Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-21
ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST
RTLLED4T THE p, ~. te u. STA TfOR
TUkD1Y Ar MfUNIGHT.
An ErrIDg Local Preacher Asks the
Laws Pros ction from the Cowhide
of IA Comely Young Servant Girl
The Preachers stOry.

Ida Haines, q oOmely Young servant
girl, employed by family on Wes'
Eighth street, was given hearing bsfoie
Squire Bertoiette on Saturday on the
charge OF disorderly conduct aud threat
ening the life OF William T.. Tull. q
grocer, at Bgbth and Monroe streets,
and Methodist local preacher.
The evidence brought out that Tull
who is man OF family had made
unwarrsntedly familiar ovettures to the
girl and had indited her a letter over q
fictitious name making an indelicatsly
suggestive proposition requesting meet.
ing, aud declaring his undy ing love. Tull
eventually admitted to the authorship OF
the scurrilous epistle, and expressed con
triton at his conduct offering to apologize.
The girl in addition to an apology de-
msnded that she should receive gone
pecuniary consideration as panaoes to
her wounded feelings. Tull would not
in this substantial way express sorrow
for his misbehavior, bat continued his
obnoxious conduct toward the girl.
On Friday last Miss Hsines, with a
cowhide protruding ircm beneath the
folds OF her skirt, visited the divine's
store, with the purpose Of administering
a castigation to the immoral dominic. He
espied her approach and discerning her
errand fled to the stable back of the store
and hid. A brother-in-law of Tull's
came to his aid, kept him posted as TO
the girls whereabouts aud called the
police by telephone. AS the vigil became
tiresome Miss Haines retired without
accomplishing her mission.
On Saturday the alarmed preacher to
prevent, a repetition of the scene had the
young woman arrested on the charges
stated but the 'sq 1ire dismissed them,
holding her in 800 bail to keep the
peace until May. The bail was promptly
accepted and the girl discharged from
custody.
Tulls morality was called into question
some three or four years ago by an srraiRn-
ment before ex-'Squire Brady on q gross
charge, of which, however, he was not
proven guilty to the satisfaction Of the
magistrate.
Mr.. Tull called at the GAZETTE x JOURNAL
office Monday and in VII Ldiustion Of the
letter written to Miss Hsines states that
he wrote it with the idea of proving or
disproving some statements made
5erogatory to the girls character.
lo ptatob tuat tuc Biii oaio W sho oitt
a stranger, and at her solicitation, he got
her a place as domestic with a family.
The family afterwards did not require the
services of a girl and she was discharged.
He got her another place, which she
did not like, and requested Mr.. Tull to
get her employment elsewhere. He had
found family in need of girl, when
rumors concerning Miss Haines' character
came to his ear, and he states that the
letter was written with tbs idea OF ascer-
tainiug II she would reply to it,snd assent
to the propositions it contained. He also
says that he offered to give her written
apology il she would furnish him copy
Of the letter. This she declined to do,
and demanded 500 to keep
the matter quiet. She eventually
dropped to $25, but he declined to pay
any money, as he regarded the scheme as
a blackmailiDg job. Mr.. Tull states tha.
he will be able to put himself in a proper
light before the public when the case
comes for trial in May.