The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-10-14
A Court Room Episode in Nevada.

A COURTROOM Episode in Nevada.
Mrs. Minna Karsten, fair, fat, and
twice twenty, looking like ship under
full sail, with yards upon yards of white
drapery, came to anchor IN Justice
Knox'S court yesterday afternoon. She
was followed by Mrs. Emma Mills, also
under full sail, and wearing an equally
determined expression rs she worked
her japanese fan and tried to look in
different under the admiriug gaze of 4
dozen or so of the caricatures outside
the rail. On the extreme end of the
same bench Mrs. Cody sat in solemn
black. Two other Severe-looking ladies
fanked her, their gentle bOsomS heav-
ing with the Indignation which it mani
feStlv cost them SO much to suppress.
Judge Knox turned a shade paler rs
he glanced furtively at the bench full OF
hostile femininity, and felt justified IN
taking larger chew of tobacco than
usual under the circumstances.
Col. Bob Taylor passed an absent
hand over his hair as he read the com
plant to the jury. That document al-
| Iered that the State of Nevada had been
outraged on Thursday last by the ac-
ton of Mrs. Cody, who had fallen upon
and grievously beaten the said Mrs.
| karSten.
The last-named lady was called to the
witness chair, which she completely
| filled.
sNow, Mrs. Karsten," said Col
Taylor, "please state to the jury the
circumstances of this assault"
"Well, about six weeks ago | sent
nv little boy down to the store of Mrs
Cody, and" ~,
"Oh, your Honor" interrupted I
A. Stevens, counsel for defense, = be-
YOU to make this witness confine hersel
to the assault"
"That's just what l am doing" sait
Mrs. Karsten, red with Indignation
land if you -n
MADAM" said the Court, d
"Well, Judge, -"
/ "Madam -''
81 was going to say, sir -"
"Do YOU hear me, madam" roare'
the Court. "When this Court speak
you hold your tongue! Contine your
self to -'
Judge, will tell you -"
His Honor groaned and brought hi
gavel down like whole battery o
mill-stamps, and said, with a calmnes
born of despair: "Alrs. karSten,
YOU dare to interrupt this Court again
III send you up for contempt
This had the desired effect, and whe
Mrs. Earsten had dumped her testimC
nv it retorted this bullion. Some day
: before the alleged assault she had sen
quantity of bonnet frames to the mi
linerv shop of Mrs. Cody. These Mrs
Cody refused to buy, as they were OLD
fashioned. and she keeps only the late>
STYLES. On Thursday last Mrs. karste
called for her property, when, as sh
! says, Mrs. Cody attempted to palm o
upon her some inferior frames. Sh
t accused the milliner of dishonest.
: whereupOn Mrs. Cody seized her by I'll
arms and attempted to eject her.
"Did YOU strike Mrs. Cody at all?
l asked Mr. Stevens.
: "Me.n cried the lady, in great indl:
q nation; 81 strike that aged woman
e No, sir. And YOU ought to be aShame
to ask such Il question. | would NJ
l strike gray hairs, no matter what the
e did. That's inborn in the Germa
i character.
The imputation so shocked the chi
n alrous instincts of the TeutOnic matrC
h that she was rendered quite useless Il
e a witness, and her place was filled J
Il Mrs. Emma Mills, who supported h
c friends testimony in every point, al
: in addition regaled the Court and publ
n present with scraps of personal hiSto
; which, however, lost something OF eiie
d by being ruthlessly nipped in the bI
! by His Honor.
d Mrs. Cody and her two friends to
an entirely different story. From the
e account it appeared that Mrs. karst
a made the only assault which took plac
IS She then called Mrs. Cody bad name
II and pushed her violently. Notwit
u standing her Unborn repugnance to strl
d inc gray hairs, it was brought to liz
that Mrs. Karsten had attempted
d club Mrs. Cody with her parasol, a.
'e would have succeeded had not friend
n wire caught the descending blow OF
y frightful weapon.
y The case was submitted to the ju
L, without argument, and verdict OF 1
lie Uuiltv was given without leaving
box.
IN And now another attack on the d
nity and peace of the State of Ney9
Of seemed imminent, Mrs. karsten and
T. allv, Mrs. Mills, filled the doorway
w the left of his Honor, and from that
ne trenchment cast scOrnful glances ut
Sc DISCHARGED Jury and the yictorio
5; ladies. Mrs. Cody slid up to the Coz
ed to make a personal explanation OF so
ry sort. When she had finished, she tn
de ed to 90. There stood the smiling e
Ill NV. The temptation was too strong
he female flesh. She said:
-a-dirty-crOwd. Their
Dir Little Mrs. Mills took step forwa
re- clutched her skirts, and stamped
OF foot. She said:
"You're a dirty crowd. There"
i'll "Silence,n shouted the Court, !
Dr. rising. The Jurors paused in their
we going. The jaws of the lawyers or
ed ped. Julius barked merrily, and
en- two ladies with enlarged eyes held e
Igs her dress back from contamination
lse she stared war into the eyes OF
he other. 1t was dreadful moment,
eh- only the bravery of the Chronicle L
al averted a sanguinary conflict. Tn
the pretense of going for glass OF WI
his he walked between the ladies, and
ed speIl was broken. With mutual 81
set the opposing forces went their sew
lie, ways, and the spirit of peace az
n a perched on the bar of justice.-Itrg
an Enterprise.
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