Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-29
ANOTHER COWHTDING CASE.

ANOTHER COWHYDTNG CASE.
Edward TatnalI Assaulted by Mrs.
Kate Courtney-rhc AggrayatiOn
Which Led TO Tie AssaUIt-What
the Parties TO the Affair Have To
Say.
Another cowhiding sensation is the
subject of interest present the aggressor
in this cass being Mrs. Kate Courtney
wife of Henry b Courtney of the Swift
IL Courtney * Beecher Company, parlor
match manufacturers. The victim was
Mr.. Edward Tatnall, well-known florist
and spoken of by all who know him as a
worthy and estimable gentleman.
Mr.. Courtney is man of medium size,
Weighing about $50 pounds, rather spare
of flesh but with good development of
muscle, and apparently between 40 and 80
years OF age.
Mrs. Kate Courtney is a rather small
woman, with dark hair and eyes. She has
II small round head, and her sparkling
eyes and general tut ensemble carries with
it an impression of life aud viyRcity,
general good humor and quick temper.
MIR. Tatnall is man OF about 60 years
of age, about medium aizs and wears Il full
gray beard. Physically he is no match
for Mr.. Courtney, even were he not
restrained by religious principles from
raising his hand against another.
THE ASSAULT.
Mr.. Courtney lives ut Sixteenth and
King streets, opposite Lea's south-side
mill, and the assault was committed nearly
in front of his house Friday. Mr.. Tatnall
was walking out from his store, in Market
street above Eighth, to his home In one of
the old blue granite houses just over the
bridge in Brandywine village. He
stopped into neighboring store
to get cigar and the slight delay gave
his assalants time to prepare for the
attack. Just as he reached the triangular
space at the foot of King street he was
met by Mrs. Kate Courtney, who, without
a word that the bystanders could hear, at
once assaulted him, striking him over the
head, face, neck and shoulders with a
kind of leather whip. Mr.. Tatnall
attempted no resistance hut. holding his
folded umbrella in front of him, backed
slowly off followed up by the irate woman
who piled her whip vigorously for about
10 minutes All this time the husband of
Mrs Courtney stood by, encouraging the
assault with such expressions as "Give it
to him, Kate!" Lay it on the scoun-
drel !" "Let him have it WE'LL"
1t was Just about o'clock and the scene
was witnessed by an increasing crowd of
mill employees and others just starting home
from work. No one, however, attempted
to interfere.
Mr.. Tatnall was not seriously hurt by
the assault Il dark place around and above
his left eye and slightly swollen face
being about the only noticeable marks.
He says that he received about 30 cuts of
Mrs. Courtney's whip. In less than an
hour after .he affair he had visited the
Mayors office and sworn out warrants fo1
the arrest of Mr.. aud Mrs Courtney.
THE CAUSE OF THE ASSAULT.
resulted from the publication of the
following item in the Morning Neus Of
Thursday last:
Mr.. Edward Tatnall, the employer of Mr.
Hayden. who is the hero of the elopemen
detailed in yesterdays Ddiiy Ne,rs, says thai
the latter gentleman is a grown man, trust
worthy and competent; that the yount
woman whom he has made his wife il only
step-daughter of Mr.. Courtney's and tina
she will come of right into 100000 when sh,
is of age.
The elopement referred to has already
been fully reported The word "s,ep
daughter" was the chief aggravation
considered by Mrs. Courtney as a rtfeo
tion upon her reputation. The allusioi
to the $50, 000'' is also construed as al
additional grievance, MIR. Courtney con
-. L.. "a ..,a =.
his private affairs.
SHE WILL Do IT AGAIN.
A JOURNAL representative callet
upon Mr.. Courtney and asked him if h
had anything to say regarding the affair
Mr.. Courtney replied that Mr.. Tatnall hat
only got portion of what he deserved
and said that he had himself refrainet
from taking hold of Mr., Tatnsll because,
he continued, II would not have knowr
when to stop, if I had done so
Bring that whip here, Kate" said h.
to his wife, who soon returned with tb
article.
"There," said Mr. Courtney, handing
it to the reporter, chats what sh,
lathered him with; and she will do i
again, too, won't you Kate?"
Mrs. Courtney said that she would.
"If she don't I'll whip her." continued
Mr.. Courtney. "The scoundrel; as is i
wasn't enough that we should lose ou
daughter in the way we did, without his try
ing to make people believe that she was no
my child 1t she is not mine, whose chil'
is she, want to know. Don't thos
children all look like me?" he asked
| directing the reporters attention to The
group standing around, five or six il
number. aud ranging between the ages o
3 and Is wears.
"Kate" he said, II want you whel
we 20 before the Mayor I,
swear that Laura is my child, so tha
people may know that there. is no truth il
this slaDder"
MIR. Courtney spoke rapidly and vebem
emily, charging Mr.. Tatnall with man.
misdeeds, and closed by saying "Giv
him good blast, such as he deserves, AM
| sign my name to it, /" .
II am going to protect the honor of M,
family" said he, ''and if any editor say
anything against me for doing 80 an
going to knock him down like man."
The weapon which Mrs. Courtney use,
is fashioned somewhat after the style @
the regulation cat 1t consists of piec
of leather about three feet long and littl
over nm inch wide, one end of which il
bAnt over and riveted, form,ng a loop-lik'
handle The other end is split into fou
thongs each about two feet long aud from
II quarter 10 half inch in width
| . MIR TArNALI. SILENT.
Mr. Tatnsll, on being approached, TX
| pressed desire TO SAY nothing about tb
matter, renarking, however that he di,
not authorize the assertion in the Mem
that Laura is Mr.. Courtpey's step-daugh
tor. Il blame the Neps more than | d.
them," he said, alluding to his ASSISTANTS
He expressed desire to have the cas-
settled, with as little trouble as possible
before the Mayor, and did not wish it t
go to court. II have always been frien,
to Mr. Courtney" he added. II do no
wish to say anything more about it; if
had not talked to newspaper men thi
would not have happened.
HELD FOR COURT.
Mr.. and Mrs. Courtney were arraiPne
before Mayor Almond Friday morning ,
answer the charge preferred by MIR. Tat
nall. William o. Spruance appeared TO
the defendants, and retired with MI
Courtney for a brief consultation. Th
police Office was fairly jammed with spec
tators and witnesses, long list of th
latter having been summoned.
The consultation between Mr.. Courtne
and his counsel lasted but few minute
and Mr.. Spruance then addressed tn
Mayor saying that the law defined tn
| iurisdintion of His Hnnnr in this cesa q