Iowa Old Press

Daily Davenport Democrat
Davenport, Scott, Iowa

Wednesday, March 9, 1870
Police Court.
But two cases before the tribunal today. One, Robert Mathews, was arranged
[sic] before Judge Peters for intoxication and disturbing the public
peace, was fined $6.60 and costs and sent to breaking stone in the Davenport
Stone Quarry. John Peterson was arrested for loitering about the streets at
a late hour of the night with no apparent object, was fined $5.00 and costs
and sent to jail by default.

Thursday, March 10, 1870
Police Court
James Meyers was arrested for intoxication, arraigned before Justice Peters
and fined $1.00 and costs and was sent to jail in default.

Three young girls, named Sarah Collars, Emma Collars, and Susie Gosch, were
arrested for loitering about the streets and charged with vagrancy, were
brought before the police court this morning and found guilty, fined $5.00
and costs and sent to jail where we hope they will remain until they reform.

James Messwenger and Milton Howard were arrested for fighting, fined $2.00
and costs and sent to breaking stone in default.

March 14, 1870
Sad Sight
The sensibilities of those who are accustomed to scenes of vice were shocked
the other day on seeing three young girls arranged [sic] at the Police Court
on a charge of street walking. The youth of these poor creatures, only 16
the oldest, seemed to plead for them and their sentence was made light, but
their hardness and utter depravity was pitiful to see.
But what shall we say when gray hairs put to shame young tresses in deeds of
wickedness and vice. We are told by one of our citizens that yesterday
evening he saw an elderly woman, apparently quite advanced in years, on one
of the principal streets in a beastly state of intoxication. Twice while he
watched her did she stagger and fall down and still rise again to pursue her
devious way. For so large a city we have but few of such characters and we
are duly thankful. But the sight of such degradation in a gray-haired woman
calls for pity from the most stoical.

March 17, 1870
Police court.
After a long wait, the patient much suffering ministers of peace at the
police court have had something on their hands. One Lizzie Bunker was
arrested for vagrancy; bound over in $300; didn't have any money, and being
well known in police circles as a common street walker was sent to the
boarding house of Major Schnitger.

March 19, 1870
Scalped in cold Blood

Fifteenth Amendment Jerked Baldheaded
     A cold blooded affair occurred last night in one of our conspicuous
stores which well illustrates ""Man's inhumanity to man." The common
charities and amenities of life have been forgotten in an attack upon the
tender feelings of a man and brother which have been lacerated in a cruel
manner. The tune of this distressing melody waileth as follows:
     A colored man named Henry Williams, entered a well known boot and shoe
store on Second Street, at half past seven last evening, and intimated that
he wanted a pair of shoes.- While scrutinizing the goods the clerk observed
Henry slyly put a pair of shoes under his coat, and after saying the style
didn't suit, made for the door. The proprietor caught him by the collar, but
he broke away and ran, when somebody made a grab for , and reached him in
the crown of his manly beauty, the hair. Now this head of hair should have
before been described. The wool, instead of being allowed to flow loose and
unconfined, was braided into some twelve or fifteen tails, after the high
Chinese fashion, and allowed to hang about his brow. This was the lace where
the profane hand of opposition dared to transgress. This was the crowning
shame of the diabolical deed. With a terrific yank the trespasser jerked one
of these tails sheer from the head of the devoted Henry, and held it aloft
as an implied trophy of victory. Slow music for the wounded man.
     The police had him in charge, and he was sadly led away to "Squire
Peters, who fined him $22 and costs. Another robbery was found against him,
and it came to light that he was a tough case generally, and was sent up to
work out his won redemption at the stone yard. His punishment by the court
was just, but this fiendish outrage on the finer feelings of a man and
brother, is not to be tolerated. Let us have no more such pieces.

