The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-06-11


CITY Of oantoa '. Caspsr andLOussa
3a1ssr-AnoEho- LuEsresting Case.
O1lest Thursday sveaiDg, in the Opera
House, began the trial Of Casper and
Louisa Balser, charged with violating an
ordinance of b city Of Canton, By distur-
blng tbs lpeace and using profane and
scandalous language. The circumstance
under which this charge was made, were
Identical WIththose given last week in
the report ofthe triGlof Ohio against p.
d. Ely, which our readers will well re-
member. This case was tried before the
Mayor and submitted TO ajury composed
Of the following we'll known citizens: John
Weagley, L. Alexander, Joseph L. Essig,
John Schilling. George Double, w. B.
Perkins. Henry GeetiDg, Frank Meyer,
Frederick Shively, Luther r. Hicks James
LAWN and Henry Fisher. Messrs. NsKln-
ley and Lynch were counsel for the prose-
'%cution. and s. Meyer and L. Schefer
managed the case in the interests Of the
defendants. Court was called early on
Tuesday evening by Mayor Shields, and
the case was opened with the testimony
Tor the prosecution, substantially as fol-
lows: fira
The lady crusaders, numbering
9oO0N ~ NA1AtC4 Lu6 uIOACLY VI AaSPCA
Balser on the afternoon Of Fnday, May
18th, and forming a line along the curb.
began their exercises; one Of the defend
ants, Mrs. BAlser came out with q broom,
nd VII lie others carried and poured water
upon the pavement, she scrubbed it upon
the clothes of the ladies. Quite q crowd
congregated about the place. and Mrs.
Balser was frequsntly requested 10 desist
from ~scEubbIng by Mr.. Ely, but she refus-
ed TO do 30. Soon police officer A. G.
Eitnoir came upon the scene and after
having removed the ob~struetinR crowd
from the sidewalk, he also went mp 70
Mrs Balser and requested her TO quit
scrubbing water upon the ladies, she re-
fused again. and Was informed BY Eitnor
that unless abe desisted he should arrest
her Mrs. Balssr then said in German
why take me2 Why not remove these
ID; referring 10 the ladies, and US
ing terms not tobe given in this report Mrs
B. continued sweeping the water, and the
policeman took hold Of her, when she
threw a bucket Of water upon him: then
began q struggle between ohcer Eitnoir
on one hand, attempting 10 arrest Mrs.
BGlser, and her children and hu sband on
the other part. who chung 10 her tenac-
iously in endeaVcrs to effect her release:
49, l6AG-Aah ~ SIAaA -
great rate. Eitnoir called for assistance
and two or three men came up and took
Mr.. Balser away, while the officer still
chung TO Mrs. B. but soon released her at
the I~nterposition Of Mr.. B. Dannemiller,
and went after her husband whom be took
in charge, under . formal arrest. The
prosecution produced strong testimony to
the fact that both DESCENDANTS had greatly
disturbed the peace and made use Of most
obscene and scandulous terms toward the
ladies there assembled. Such in sub
stance wa the evidence offered by the
prosecution.
The evidence in behalf Of the defense is
briefly condensed in the following:
The ladies arrived and halted at Bal
ser's between s and 4 O'Clock on the after
noon Of Friday, May 18th, when Mrs. Bal
ser went to them and said they should
move on Is abe wanted 10 scrub, she re-
eeived no answer, and went on TO scrub
the pavement a. she had frequently done.
Mr.. Ely then came and endeavored 70
make her cease the work, but she did not.
When policeman Eitnoir came be also Or
dered her TO stop, but she told him 10 or
der the women 10 move on and she would
defer her scrubbing until they We're gone;
be refused to do this and she continued
her labor, when he took hold Of her she
told him to release her or she would strike
him with her broom. she then brought
more water and was about TO continue
s~crubbing when Eitnoir again tried
TO prevent her, and she threw the water
on him from the bucket. he then said,
Nov ] Will arrest you, you have splash
ed water on me" and Immediately procee-
ded 10 the execution Of his purpose, a. be
held her by one arm, her husband and
children chung to the other arm and to her
clothes and attempted 70 release her from
the officer; other men came and took her
husband away; it Was stated that Eitnoir
was rough in his treatment Of her, and
that her clothes were torn and she was
bruised and injured.
Thursday, Friday and Monday even
ings, and part of Tuesday afternoon were
consumed In the examination Of the wit
nesses. The argument was opened on
; Tuesday afternoon By MAJOR Mckinley,
who occupied almost an hour in speaking.
He stated that question to &c determined
was not connected with the rights Of the
> crusade ladies; whether they were q nuis-
snee or not, was q matter not involved in
, this trial; wen If it was q nuisance, the
: defendants had not the right TO abate K at
! the cost Of g breach Of the peace. He re-
viewed the testimony briefly.
Mr.. SchHfer followed in q long TRADE in
his usual style and on his highest key Of
broken English. Personal filings were Ia
order and he called the Temperance ladies
"sanctiied hypoerites" going around to
{ "raise hell" In one Of his violent fightl
the Mayor called him 70 order and notified
him he would tolerate no such language
in his court. This emphatic admonition
had q sanitary effect.
! Col. S. Meyer followed with an able ar
: gument rendered in a different manner,
i. and occupying some three hours in de-
. livery. He e~ndeavored 10 showthe jurors
( that abe ladies of the crusade imagined
themselves to be the messenger and
instruments Of God for the purpose Of ef-
feoting q reformation, and that they were
lAboring under a hallucination, and were
not entitled to full credit as witnesses
/ giving testimony. Throughout his argu-
msnt he evineed deep research and q care
ful study Of the case in all its bearings.
The trial was 70 have been continued
: on Wednesday evening. bat owing to the
8 illness Of one of the jurOrs. Mr.. Perkins, II
was postponed until this morning.
The conclusion viii be given next week