National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-11-24
Married on False Prctcnses.

Tho case of Joseph S. Fleming charged with
committing nm assault upon his wife with intent L
kill came on for trial before Justice Hagner in the
Criminal court, yesterday. The circumstances Of
the case are somewhat novel.
Myrn Henry and Joseph s. Flemming at one
time were both employees Of the Government
Printing Office and after an mountaineering OF
five and half months she yielded to hisimporlun-
ing and consented TO be his wife. On Thursday
october 2. 1879, they We're married in Baltimore,
Md. and returned TO this city the following Mon.
day. The following Thursday, one week after the
marriage they had = dispute IN which lac assaulted
her, II Is alleged, with intent 10 kill.
The full facts are more explicitly shown by her
testimony, which was as follows:
She had known Mr.. Fleming five and half
months, and they were married IN Baltimore Oc-
tubcr 2 1879 they returned to this city and boarded
at i3j NJ street northwest the assault upon her
took place in tho second story above the basement
front room; she went out riding OH Thursday after
noon with lady whose husband was employed In
tho Government Printing Office, and they both
were friends Of Mr.. Elliott who was foreman In
the room In which Mr.. Fleming had worked; Mt.
Elliott sent her q message by the lady ana she
spoke TO Mr.. Fleming that evening about IL, and
said IL he had been an honorable man he would
have Informed her before marriage that he was
discharged from his position; she urged him TO 90
to work and he refused; she then said that as he
had deceived her so and would not go to
work, she would not live with him; he
tried TO Induce her 10 change her mind
but she was firm and went down stairs. lie
came after her and tried TO her to reconsider
her decision, hut she refused. lie then said.
will kill mysclfbc!ore you're eyes" She answered that
he would not, and passed into the dinug.room.
He went back up stairs and called her from the
portico, and promising to do no harm TO her she
won't 10 him. lie asked her TO close the door,
which had q lightlniCh on It. and shepushed 1t TO-
lie then commenced the conversation going over
the same ground before She said that If he had
only that TO say she would go down stairs again. lie
said she should not and pushing her from the door
put his back against 10. She made five attempts to
get out but he would not let her lie asked her II
she was afraid OF him. She said no that She might
be in better company but that she never In
her life did anything ,willfully wrong and was
before they parted. and she replied that she would
IL lie would let her out of the room Immediately
aitcrwnrd. lie refused to do that and she 70 kiss
him. lie said VERY well" and Whatever he had in
his hand he pushed Il into her left side above the
heart, and continued pushing 1t until She had
fallen from standing position to the hoor on her
back. She called murder" ana Mr.. Classic, tho
gentleman OF the house. came ~ the door aud
demanded Ambulance. Mr. Fleming thcreupon
lel her and went to the other side Of the room.
She was so stunned that she could not get up, and
Mr.. Classic went to the door Of All adjoining room
aud then returned. BY that time she had got the
door open. She ran INFO the hail and asked for
protection, saying He has killed me-"
Mr.. Classic replied, "Oh, guess not"
Mr. Fleming said. " did it, ! did H."
She was then placed in the care of MIR. White and
taken to the Office OF DR. NaylOr, and was i'll two
weeks from the effects ofthc attack.
She told Mr.. Fleming that Mr.. Elliott sent her
word that two weeks prior To her marriage he had
given Mr.. Fleming notice that no would be dis.
charged on the LIST of October, and that he could
not be relnStated, and that he was discharged on
account Vi MS lhllure 70 pay MS Dllls also lht ME-
Fleming was not q stereotypcr as he had claimed
10 be, but only lnborcr.
Mr.. Fleming cmphntically denied the truth Of
the statement, asserting that he had permanent
position She heard OF the reports that he had said
he did not intend to work after he was married,
and she said that she was beginning to believe that
the report was true.
lie answered Well, what If dld?'
She then said, " You surely don't intend me to
work for you?'
lie responded, "Well, you worked for your
mother and brothers didn't your
She answered, Ies, but never did and never
viii work for any man.
on cross. examination tho witness testified that
her husband told her while they were In Balti.
more that he had money. was negotiating for Il
house and would purchase 1t, and they would then
go to housekeeping.
At this point The trial was adjourned until this
morning.