Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-07-27
rrorn the BORON Herala. yaly 90.

| CRISoLISE IN CoURT-A LADY ARRESTED AND
FINED FOR 0BSTRUCTING THE SIDEwALEs.-One
/ of the most extraordinary cases ever brought
before legal tribunal was witnessed in the Po-
! lice Court on Saturday. An officer complained
of young and remarkably handsome lady for
obstructing the sidewalks of Washington street
| by too great a display of crinolne. As it is
understood that the lady is highly connected, we
will call her Mary Smith, and not expose her
true name.
| Before the complaint was read, Judge Russell
| inquired as to the whereabouts Of the prisoner.
The officer replied that the lady was waiting in
the entry; that himself and two others had en-
deayOred to squeeze her through :he doorways
but they were too narrow, and he wished the
Judges advice in the premises.
Judge said that it was an extraordinary case
the constitution guaranteed to every one an
open trial, and he would not hold a session i'll
the entry even to please lady. Under the cir
Icumstances, he recommended that Miss Smith
be moved from the entry to the front door, and
he thought that she must spread considerable
not to be able to take her place in the prisoners
dock
The experiment was tried and found to an
swer admirably---the door being some twenty
and with frown of indignation upon her pretty
brow Miss Smith found herself face to face with
the judge and listened TO the complaint which
was read to her.
The officer testified that half dozen times
during the week he had been obliged to step
from the sidewalk to enable the defendant to
pass Once he came very near being run over
] by passing carriage, and he inquired of the
Judge whether the city government would have
allowed pension to his widow in case he had
been killed.
The Judge said that he should reserve his
opinion until some time next week on that point,
and inquired whether the circumference of the
| lady was not produced BY natural causes.
The police officer said that he was the father
| of sixteen children, and if he was lucky, he eX-
pected an addition to his family next month
| He had never known his wife TO occupy half so
much space us Miss Smith, and he hoped she
never would, as he disliked twins.
! The court rebuked the levity of the man and
/ told him he must trust to Providence.
The officer said that he should, but if PrOVi-
dence continued to favor him, he meant to pe-
tition for an increase of slavery, and he thought
he ought to have it.
The court intimated that his remarks were
irrelevant to the case, and inquired if he had
any further testimony to offer.
The officer said that he had. He had request
ed the prisoner two or three times not to stop on
the sidewalk, as people were unable to pass
without going into the street, which at times
was inconvcnient to ladies wearing paper solcd
shoes, owing to the outrageous manner in which
! the thorOughfares were watered.
The court, in summing up, said that the evil
was one of great magnitude, and should be
checked by vigorous measures There was nc
statute under which too great display of Grin
Oline came, bat he should take the responsible
~ of imhcting n fine of So and costs, and he
hoped it would be a warning.
The fine was promptly paid and Miss Smith
was discharged