The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-11-21
miscrlla
A CalamitOus Kiss.

Yesterday afternoon John Meek was tried
before Justice Knox on charges of disturbing
the peace and assault and battery. The case
grew out of a disturbance which took place
at social party at Mr. Adams house, on
South f street 1t appeared that the defen-
dant Meeker had been invited to little party
at Adams 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 MeeSer rails
ed a row, which ended in an assault on Adams
Adams, the complaining witness, testified
that while the frolic was in progress the defen-
dant charged him with improper conduct to-
ward the young lady he brought there, and
finally assaulted him, striking him one in the
eye (eyc exhibited to the jury)
Attorney for the defense-Mr. Adams, did
you not deport yourself in an unseemly way
toward the young lady?
The witness-Not altogether.
Attorney-Now, didn't you hug her.
Witness-Yes, by mistake THE jury look
at one another in establishment.
Attorney-Please explain.
Witncss-l was sitting on the sofa along
side my wife when suddenly gust of wind
put out the light. After the light was eXtin-
guished | heard noise as if people were get
ting kissed sensation, so thought I'd stand
in. | grabbed the lady next to me, thinking
it was my wife, and when the lamp was re-
lighted found it was Miss Clark that had
hold Of
[The laughter in the room was checked by
Constable Metcalf1
Attorney-Did you kiss her?
Witness (after some hesitation)-I don't
think did
Attorney Why are you not sure?
Witness-There was so much confusion at
the
Attorney-Now, don't you know you did ?
Witness-l 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 around uneasily for
few seconds, and not seeing his wife in the
courtroom, answered with grin, mo"
This caused another general laugh, and the
witness left the stand He was more than as
tonished moment after, when his wife was
called She swept out from the back room
and took the stand with her black eyes snap
Adams presented pitiable appearance, and
made himself as small as possible behind Con-
stable Metcalf. No man in the courtroom
would have changed places with him for a
thousand dollars.
Mrs. Adams had been subpenaed for the
prosecution, but her husband labored under
the mistaken belief that she had been excused.
The District Attorney must have known that
it was dangerous to put her on the stand, but
he probably could not resist the temptation.
She was more than anxious to testify.
"Wewere having n little social party at our
house last Tuesday evening was sitting be-
side my husband on the sofa when he asked
me to go across the room and introduce a
couple of people that were not acquainted
| went and just then the light went out
Soon after Miss Clark, the girl that came with
Meeker, slid over toward my husband-that
Then heard 'em kissing. | told Meeker that
it was a put-up job, and he knocked my hus-
band down. ] thought he did just right"
Miss Lucy Clark, who lives on North Stew
art 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 married man. [Great
merriment, in which the Court unwillingly
joined
District Attorney-Did he kiss you?
Miss Clark (blushing)-IIc thought was
his wife.
The Court-Did you kiss him back, think
ing he was your husband?
Az tnls sally OF the Court the spectators
laughed uproariously, and it required several
minutes to restore order.
Miss Clark declined to answer, and the
Court decided that she need not criminatc
herself
A young lad named Armstrong, nephew
of Adams, swore that his uncle promised
him dollar to blow out the light when he
gave the signal. Adams scratched the top OF
his head as 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 VaRntd City Chronicle.