Show lights of new york u L y L STEVENSON on broadway lights gleam so brightly it seems almost as a if lay Is lingering into the night in times square there Is the tapping of canes the flash of jewels the sheen of soft furs the rustle of silks and the sweet ness of perfume in contrast eighth avenue seems dark there are no great signs most of the electrical advertis ing Is red neon letters spelling bar and grill the only jewels are those not coveted by thieves instead of per fume there Is the odor of cooking in contrast with eighth avenue fifty fourth street treet seems blace few steps from eighth avenue Is a building that Is lighted groups talking in low tones stand in front of it A line of taxicabs tari cabs waits watts in the corridor are more groups every telephone booth Is filled A stream of humanity climbs the marble steps too impatient to await the one elevator the building houses a court it Is a court open more ho irs than any other in the city not oula through the day Is there a drab procession passing before the black robed min arin on the bench but at night as well night court Is held there every seat Is filled not until some one leaves may another enter A study atthe afi the expressions gives the impression that a blight hag has settled over those present the surroundings may have something to do with that the court Is old it seems to have taken to itself some of the misery that has been enacted there and some of the evil as well it has seen much evil for it Is in III the heart of the tenderloin many a journey that has ended with the electric chair has started there the shadow of that chair may be felt it if not seen perhaps the nervous shuf fling of feet the uneasy the quickly stifled coughs may be he indica eions of its presence most of those in the seats are closely connected with those who will face the man on the bench policemen and detectives circulate behind the railing among them move the lawyers who practice in night court they seem to run to a type rather short rotund well fed bright eyed not too well dressed and fussy in manner other officers tand at a doorway they are the blue wall that holds back the grist that Is to pass through the mill of justice behind them may be seen heads tousled most of them with now and then the white of a bandage necks are craned in an effort to sight friends relatives witnesses or perhaps tr fr dom the gavel Is rapped all arise the magistrate takes his seat all sit down the magistrate picks up a sheaf of papers the first case Is called there Is a sudden tensing monotonous are the stories told As family brawls panhandling peddling without a license disorderly conduct obstructing the sidewalk causing a crowd to collect possession ot of deadly weapons soliciting A drab scene with drab players now and then an interlude A tiger like woman with big flashing bright eyes she accuses her man of assault he denies it she tears open the front of her cheap dress and exposes livid marks the marks of human fingers the man grins mall mail clouspy and sets forth as his defense that they are not married I 1 and he goes to welfare island for 90 days the judge listens to all tales A ques tion now and then indicates that prisoners are freed because they are not guilty sentences are suspended warnings are given fines are ita posed sentences are given cases are postponed and so on hour after hour over on broadway the lights gleam brightly there Is the sound of music the supper places are giving their high priced entertainment laughter Is heard and a block and a hall half to the M west est night court here Is a broadway cinderella story joseph callela because his appearance pe arance Is swarthy has led a lurid and varied life of crime on the stage I 1 remember him particularly as the crooked waiter in broadway but none of his parts were sympathetic well in beall miracle he tells the story of his life as it relates to the killing of a gas station attendant dur ing a holdup hold up in colorado and the de sire for revenge that brought him back to tew york when he had escaped the tle gallows he does it eloquently and au dienges react with such enthusiasm that now he hes s a featured player not only that but managers who used to send for him now come around to see him and a lot of motion picture high lights who never heard of him before are bidding against one knotner tor for his services 0 bell syndicate service |