Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-24
BEFORE JUSTICE THOMAS.


tice Thomas yesterday afternoon. The first
was the case Of the state against A. c. Ben
nett 70 rassault and battery. This is the squab-
bic referred to in the EAGLE few days ago
as having taken place at the Richey house.
The Sacts brought out in the evidence re-
vealed as ugly a state of Things in connec-
ton with the parties as could well be mag
ined. T. B. Wall conducted the prosecu-
ton, and J. w. C. Jones defended. 1t APP
pears that sort Of smothered war had been
going on between Bennett and two women
for some time, which eliminated in pitch
ed battle on the 18th inst. The names Of the
female warriors are Mrs. Green and Miss AL
ice Blanchard. Mrs. Green was the first wit
ness introduced; she possesses an abundance
Of cheek, well powdered, and the way she
rolled out testimony, embellished with cuss
words and fancy epithets, was holy terror.
When Mr.. Jones began to cross-examine her
she turned upon him and set her face in as
brassy mould as she could. Instead Of be-
ing bulldozsd by the disciple of Blackstone,
she actually cowed him. II WAS no trouble
to her to give evidence, and she could not be
made to contradict herself, she would
balk at nothing. She was quite u traveller.
having been in Springfield, Mo-, Carthage,
St. Louis and in Virginia within the present
year. The other damsel was strawberry
blond and she wore Cleveland
badge. She could testify as fast as
quarter horse could run and
could spit out the cuss words and pet
names equally as well as the other. 1t APP
pears that Bennett, who was a clerk for Mr..
Richey, went into the dining room on an
errand; in consequence OF the bad feeling ex-
isting between him and the women, the red
haired damsel ordered him out, when quar-
rel ensued and in the racket Bennett pushed
or showed her. the other woman then come
forward and told him not to strike her. Ben
nett said he thought she had pistol under
her apron, and he struck her and drew a
piece of whip handle out of his inside peck
ct and threatened to knock some Of their
brains out. They also swore that he had
threatened to shoot them. Squire Thomas,
in view of the evidence could not but find
the defendant guilty, but owing to the fact
that the women by their manner in court
had shown that they were not angels by any
means, he imposed fine Of SIS but owing
to the er.enusting circumstances which ap-
peared during the trial, portion Of the fine
was RENTED and the remainder together
with the costs was promptly paid. Thus
ended the war but hostilities may be renew
ed at at any time.
The next case was that of the state against
VIM. Robinson for an allegnd forgery. The
facts in the case appears to be that Robson
on the ninth of the present month
presented two checks for payment at the
ksnsas National bank of this city, Mr..
Hyde, the cashier, it appears suspected that
there might be something wrong. He
brought them to Col. Lewis, the president,
who asked Robinson to come into his private
Office. He then told Robinson that he would
have to endorse the checks before he could
get the money, this he readily consented to
do. When Col. Lewis saw the endorse
ment he Was satisfied that the same hand had
filed out the same checks. One of them
was for $50 and the other for S43.25. One
of the checks was drawn in favor Of William
Rice and the other in favor of man named
Smith. The prisoner told Col Lewis that
be had received the checks from Mr.. Rice.
The checks were signed c. E. Barwise per
2. Baucher. Col Lewis got him TO write
Mr.. Barwise's name on a piece Of paper,
Robinson wanted to see the signature Oh the
checks before doing this, but the Colonel
would not let him have them. The writing
on the checks and that on the paper cores
ponded, and the banker was satisfied that
the checks were forged. He took Robinson
before Justice Thomas, and q warrant was
issued. Mr.. Barwise is a grain dealer, and
r. w. Baucher does business for him at
Garden Plain. Robinson worked for him
sbovel;ng grain, and at other work around
the place. Baucher issue9 checks in pay
ment for grain, signed c. z. Barwise by f.
w. Baucher. Three checks No. IA, Is and
l6, had been taken from his check-book
about the time that Robinson presented the
checks at the bank, and the numbers cor
responded TO those of the missing checks.
ar. Barwise and his buyer identified the
checks which were produced at the exami-
nation as being similar to those taken from
their book, and Col. Lewis swore that the
signatures TO the checks and the endorse
ment by Robinson were the same hand
writing. Mr.. 7. 3. Wall, counsel for the
defendant, claimed that it was not forgery,
as one of Baucher's initials did not
appear on the check, and that name that
had no existence was not forgery, this,
however, did not stick as no other Baucher
or Baryise was known in or around Garden
Plain. The prisoner was held in $500 bonds
10 appear at the present term of court.