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By Bill Coate - The Madera Tribune

Monday

Gave Callahan Six Months

Jim Callahan, light weight pugilist who had been making this his stomping ground until a six months' sentence imposed on him by Judge Barcroft made him shake the town when his sentence terminated, arrived here a few days ago and was shaking hands with old friends. The officers soon learned that he was exerting a bad influence in certain quarters and Night Watchman Kingston swore to a complaint in court yesterday, charging the "pug" with vagrancy. Subsequently Callahan was arrested and taken before the judge and pleaded guilty to the charge. The court postponed the sentence until this morning, when he dealt out a six month dose to the defendant. As Callahan took a southbound train last night, it is likely that he will not be seen around here for a long time.



Tuesday

Dismissed the Case

The party alleged to have taken a buggy robe from one of the City Stable buggies gave his name as J.P. Martin, and explained that he became possessed of the robe by information he received from a man whom he met between here and Fresno, as to where the robe was secreted. The robe was stolen on Friday night and Martin claims to have arrived here on Saturday forenoon with a man named Moore, who was driving a rig. His story was supported by the statement of one Frank Edwards and upon the strength of their statements, the city Recorder dismissed Martin.



Wednesday

Little Brown Men Bad Actors

Last night as S. Cosby and M.V. Wood were enjoying a social conversation near the Yosemite Hotel, two Japs who had evidently seen the bottom of the sake bowl too often, came along and jostled the above named rather roughly.

One of the Japs was shoved away, and when he returned, he had a knife. Upon renewing the attack, the Jap was promptly knocked down by Cosby. About this time, City Marshal Northern came up and after subduing the belligerent subject, he started off to jail with him. When the railroad tracks had been crossed, the other Jap, who in the meantime had absented himself, dashed up and was attempting to liberate his friend. Reinforcements in the person of Jack Kingston appeared and both men were taken to jail. They will explain to the court tomorrow.



Thursday

Went to Sleep on the Sidewalk

Jasper Rastus Anderson, colored, facial contortionist and a cook by "perffishion," imbibed too freely yesterday and as a result he appeared before the Justice Court this morning on a charge of disturbing the peace.

Jasper has a very flexible countenance, and he worked it overtime to the infinite amusement of passersby, but when he went to sleep on the sidewalk, time was called on him by Constable Hollister, and he was given the alternative of paying a $10 fine or becoming an addition to the work crew for the next ten days.



Friday

Woke up the Preachers

Dan Shannon, the evangelist who is holding forth nightly at the Tabernacle, seems to be an attraction to a great crowd who appreciates his droll stories and his witticisms. The preachers came in for their share of criticism, which was sharp and pointed and carried a sting. He characterized them as cowards and mollycoddles, who were ashamed to wear a tag on their hats, yet are proud of their society and lodge pins. "Get right with God," was his plea. He also took a shot at the Christian Scientists and told an amusing anecdote of a little girl who had a pain in her stomach and who, while writhing about it, was approached by a Christian Scientist, who said, "If you had my faith, you wouldn't have your stomach ache," to which the girl replied: "If you had my stomach ache, you wouldn't have your faith."



Saturday

Arrested on Battery Charges

B. Hoffman swore to a complaint in the Justice Court charging Jack Scheeler, the blacksmith, with battery. He told the court that he took a horse to Scheeler's shop to be shod last night and wanted caulked shoes put on, but that Scheeler did not want to shoe it that way. He then asked Scheeler to put the old shoes back, but Scheeler declined to do it and ordered him to take the horse out of the shop, applying a vile name to him at the time. He further stated the blacksmith then struck him with a bar of wood.

Bill Coate William "Bill" Coate is a San Joaquin Valley historian, author, television personality and retired public school teacher with 36 years of classroom experience. He is the award-winning founder of the Madera Method, a research-based educational program that uses primary source materials to help students explore history. He writes about the past of our nation and valley with a weekly column and story. He also writes articles pertaining to local schools. The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.