Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-05-06

The New Orleans Crescent of the 18th, gives
detailed account of the examination of the reHowned
Lola Montez for an assault on Mr.. Rowe, prompter
of the Varieties theatre. The crowd on the ocea-
sion was immense. In waiting with dilated eyes
and pricked up to catch every note of scandal
that foated on the teeming atmosphere were citi.
zens of every degree-sturdy yeomen and perfumed
beaux fnery galants that love the smell OF muslin
attorneys and counsellors and iquorish old gentle
men with standing shirt collars and double chins
Lola was neatly and tastefully dressed in skirt
of straw colored China grass linen, black mantil-
Ia of Canton Grape, Tuscan bonnet, smothered in
the richest lace and white lace vest, star-be-
sprent.
Her appearance in court was signalzed by most
| refreshing excitement All the unwashed repubil-
cans of the city there, and gazed at her as at
some fierce and untameable beast, Gagged for their
especial entertainment. The target of thousand
eyes, and stared ut worse than the zeugodon or
other monstrosity, her wit and selfpossession did
| not forsake her. Seeing what full house she was
drawing, she naively remarked that the officers OF
the law had made great mistake in not having
tickets of admission at dollars o head.
The first witness called, on the part OF the State
was MIR. George T. Rowe, the prosecutor. He tes-
titled that the night of the 9th inst in his capa
city of prompter" in the Varieties Theatre, he
went into the prompters box for the purpose of
pairing for Miss Ducy Barry's Dance. Lola came in
and crowded close to him. He asked her to 60 a.
way. She then gave him blow with her right
hand and kicked him. Mr.. Henning (Lola's agent)
being called by her to her assistance he came and
taking the witness by the throat, choked him, and
|" took the wind out of him !" Witness went to Mr.
Thomas Placide, the manager of the Theatre, who
on being consulted advised the witness to have Lola
arrested. The noise made during the difficulty,
brought very large crowd in:o the alley way
Witness being asked whether he had not kicked Lo-
la previous 10 her assault upon him. stated positive
ly that he had not.
The Countess, on her part, made counter state
ment, alleging that Rowe, at the moment he told
her to go away, accompanied the command with a
kick on the leg. A lady witness was called who
stated that Lola, the night in question, had told
her that Mr.. Rowe had kicked her (the Countess
and showed the mark of the blow above her ankle.
There red spot on the limb larger than a dol
lar, which appeared to have been made by the heel
of boot. The spot was considerably infamed and
remained there the next day and afterwards. This
testimony was objected TO as improper, and though
it had no influence with the court had its effect with
the crowd, who manifested lively sympathy with
the fair defendant. The Countess stated that, on
one OCCASION Mr. Rowe had made indecent propo-
sails to her She lectured him thereon, telling him
that man of his age should he ashamed of such
conduct He then tried to get out of the scrape by
pretending it was joke. and concluded by saying
to her, cat any rate, don't tell the old woman"
meaning Mrs. Rowe. Here there was laughter that
shook the house.
Mr.. Thomas Placide was next called. He stated
that Lola, on certain occasion, had called him a
I" liar, scoundrel and thief {" and you are
yet" interrupted Lola.) whereat the multitude was
moved to laughter and cachinated exceedingly. (By
the way, Lola, in stating that Rowe had kicked her,
sarcastically remarked that she had indeed been
kicked by horse, but never before by donkey
Mr.. Placide knew nothing pertinent to the issue,
and after stating that Lola by her engagement, at
his Theatre, had made four dollars to his one retir
ed. There were several sharp passages of wit be-
tween Mr. Placide and Lola, wherein Lola general
~ got the advantage and carried away the sympa-
thies of the crowd. I" These paper pellets of the
BRAIN were marked by cutting satire that made
the court room more like theatre than temple of
justice.
On several occasions the delight of the audience
rose to such pitch that they appauded outright
Even the judge himself could not retain his risibles,
and blind eyed justice unraveled his solemn visage
to the extent of broad and good humorcd grin.
The Recorder concluded the case by sending the
defendant for trial before the First District Court
The bond for the appearance of the Countess to an
swer the charge was named by the court at one
thousand dollars, but at the suggestion of her coun-
Gil. William Hail. Esq, that the charge was frivol-
GUS and that MIR. Rowe had been injured neither in
hair nor hide, the amount was fixed at FIVE hundred
dollars only Bail was furnished, and the Countess,
after being stared out of countcnance retired bear
ing with her the sympathes of the larger portion of
the audience.