Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-18
THE FLORA CASE,

The court room OF Justice Hobbs was
filled with large and eager crowd at an
early hour Friday morning. to hear til
trial of Nj. c. Flora. who was charged with
shamefully assaulting his wife. Frank
Dale and X. NJ. Piatt appeared for the pros
eeution and T. b. Wall for the defense.
Court was called 10 order at about 10
O'Clock and Mrs. Flora was the first wit
ness 10 take the stand. She has the APP
trouble, but is disposed TO look upon the
| cheerful side of life. She is some thirty
hve years of age, We should judge, and is
above the average in comliness. Her right
cheek yet bore evidence of the severe blow
she had received IRON her husband She
was calm and gave her evidence In a
careful manner, which at once i'm
pressed the court and spectators
that she was combining herself to
the truth. She said that the
assault occurred one week ago last Sabbath
at her home on the corner opposite the
Presbyterian church, where she has been
and is now engaged in keeping a boarding
her husband they had separated and were
not living together for the three weeks
prior TO the assault. On the Sunday MORN
ing in question Flora came to her house,
took the keys, and ordered the boarders
out; later he took knife and swore that
he would kill hei, but she broke away
from his grasp and the neighbors came TO |
her aid. Flora then went away, but re-
turned for the fourth time. She refused 10 |
let him in, and he br oke in the back door. /
He drew knife and asked her if she would |
live with him, and swore that if she refus.
ed he would take her life. She refused his
request, aid ran towards the front OF the
house and out into the yard, followed by
Flora, who seized her by the back hair
just as she stepped of the porch. and
struck her three hard blows, Telling her to
the ground, where she laid for some min
utes unconscious, until picked up by the
neighbors. From the effects OF his blows
she was confined to her bed for several
days.
Il. +. Fuller was next called and testified
that he heard the fuss Mt Flora's house and
ran over to see what was the matter. Flora
drew aknife on him, but failed to Use it,
ind finally acknowledged that he (Fiora)
was liar, etc. Later in the forenoon, and
as people were going to church he heard
another disturbance, and saw Flora in the
act of striking his wife.
DR.. Ray swore that he saw Flora draw
his knife on Mr.. Fuller and also strike Mrs.
Flora two heavy blows, one OF which
knocked her down.
Flora, on being put ON the stand, swore
that he was fired by jealousy and poor
whisky, and didn't know what he was do
ing. He said he got up in the morning az
ter a restless night, took two glasses of
whisky, and didn't know anything that
afterward.
The Gaze was then argued by
the counsel on either side, all
three OF the attorneys making good speechs.
At the CONCLUSION OF the arguments Judge
Hobbs delivered few timely remarks, CIV
ing Mr. Flora 10 understand that il he
lFloral was man of property he would
fine him to the fullest extent of the law.
But as he was poor man he placed his fine
nt 500 and cost, which will aggregate $50.
In our judgment the action OF the court
was extremely lenient, ard Mr.. Flora can
thank his stars that the ease was not tried
before a jury for had it been he would new
err have got on 80 easily. He wishes us TO
say that the reason that he did not offer re-
butting testimony was because he did not
want TO injure his wife. but that plea is
mort too thin in view OF the vile letters he
mas written TO HE wife threatening 10 do
her injury, and which letters are now in
The hands of her attorneys. We hope how
ever, that the lesson may do Mr.. Flora good
md that be will be better man for the ex-
perience which has cost him So dear. We
that he paid his fine last even
ny. Mrs. Flora has began divorce proceed
ngs in the district court aud will probably
DC granted legal separation from her bus-
Iand at this term.