American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-10-25
A KISS IN THE DARK.

A KISS IN THE DARK.
How 1t brought IA Married Man Into Liti.
CATION and Family Trouble.
From the Virginia City (Nev.) Chroniclc.l
| Yesterday afternoon John Meeker was
tried before Justice Knox on charges OF
disturbing the peace and assault and bat
terry. The case grew out of a disturb
ance which took place at Il social party
at Mr.. Adams's house, on South f
Street. 1t appears that the defendant,
Meeker, had been invited to a little par
ty at Adams's house on Tuesday even
ing. He attended the party, taking his
girl. Adams, in the course of the even
ing's festivities, began to take liberties
with the girl, and Meeker raised "a row,
which ended in an assault on Adams.
Adams, the complaining witness, tes-
titled that while the frolic was in prog
ress the defendant charged him with
improper conduct toward the young Ia
dy he brought there, and finally assault
ed him, striking him once in the eye
(sye exhibited to the jury.
Attorney for the defense. Mr.. Adams,
did you not deport yourself in an I'M
seemly way toward the young ladyp
The witness Not altogether.
Attorney. Now, didn't you hug herr
Witness. Yes, by mistake. (The Ju-
ry look at one another in establishment
Attorney. Please eApliin.
Witness. l was sitting on the sofa
alongside of my wife, when suddenly a
gust of wind put out the light. After the
light was extinguished l heard a noise
as if people were getting kissed [sensa-
tion], SO thought I'd stand in. Igrab-
bed the lady next to me, thinking it was
my wife, and when the lamp was re-
lighted found that it was Miss Clark
that had hold off. i ,...t- 4...
THE laughter in the room was checked
| by Constable Metcalf.1 SSH +-..,..-,r
Attorney. Did You kiss herr?
| Witness (after some hesitation). /
don't think did. tf, -H-
Attorney. Why are you not sure?
Witness. There was so much confu-
| sion at the
Attorney. Now, don't you know you
| did? l'-1 fif
Witness. won't swear positively
whether did or not.
| Attorney. If you had been sure it
was your wife, would you have kissed
her?
Here the witness looked round uneasi-
wife in the Courtroom, answered, with
a grin, GO No"
| This caused another general laugh,
and the witness left the stand. He was
more than astonished a moment after
when his wife was called. She swept
out from the back room and took the
stand, with her black eyes swapping like
a terriers. At the sight of her, Adams
presented a pitiable appearance and
made himself as smallas possible behind
Constable Metcalf. No man in the
Courtroom would have changed places
with him for $1,000.
| Mrs. Adams had been subp9naed for
| the prosecution, but her husband Ia
| bored under the mistaken belief that she
had been excused. The District Attor-
| ney must have known that it was dam
gerous to put her on the stand, but he
probably could not resist the tempta-
ton. She was more than anxious to
| testify.
ave were havinga little social party
at our house last Tuesday evening. |
was sitting beside my husband on the
sofa, when he asked me to go across the
room and introduce a couple of people
| that weren't acquainted. 1 went, and
just then the light went out. Soon after
Miss Clark, the girl that came with
Meeker, slid over towards my husband
that man sneaking down behind the
Constable. Then heard 'em kissing
L told Meeker that it was a put-up job,
and he knocked my husband down.
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. Every body was rushing to
kiss the girls, and she thought she would
get up near Mr.. Adams for protection,
he being a married man. [Great mer-
| GI11Clt, Ill WHICH tliC NOuIb
joined. ,..=..,-....s. .-..
District Attorney Did he kiss you?
Miss Clark (blushing). He thought 1
was his wife.
The Court, Did you kiss him back,
thinking he was your husband?
At this sally of the Court the specta-
tors laughed uproariously, and it re-
quired several minutes to restore order.
Miss Clark declined to answer, nd
the Court decided that she need OF
| criminate herself.
A young lad named Armstrong, a
nephew of Adams's, swore that his I'M
Gle promised him dollar to blow out
the light when he gave the signal.
Adams scratched the top of his head as
IL signal. He gave the signal just after
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