Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-25
A Kiss in the Dark.
AN ASTONISHING PICTURE OF SOCIAL CUSTOMS OUT


AN ASTONISHING PICTURE OF SOCIAL CUSTOMS OUT
IN NEVADA.
from the Virginia Chronicle
Yesterday afternoon John Meeker was triea
before Justice Knox on the charge OF disturbing
the peace and assault and battery. The case
grew out OF disturbance which took place at n
social party at Mr.. Adams's house on South F
street 1t appeared that the defendant MeeSer,
had been invited to q little party at Adamss
house on Tuesday evening. He attended the
party, taking his girl. Adams, in the course OF
the evenings festivities; began to take Liberties
with the girl, and Meeker raised row, which
ended in an assault on Adams.
Adams the complaining witness. testified that
while the frolic was in progress the defendant
charged him with improper conduct toward the
young lady he brought there. and finally assaulted
him, striking him once in the eye, (eye exhibited
to the jury.)
Attorney for the Defence-Mr. Adams, did you
not deport yourself in an unseemly way toward
the young lady?
Attorney-Now. didn't you hug herr
Wltness-Ies, by mistake. Crhe jury look at
one another in aStOniShment)
Atf0rney-PleaSe explain.
WitneSS-I was sitting on q sofa alongside my
VIE when suddenly gust OF wind put out the
light. After the light was eXtinguiShed heard
,t noise az as i bpeonef Were getting kissed sen
lady next to me, thinking it was my wife. and
Miss Clark that had gotshold of.
1.-THE laughter in the room was checked by
Constable Metcalf.l
AttOrney-Did you kiss her?
Witness (after some hesitattonl-1 don't think
Attorney-Why are you not sure?
WitneS+There was so much confusion at
Attorney-Now, don't you know you did7
Witness-I won't swear positively whether 1
did or not
Attorney-If you had been sure it was your
wife, would you have kissed her?
Here the witness looked round uneasily for a
few seconds, and not seeing his wife in the court
room, answered, with grin, "No!"
This caused another general laugh and the
witness left the stand. He was more than as
tonished moment after when his wife was
took the stand, with her black eyes swapping
like a terriers. At the sight of her, Adams pre-
sented a p1t1able appearance; and made himself
as small as possible behind Constable Metcalf
No man in the court room would have changed
places with him for $1,000.
Mrs. Adams had been subppnaed for the pros
ecutfOn, but her husband labOred under the mis-
taken belief that she had been excused. The
District Attorney must have known that it was
dangerous to put her on the stand, but he prob
ably could not resist the temptation. She was
more than anxious to testify.
"We were having little social party at our
house last Tuesday evening. 1 was sitting be
me to go across the room and introduce
couple of people that weren't acquainted. l
went, and just then the light went out. Soon
after, Miss Clark, the girl that came with
Meeker, slid over toward my husband-that
man Sneaking down behind the constable.
Then heard em kissing. 1 told Meeker that it
was d put-up JOD anu he knOckeu my husband
down. l thought he did just right"
Miss Lucy Clark, who lives on North Stewart
street, testified that she was sitting near Mr.
Adams when the light went out. Everybody
was rushing to kiss the girls, and she thought
she would get up near Mr.. Adams for protection,
he being married man. [Great merriment. In
which the Court unwillingly joned.l
District AttOrney-Did he kiss you?
Miss Clark (blushing)-He thought was his
WIFE,
The Court-Did you kiss him back, thinking
he was your husband?
At this sally of the Court the spectators
laughed uproarlously, and it required several
minutes to restore order.
Miss Clark declined to answer, and the Court
decided that she need not criminate herself.
A young lad named Armstrong, a nephew of
Adams. swOre that his uncle promised him dol
lar to blow out the light when h e gave the sig
nal. Adams scratched the top Of his head as a
signal. He gave the signal just as his wife left
him.
The jury found verdict OF not guilty.
When Adams next has occasion to scratch his
head, it is probable that he will find less hair
there than when he scratched it the last time.
ID