The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-04-27
The Female Fight.

One OF the features OF thepaSt week mas Deen
the trial of Miss Mary Stevens, for assault and
battery, committed on the 9Th day of March upon
Mcpherson Of Mrs. Laura 3. Chase, in the village
of Bristol. This case was entitled "State OF
Wisconsin as Mary Stevens" and was tried at
the court house before Justice Stebbins-Dist
Attorney j V. Quarles and U, Quarles for the
State, and Messrs j: L Williams: Of Waukegan
and Baker and Schof for defendant.
The trial jury trial, md was called last
Monday afternoon, lasting Ill Tuesday evening.
Ire Juay hen We " w -. y.
Kelley and Richard Drom.
The case was opened on the part of the State
by Mr.. G. Quarles, and for defendant by Mr..
William s.
Mr. Saphronia Perrigo, being sworn, testified
that she was walking with Mrs. Chase fIom Mr.
Perrigo's house and going to Mr.. Chase's house,
Mr. Stevens l saw Mary standing on the porch
with a stick in her hand by her side AS WI got
nearly opposite the gate, she came down to the
| gate, came out, went past and behind me, and
| took hold of Mrs. Chase and delC her several
| blows and kn ecked her down. She struck her
with club about two feet Tonga white stick.
/ | told her 10 stop. when she knocked me doAn.
Then che went Tor Mrs. Chase again, and followed
her till sh got nearly across the street. l did
| not hear Mrs. Chase say anything-if she had /
would have heard it This was about 10 O'Clock
/ in the morning Mary was standing on the porch
| and her brother was standing by her side. We
had not been talking about Mary-We were talk
| ing abont pies and cakes"
Mrs Laura E. Chase sworn:-I had been to
Mrs. Perrigo's the morning of the SEh, of March,
|
Peirigo and started TO go to my house. My
hoCse is or 10 rods from Stevens When we
got nearly opposite Stevens house, Mary burst
open the gate, and received several blows
mary had club In her hand. I knocked
down. but got up and started for home. look
| ed back and she was at Mrs. Perrigo. She left
| her and attached me again dealing blows till
got nearly across the road. She had hold of my
cape, and pulled hard that was almost
cho ked The fastening of the cape gave way
and / got away from her and went home. The
blows produced three large punches my head.
about the size of half heh's egg; and / was
sore all over. For five days could not get out
of my bed in the morning without helm She
struck on the hand breaking my ring which
i cut my finger; and my thumb was Swelled for
several days. think the club was as large as
my wrist, about two feet long, and was white
| here was not VOID spoken during the fracas
that heard. / did not say there is the nasty
bitch. said nothing about Mary that morning
gate when first saw him. He there during
the fracas, but did not participate in the affair."
! There were four other witnesses sworn on be
halt of the state, but their evidence was not very
material as regards the fact of assault and bat
terry.
Mary Stevens sworn:-I saw Mrs. Chase and
| Mrs. Perrigo, the 9Th. of March come out of Mr.
Perrigo's house. was on the stoop of nv
brothers. house, scrubbing the stoop When the
ladies were nearly opposite my brothers
house Mrs. Chase pointed at me and
called me nasty bitch. She was almost ND to
the house at the time. I caught up the clothes
stick and went for her. struck her and broke
stick about ten inches long which she
identified as part OF the stick in question J
The stick was what we used to lift clothes out OF
the boiler when washing. 1t was made from a
broom handle, with one end aattened, and was
about twice as long as this piece. had hold of
the large end, which carried into the house
with me ana afterwards put it in the stove. This
piece was left at the gate and picked up after
wards. | made more than one attack on Mrs
Chase When attacked her the first time, Mrs.
, Pelrlgo took hold OF me and tried to stop me-
pushed her and she fell down. Then went for
Mrs. Chase again. was arrested week ago to-
day ana have been under arrest ever since. The
stick was laying on a box which was on the stoop.
l was standing on the sIoop with the broom in
my hand when the ladies came up AS they
passed Mrs. Chase said There is that nasty bich''
l threw Gown the broom and took up the stick.
MRS Chase was walking on the inside next to
the fence when struck her. Mrs. Perrigo inter-
fered and OOk mold of me. push ed her and she
tell down. Then went Tor Mrs Chase again.
van Stevens, brother of Mary Stevens, sworn
I was present when the difficulty occurred OF
= the eth OF March | was in the house near the
door at the time. did not see the ladies till
they came near the gate l heard Mrs Chase call
:. Mary DIRTY bitch. Mary was scrubbing the
stoop. She took up the clothes stick and wen
oct and pounded Mrs. Chase. (The same piece
of sick shown him. I know that is the stick
i Mary haq, Tor made it myself out of broom
r. hanole. IL was the small end of the handle, anG
hattened the larger end of the stick Mary pu
he other part IL the stove. The whole stick Wai
about twice as long as this piece. / was stand
ing about TWO feet from the kitchen door whel
n they came near the gate The cate is lust op
!: Rosite the door. The first thing [ saw was MRS
> Perrigo pitching into Mary. MARY pushed at he
and he fell down. hen Mary went Tor Mrs
Chase, end followed her or S rods 1 did 10
thing.
d Another brother OF Mary Stevens was sworr
It his evidence was only corroborative
rhe prosecution recalled several of the othe
e witnesses who swore that the stick on exhibttio
was not part of the stick which the defenda1
welded on that occasion The case closed b
y arguments by the attorneys
~ Tne jury returned verdict of guilty. and til
court fixed the fine at $25, 90 and costs.