Neighborhood Quarrel Is Aired In Court

Two Women Acquitted of Assault Charges by Jury.

Family Histories and Line Fence Relations Before Justice; Attorneys Indulge in Tilts.

Mrs. Crete Brockway and Mrs. Florence Crispell were acquitted yesterday in Justice Bennett’s court yesterday of charges of assault and battery made against them and on which they demanded a trial before a jury. The defendants, residents of Comstock street, were arrested January 24, after a neighborhood quarrel in which they engaged with Mrs. John Schauger [sic] and Mrs. Earl Goodrich. Brooms, stove pokers, snow shovels and curtain rods figured prominently in the testimony that was given yesterday and both sides went into some detail into the history of their long drawn-out troubles.

Feeling between Mrs. Schauger and Mrs. Crispell was very cordial when the Crispells and the Brockways moved to the Comstock street neighborhood. According to Mrs. Crispell, Mrs. Schauger was “too friendly, if anything,” and she related how Mrs. Schauger had warned her against associating with a majority of the other women in the block if she wanted to “amount to anything.”

Two Women Before Court After Neighborhood Fray

Police Called to Quiet Affairs Say Stove Pokers and Snow Shovels Were Used.

After a neighborhood encounter between residents of Comstock street early today which the police were called upon to quiet, Miss Crete Brockway and Mrs. Florence Crispell, both of 612 Comstock street were arraigned in justice court this morning on charges of assault and battery.

The warrants charging the offense were made out respectively by John Schauger [sic] and Earl Goodrich. Miss Brockway is charged with striking and otherwise mistreating Mrs. Elizabeth Schauger [sic] and Mrs. Crispell is charged with striking Mrs. Iva Goodrich. In justice court this morning Mrs. Crispell pleaded not guilty and her trial was set for January 27. Miss Brockway pleaded guilty and was told to appear in justice court on January 27. The bond for each woman was set at $200.

The quarrel, according to the police who were called at 6:30 this morning to quiet it, started from some undetermined cause but it soon grew into “some scrap,” as one of the women expressed it in court. Stove pokers and snow shovels were used to advantage by the women before they could be parted, police say.

Source: Adrian Daily Telegram, January 24, 1920.

“Mashers” Ordinance Invoked

John Conrad, an advertising solicitor, was brought into the Municipal Court yesterday charged with violating the “mashers” ordinance. Conrad will have a hearing Monday. He is charged with annoying Helen Toews, the 16-year-old daughter of Mrs. Mary Toews by attempting to engage her in conversation on the street. It is alleged he followed her home, after being rebuffed, and later sent her a note, written the back of a saloon card, which read, “Little one—Meet me at the Postoffice tonight at 8 o’clock.” A warrant was issued for Conrad’s arrest.

Source: Portland Oregonian, April 16, 1910.

The Ham Case Still on Trial

Defendant on the Stand Tells How and Why He Killed David Bucklew.

Defense Not Yet Through With Direct Testimony—Case Will Probably Not Go to Jury Until Wednesday.

Monday was the fifth day of the trail of William Ham, on information for murder, and the case has not gone to the jury yet. At the hour of adjournment, 4:30 p.m., the defense had not finished their direct testimony. A considerable portion of today will probably be required in hearing witnesses in rebuttal.

On Monday morning Elijah Elam was the first witness for the defense, and he was followed by the defendant, William Ham, on his own behalf.

Committed to Jail For Two Months

The present laws of the state of New York, with regard to hotels and boarding houses, are not calculated to afford much comfort to dead “beats.” The recent statute enacted for the protection of hotel and boarding house keepers, makes it a criminal offense, punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, to go out of town leaving behind an unsettled board or hotel bill.

The efficacy of the law was tested this morning in Judge Cox’s court in the person of George Lateer, a young man residing near Unionville, who worked for the Erie last summer and boarded with Mr. James Parson. Upon leaving Port Jervis some months ago Lateer drew his pay but neglected to settle with Parsons a bill for $14 which he owed for board. He was committed to jail for two months.

Source: Port Jervis Union, December 1, 1890.

A Sharp Swindle

The secret service has received information of the arrest of two men at Morenci, Michigan, named Rorick and Aldrich, charged with an attempt to commit fraud through the United States mails. Under the pretense of having a quantity of counterfeit money on hand, they had sent out genuine one dollar legal tender notes as samples of their work, with an offer to furnish a quantity at reduced rates. The money sent by their duped correspondents was pocketed, and the prospect of a lucrative business was very fair, until their arrest put a stop to further transactions.

Source: Washington Post, April 30, 1879.

T. Walling Pays $25 Fine

Ted Walling, of Salem, charged with unlawfully possessing intoxicating liquor, pleaded guilty when arraigned in the police court before Judge Earl Race yesterday afternoon and was sentenced to pay a fine of $25.

Walling was arrested here several days ago following an automobile chase in which several police officers figured.

Source:  Salem Capital Journal, August 10, 1922.

Arrested For Keeping A Disorderly House

Levi Lateer was arrested, to-day, on the charge of keeping a disorderly house in the North End. He pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial, and gave bail for his appearance for trial on Friday.

Source: Middletown Daily Argus, August 31, 1896.

The Jury Disagreed

The case of the state of Washington against Otto Walling, charged with receiving stolen horses came up before a jury in superior court Tuesday. After being out several hours the jury disagreed and was dismissed and the case placed on the docket for trial at some future time, as almost all the jurors empanelled [sic] for this term are now disqualified to hear it. Walling lives down in the vicinity of the country known as “the rocks,” and is alleged to be connected with a band of cattle and horse thieves who have been operating in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. It is alleged that he received a team of horses and a fine race horse valued at $1000 and was attempting to dispose of them, the animals having been stolen in Umatilla county, Oregon, and brought into Washington. They were recovered by their owners at the time of Walling’s arrest, who has been on bail since then and will be until his next trial. The case attracted considerable notice last winter.

Source: Colfax Gazette, May 29, 1903.

St. John Jottings (Excerpt)

The authorities last Saturday raided the livery barn of Walling brothers in search of a certain blind pig that has strayed here from some other town, presumably Colfax or Spokane.  A dray load of bottles, mostly empty, was seized as evidence. Papers were served on the two Walling boys and Fred Cook, the former charges with allowing the use of their premises for illicit purposes and the latter for selling liquor without a license.  The hearing was set for Tuesday, but the cases have been continued until July 6.  Meanwhile it is a little doubtful, some think, just what Justice Case will do with the bottles and their contents, as the Fourth comes before the trial.

Source:  Colfax Gazette, June 24, 1904.