The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-11-20
A BALLROOM CONTROVERSY.
The Episode that MARRIED the Harmony O
Nevada

The Episode that MARRIED the Harmony of
Nevada Dance.
From the Virginia City New Chronicle
Charles Clarkson was tried yesterday
afternoon for assauIting William
Mitchell on Friday evening last. The
parties reside in this city, but the trouble
Flat. Mitchell testified that he went
down to American Flat last Friday
evening to attend a ball given for the
benefit of poor widow As a rule he
did not care much for social dances, but
he wont to this one to assist the widow
While a quadrille set was forming on
the floor he noticed that ClarksOn, who
had taken a position on the side, went
across and whispered to couple oppo-
site him. He overheard enough to
know that a conspiracy was forming be-
tween the two side couples to dance the
first figure-a figure always danced in
well 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'a ard
and back" he broke for the center of
the floor. All of the dancers in his set
| did the same, and the result was that
there was violent quadr1ateral col
hsion. 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, y
wasn't a circumstance to the scene of
confusion there enacted. During the
row, Mitchell received black eye and
a swelled nose from Clarkson's energet-
ic 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 cOu
pie 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 that he had BACKED the
| compliments eye, but he made prin-
ciple at dance to hold his own against
all corners. He would allow no man on
earth to indulge in any funny bust
ness " at his expense.
Thomas Jenkins, a man who had fur
nished the music for the dance, was
put on the stand. He said it was usual
to dance lengthwise of the cracks, I'M
less the hall was larger the other way.
| Witness. If the cracks run length
wise of the hall the head couple dance
| along the cracks, and if the hall is large
across 'em.
The Court Suppose you have a
| square room, carpeted, and no cracks
in sight, what do you do in that caseP''
The witness. You dance toward the
music.
The Court. Where was the music on
this occasion?
The witness. In the corner.
| The Court. If the cracks ran across
the hall, and the hall was larger the 9th
er way, and the music was in the corner,
how could you expect people to dance
straight
The witness was completely dumb
founded by this joint consolidated ques-
| ton. He made no reply, but stared
| helplessly about the room. He was
finally dismissed. Several other wit
nesses testified as to how the cracks il
the floor ran. Some were of the Opin
| ion 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 cracks?'' and answered
promptly:
81 got crack on the head with {
stove-poker, and it ran north and south
| as near DIS L can G0COlOCG-
This reply caused some merriment
but the Constable was fully equal to the
| occasion.
John R. Briggs who was at the ball
told his experience in this way:
"When the row opened up, l sash
aged over to the center of the room aud
| got q lift under the ear, and I let out
my left at the man who hit mel
Justice Moses Gocosely). a sort OF
| aleyman left movement, Ell?
The witness. Yes, your Honor. Their
got kicked in the stomach, and the
women screamed, and the lights went
out. got some fellows head in chan,
Gerry and hammered away at it as long
as l could hold it.
The District Attorney. Didn't you
| know who it was?
| The witness. Haven't any idea.
was just trying to hold my chances levG
with the crowd.
The case then went to the jury, who
returned a verdict of not guilty.