District Court.
     In the case State vs. Charles Smith, Ed Simson and Wm. Fowler, the Jury
returned a verdict of guilty. The value of goods stolen was shown to be
$100. Prisoners remanded to await sentence. These are three young men in
their prime. Bad company and worse habits have brought them into serious
difficulty.
     Cases of State vs James Gartland-one for Mischief, another for Assault,
and one for uttering forged check. Plea of guilty as to first and second
charges. Fine of $100 each and cost, and committed till paid. Found guilty
on third charge; motion for new trial.
     State vs David Davis, Defendant charged with stealing goods from the
store of Lenonard Biller. Plead guilty and was fined $100 and costs.
Remanded to jail until paid.
     State vs Fred Trefts. Three indictments for passing counterfeit money.
Discharged as to the first and second, without trial. Jury in third charge
to-day returned a verdict of not guilty. This was the case growing out of
the alleged misdemeanors of Shannon and Trefts, butchers. Shannon made good
his escape. No sufficient evidence was found to implicate Trefts in the
crime. Young Shannon, who was also mixed up in the offense, was likewise
discharged, there being no evidence against him.
    State vs Wm Babe. Defendant was implicated in the Kelly mule stealing
affair, and imprisoned on charge of vagrancy. His mother, who resides in
Illinois, came for him and took him away. It is to be hoped that she will
keep him away.

March 21, 1870

     Police Court.The notorious Floreta Collars was arrested and brought
before Justice Peters today, for being found in a beastly state of
intoxication. She was fined one dollar and costs and sent to jail in default
of payment. She is the mother of the two depraved young girls who were
arrested for being common street walkers a day of two since. A more utterly
depraved family has not come under the cognizance of the police force for
many years.

March 22, 1870
     Police Court. One William Pillings was arrested for assault and
battery, and brought up before Justice Dowd, where he was fined $10 and
costs which he paid and departed to his tent.
      James Daley arrested for intoxication and arraigned before Justice
Peters, was assessed $5.55 and departed to join the assembly of the elect at
Schnitger's stoneyard.

Tocor Boy. A lad named Bruehn, it will be remembered was arrested for
burglary  about a week ago, and sent to jail. He is only 15 years old, but
outranks any other youngster of that age in hardness that can be found in
the city. He was brought into court this morning and examined. If his father
does not take him in hand, and endeavor to correct his bad habits, the youth
will be sent to the reform school where he will be forced to behave himself.

Circuit Court. The case of Schroder vs Siberlin, suit for payment of wages
resulted in verdict for plaintiff, for $45.75. Several default cases were
disposed of.

March 23,1870
     Police Court. Quite a large concourse of imbibers put in an appearance
today at Squire Peters. W Harvey had surrounded a large quantity of 'budge"
and couldn't contain himself. He paid there for $5.55 and went up. After the
same fashion was J. Barrett who had also pleaded at the bar until he was
confused. He untied a like amount and retired sorrowful.

Circuit Court. Case of Zimmerman and Diedrich vs. Paper; suit to recover
certain mules which plaintiffs allege were got from there by an unfair
trade. The case has occupied the attention of the court during all of today,
no other business being transacted.

March 24,1870
     Circuit Court. The case of Zimmerman and Dietrich vs. Paper was decided
yesterday evening in favor of the defendant. The attention of the Court was
taken up today with the case of Hoyer vs. Jacobsen. It appears that Jacobsen
was acting as agent for a piece of land. He was instructed to sell it for
$100. He sold it for $25 and reported that he had acted according to
original orders. Nothing else was done today.

March 29, 1870
     Circuit Court. Schocker vs Wiese suit to recover damages sustained by
collision of teams on the highway. Two farmers ran into one another ,and one
horse was damaged rather severely.

March 30, 1870
     Circuit Court. The case of Schoker vs. Wiese was given to the jury
yesterday and a verdict was returned last evening of $50 for the defendant.
     Case of E.M. Dodge vs John Miller alledged fraud in the matter of
certain patent rights. Decided in favor of plaintiff.
     Sally vs Crooks. Suit on promissory note. In progress this afternoon.

Submitted by: #000525