Part 26 (2/2)

The last appearance of the ”wickedest man” in public, was a short while ago, when he and his wife, and several of his girls, were arraigned before Justice Dowling, at the Tombs Police Court, on the charge of robbing a sailor of fifteen dollars. The trial, as reported in the daily journals, was a severe commentary upon the revivals, and those who had been conducting them. The following is the account of it:

John Allen and wife, and several girls, who have made that saintly personage's house their home, were before Justice Dowling yesterday morning, to answer a number of damaging charges--among them, keeping a resort for thieves, gamblers, and prost.i.tutes, and robbing Benjamin Swan, a seaman. The story may be best told by the victim, who was examined by Justice Dowling, as follows.

_Justice_.--'Tell me, Swan, how this robbery occurred.'

_Swan_.--'Well, your Honor, I was going along Water street, on Friday night, and was picked up by the girl, and taken to a private room in the house of Allen. I gave Mrs. Allen five dollars, to pay for drinks, etc.; and during the night, my bedfellow, Margaret Ware, took from my pantaloons pocket fifteen dollars, which she said she gave to Mrs.

Allen to keep. When I asked it back, they would not give it to me. I am sure it was John Allen's house.'

The testimony of this witness having been taken, Captain Thorne made a formal complaint against John Allen for keeping a disorderly house.

_Justice_.--'How do you know that he keeps a disorderly house, captain?'

_Captain_.--'I take it on the testimony of this man, who has been robbed there.'

_Justice_.--'Yes, but you must have stronger testimony than that. The law says that it requires more than one act to const.i.tute a disorderly place.'

_Captain_.--'I have policemen here to prove that it is disorderly.'

_Justice_.--'Allen, what do you say to this charge?'

_Allen_.--'Your Honor, during the past six weeks I have done no business. My house has been used all the time for prayer-meetings.'

_Justice_.---'What about the robbery of this man?'

_Allen_.--'I have nothing to say about it, for I was not at home last night. I know very well that the captain does not want to have me locked up. We have always been good friends, haven't we, captain?'

_Captain_.--'I have nothing to say about it.'

_Allen_.--'If no charge is made, I promise to have nothing to do with politics.'

_Justice_.--'Do you mean to say that politics had any thing to do with your arrest?'

_Allen_.--'I don't say anything at all about it, your Honor.'

_Justice_.--'Then why do you hint at it?'

_Allen_.--'I will promise not to interfere one way or the other, if I am allowed to go.'

The court loungers, who know something of the peculiar politics of the Fourth Ward, here laughed immoderately.

_Justice_.--'You go to the captain, and tell him all about it.'

_Allen_.--'I won't vote at all if I am let go. I always keep in with the police.' (Laughter.)

_Justice_.--'That's right.'

_Allen_.--'Only for the kindness of the police, I never could have kept my place so many years. They have always been my friends.'

(Laughter.)

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