The Miami Times

Good Morning Judge

News and Views from Miami's Municipal Negro Court

JUDGE L. E. THOMAS.
PRESIDING

By ELLIOTT J. PIEZE,
Times Staff Writer

Probably it was due to the general lull in activities during the previous weekend, or probably it was due to the recent increases in fines and sentences levied by the court for continuous offenders, or probably it was due to some other reason, but whatever the reason, the number of cases listed for trial in Judge L. E. Thomas' Municipal Court Monday morning was a mere 7. It was the smallest number on a Monday morning docket witnessed a long time. For the first time in the memory of this writer, the session was dismissed shortly after 11 o'clock, which was a record indeed for a Monday session.

Highlight of the day's session was the case of Roy Felder, who was charged with assault and battery on Annie Bell Wood.

Testimony during the hearing as presented by Miss Wood, disclosed the fact that she and Felder had been friends for several months, and in fact, had been living together as common law man and wife. She explained to the court that she works on premises, pays all of the bills, and was in effect, the sole support of the two - while Felder, who enjoys all of the privileges of a "pimp playboy", does nothing but occupy her room and live off her earnings. She further explained to the court that Felder objected to her being friendly with some old friends whom she knew before she met Felder. Sunday night because she would not break off from her old friends, as he wanted her to do, an argument arose which was followed by Felder's beating her severely. She added that she did not know who called the police, but she certainly was glad that someone called them.

Miss Wood appeared in court with both eyes swollen considerably and the left eye almost closed the results of the beating inflicted on her by Felder.

Felder did not deny beating Miss Wood, but he insisted that she provoked the whole thing and in fact, had hit him first. After his usual warning to men who beat up and abuse women, Judge Thomas found Felder guilty and sentenced him to 60 days in jail, $250 or an additional 100 days.

It was the stiffest sentence of the day's session.

WARNING TO BOLITA PLAYERS

As a timely warning to bolita players in this area, Judge Thomas announced that at a very early date, probably in about two weeks bolita players will be punished almost as severely as the writers or those who operate the game.

It is a part of the community's recent effort to "crack down on the bolita racket and the racketeers. From that date on anyone caught playing bolita or caught with bolita tickets in their possession will get the "book thrown at them" similarly to the punishment handed out to the writers and operators.

Among other cases heard and disposed of were the following:

Josephine Barnett, Nathaniel Watson and Bertram Curtis were each charged with assault and battery. Barnett was charged with assault and battery on her husband, Charles. Watson on John West and Curtis on Jenny McFarland. Barnett was fined $50 or 20 days, Watson was sentenced to 10 days, $110 or an additional 44 days, and Curtis was fined $10 or 4 days.

Junior White charged with drunk and disorderly conduct creating a disturbance sentenced to 10 days, $25 or an additional 10 days. The 10 days were suspended.

Bay Hillman charged with petty larceny - property of Geo. Golden - given a suspended sentence.

Eddie Lee Taylor and John Robinson both charged with unlawful possession of lottery tickets both fined $10 or 4 days.

Willie B. Townsend and Annie Townsend both charged with drunk and disorderly conduct, creating a disturbance - Roy Arlse was the complainant. Both Townsends were fined $35 or 14 days They also received a one day suspended sentence.