Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-02-19
A Tusslo Over a WIFE.

Something of a scene was enacted in
the passenger coach of the noon train
while standing under the car shed yes
terday. which'attracted no little atten-
ton. 1t seems that Mr.. P. B. Shop
ard has sold his laundry equipments to
some parties in Athen ms, Ala, and they
were shipped yesterday. Dick Day
and Kate Payne, formerly Kate Bur
nett, but now married to John Payn
who had worked for Mr. Shepard, had
obtained employment with the pur-
chasers OF the laundry, and were to
take the noon train, accompanied by
Dicks wife and little babe, for Athens,
Aiaba Ia Q1'ta crowd OF friends Of
the parties were down TO see them off,
ana among the crowd was John
Payne, the husband OF Kate. john, it
seems, WAS opposed to his wife's going,
and his business was to use all bis per
suasive powers to restrain her from
going away and leaving him, and he
had few friends who assisted him
KIT, however, had her head set upon
going, and was not to be swayed by
any of the persuasions of her husband.
she apparently had the bulk Of the
crowd in her sym pathies.
While waiting in ths reception
room there was considerable squads
bling over the question, AMI two or
three times a fight was imminent, so
much so that a policeman was tale,
phoned for. When the train ran in
the bone of contention was rushed by
her friends into the coach and a seat
obtained next to window. The
about to be deserted husband was not
to be outdone, however, and followed
close on her heels into the crowded
coach. The friends Of both parties
and curious spectators rushed in to
witness the scene. The about to
be deserted husband, seeing mat.
ters were about to come 10
a crisis, and seeing she would rot
yield t. persuasion, gathered hold of
his wife and attempted to take her out
of the coach by force, pulling off her
hat and shawl. Shewas more deter
mined than ever, however, and fa-t-
ened her clutches to the seat, avowing
in emphatic terms that she was gong
to Alabama. Dick Day also threw
himself into the breach and seconded
her effort by pushing the husband off,
and fist-fght was fast brewing.
Officer R4ckart appeared on the
scene, and with the help of Wa,chman
Madden and others. got the crowd out
of the Car and quelled the impending
riot. Payne, seeing that he was
about to be foiled and have
his wife torn from him, de,
manded the arrest of Day for assault
ing him. This W Ju!d give him another
chance to ply his persuasive powers.
Ooeying instructions, off GER Ruck art
made the arrest. Dag Wa, reluctant to
surrender saying they had their tick
cts and We're going, but finally yielded
to persuasion. and taking his W fe,
baby and effects, started up to stand
trial. The tables seemed to be turned
now, but the wife was equal to the
emergency, held her position and
avowed that she would go on and
wait for Day in Chattanooga.
Before the arresi ed party had reached
the hall of justice. however, a compro
mise was effected, the deserted hus.
baud seemed to become resigned to his
fat aud offered no further resistance
and Day resumed his seat in the train
with Kate Payne, his wife and baby
and they took their departure il
peace.