The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-08-05
Crlnoline in Court.--A lady arrested and
Fined for obstructing the Sidewalks.

tFrom the Boston Herald, July 2o)
One OF the most extraordinary cases eve
brought before legal tribunal, was wines
sed IN the Police Court on Saturday. An OF
hcer complained of young and remarkabl,
handsome lady for obstructing the sidewalk
OF Washington street by too great displa,
OF crlnollne. As it is understood that thu
lady is highly connected, we will call hel
Mary Smith and not expose her true name
helore the complaint was read, Judge RI
sci inquired as to the whereabouts Of tl,t
prisoner The officer replied that the lady
was waiting in the entry; that himself anC
two others had endeavored to squeeze her
| through the doorways, but they were too mar
row, and he wished the Judge advice in the
premises.
The Judge said it was an extraordinary
case; the constitution granted to every one
an open trial, and he would not hold a session
IN the entry even to please lady. Under
the circumstances he recommended that Miss
Smith be moved from the entry to the from,
door; and he thought that she must spread
considerable not to be able to take her ola CO
In the prisoners dock.
The experiment was tried and found to
answer admirably-the door being. some
twenty feet wide, very little comprising was
needed-and with frown ofindignation up-
on her pretty brow, Miss Smith found her
self face to face with the Judge, and listened
to the complaint which was read to her.
The oifleer testified that half dozen times
during the week hehad been obliged to step
from the sidewalk to enable the defendent 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 a 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 circumfer-
ence oitile lady was not produced by natural
causes.
The police officer said that he was the faith
er OF sixteen Children and if no was lucky,
he expected an addition to his family next
month. lie had never known his wife to
occupy half so much space as Miss Smith.
and he hoped she never would, az he disliked
twins.
The court rebuked the levity of the man
and told him he must trust to Providence,
The othcer said that he should but lf Prov
idence continued to favor him he meant to
petition for an increase of salary, and ha
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 he had. lie had reoues-
ted the prisoner two or three times not to
stop on the sidewalk, as people were unable
70 pass without going into the street, which
1t times was inconvenient to ladies' wearing |
paper soied shoes, owing to the outrageous
manner in which the thoroughfares were
vatered
The court, in summing up, said that the
wi was one ofgreat magnitude, and should
'e checked by vigorous measures. There
vas no statue under which too great a dis.
day OF crinoline came, but he should take
ne responsibility of infic.ing fine of S.
nd costs, and he hoped that it would be a
Farming Ii
The tine was promptly paid, and Miss
NTH was discharged.