife was mentally unbalanced and It was necessary to use force to take her home, the chauffeur said. c ' He told the police he was trying his best to effect a reconciliation with his estranged wife and that he did not really Intend to harm her. He, said he was taking her to his home to try to get her to live with him again.