Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-04
A HARVEST DANCE
Where the SaItatory Exercises We're
Suspended and tine Lights Went cut.

Suspended and tine Lights Went cut.
Virginia Nevada Chronicle.l
Charles ClarksOn was tried yester-
day afternoon for assaulting William
Mitchell on Friday evening last. The
parties reside in this city, but the
trouble took place at a ball given on
American Flat. Mitchell testified
that he went down to American Flat
last Friday evening to attend a ball
given for the benefit Of a poor widow.
As a rule, he did not care much for
social dances, but he went to this one
to assist the widow. While a quad
rifle set was forming on the floor he
noticed that Clarkson, who had taken
a position on the side, went across and
whispered to a couple opposite him.
He overheard enough to know that a
conspiracy was forming between the
two side couples to dance the first fig
urea figure always danced in we'll
regulated bathrooms by the head
couples. He determined to assert his
rights, and as soon as the music struck
up and the order was given to for 'ard
and back" he broke for the center of
the floor. All the dancers in his set
did the same, and the result was that
there was a violent quadrilateral col
lision. ClarksOn suddenly hauled off
and hit the witness in the eye. The
fight then became general, and for the
next ten minutes that famous society
event known as Lannigan's ball "
wasn't a circumstance to the scene of
confusion there enacted. During the
row Mitchell received a black eye and
swelled nose from Clarkson's energetic
fist.
Clarkson next took the stand. and
swore that he and his girl were at the
end of the set, and were not a side
couple at all. He had been at a ball
or so in his time, and knew something
of the rules of dancing. According
to the rules, the two head couples
always danced as the cracks of the
floor ran. He had started to dance as
designated by the cracks, and knew he
was right. He admitted hat he had
blackened the compliments eye, but
he made it a principle at a dance to
hold his own against all corners. He
would allow no man on earth to in
dulge in any funny business" at his
expense.
Thomas jenkins, who had furnished
the music for the dance, was put on
the stsnd. He said it was usual to
dance le~ngthwise of the cracks, m
less the hall was larger tie other way.
The COURT don't exactly under
stand you.
Witness-If the cracks run length
wise Of the hall, the head couple dance
along the cracks, and if the hall is
larger across the cracks, why they
dance across em.
The court-Suppose you have a
square room, carpeted, and no cracks
in sight what do you do in that case?
The witness-You dance toward the
music.
The court-Where was the music
on this occasion?
The witness-In the corner.
Ghe ceurt-If the cracks ran across
the hall, and the hall was larger the
other way, and the music was in the
corner, how could you expect the peo-
pie to dance straight
The witness was completely dumb
founded by this joint consolidated
question. He made no reply, but
stared helplessly about the room. He
was finally dismissed. Several other
witnesses testified as to how the
cracks In the floor ran, some f%ancying
that there were no cracks in the floor
at all-at least they didn't notice any.
One witness was asked did you
notice any cracks2' He answered
promptly: Il got a crack on the head
with a stove poker, and it ran north
and south, as near as | can recollect.'
The reply caused some merriment
but the constable was fully equal to
the occasion.
John Il. Briggs, who was at the
ball, told his experience in this way
when the row opened l chasseed
over to the center of the room, and
got a lift under the ear, and | let out
my left at the mai who hit me-.
Justice Moses Gocpsely)-A sort OF
alley=man left movement, Ell?
The witness-Yes, your honor.
Then / got kicked in the stomach,
and the women screamed and the
lights went out. | got some fellows
head in chancery and hammered away
at it as long as | could hold it.
The district attorney-Didn't you
know who it was?
The witness-Haven' any idea. I
was Just trying 10 hold my chances
level with the crowd.
The case then went to the jury,
who returned a verdict of not guilty.