The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-11
A UNIQUE CONTROVERSY.
A Young Woman Expelled from a Ball Be
cause Her Corsage Was Too Low.

Young Woman Expelled from a Ball Be
cause Her Corsage Was Too Low.
Philadelphia Item.
Society and legal circles have been much agi-
tated during the past week by a suit the like of
which no lawyer can find recorded in any of the
musty volumes of his library. The circum-
stances which give rise to this unique contro-
versy are admirably set forth in the declaration
filed by Octavius A Law, ESQ.,, counsel for the
young lady plaintiff in the case:
&c P 4, NJ, 1885, No. 434
"City of Philadelphia, S.: Mabel L. Hearne,
single woman, residing at 247 South Fifteenth
street, maketh oath and sayeth that at the invi-
tation of prominent member of the bar, and
himself lawyer, deponent in his company, at
tended the masquerade ball held at the Acade-
my of Music by the Young Mannerchor
Association on the night of the 18th
Instant; that she was dressed in black velvet
evening dress, after the style of the Court of
London, being cut square necked back and front,
short sleeves, with long kid gloves to shoulders
covering both arms. While il is true said dress
was cut back and front according to fashion, it
was not lower than is seen in assemblies and at
fashionable gatherings. Nor was there any
even the slightest-indecent exposure of depo-
nent's person Deponents bosom was covered
with lace with the addition of flowers in corsage;
that there was nothing in deponents Dress its
mode, cut or shape that should offend the most
fastidious, that was not fully allowed by fash
ion. Deponent also asserts that her conduct,
manners and department were modest, quiet
that while deponent was quietly lean
ing on the arm of said escort
promenading tho parquet, Joseph l..
Stackhausen, the defendant an entire stranger
Extensively, willfully and maliciously, without
any probable cause, in a loud, insulting and
threatening tone of voice and manner, ex-
claimed that deponent would not be permitted
to go on the floor remain in the building; that
she had not sufficient clothes on.
Feeling the injustice of this treatment and
its untruth, and goaded by defendants ungen
tlemanly and uncalled for conduct deponent,
under the advice of her escort. did go upon the
floor to waltz, when defendant made an assault
on her by violently laying hold Of her shoulders
and making loud outcry, thus attracting
crowd, bringing deponent into public notice,
and asserting that unless deponent left the
building he would call an officer; that deponent
before this had removed small mask she had
worn to enable defendant to fully observe her
features; that from this and other facts she be-
lieves and expects to prove that the defendants
said conduct was specially malicious towards de-
ponent
'"That defendants conduct caused deponent to
undergo severe nervous shock, from which she
has not yet entirely recovered; that she was con-
fined to her room for several days, and was COM
PEELED to call in the services of a physician-that
by it she has been injured, and dsgraced and
held up to public scandal and calumny, and been
Extensively pointed at when appearing in public
and has thereby suffered large pecuniary loss,
whereby she claims she is entitled to recover
assess. MABLE L. HEARNE
Sworn and subscribed before me this 18th
day of February, A. ID. 1885,
GAS. w. FLETCHER,
Deputy Prothonotary."
A reporter called upon Miss Hearne at her
residence. and was ushered into neat and I'M
pretentious sitting room. After waiting for
several minutes Miss Hearne entered. She is
spirituelle, 1.-THE and wilowy demi- blonde,
and the fortunate possessor of sparkling
hazel eyes shaded by long, dropping lashes.
Every lineament of her beautiful countenance
denotes modesty, refinement and intelligence.
Her beauty is such, when attired in the
ordinary dress of domestic duty, that the re-
porter readily believed the assertion of her
friends that the trouble was caused by the envy
of other women who could not abide in quiet
the presence Of beauty who diminished their
opportunities for conquest
sit all came from woman's spite said one.
''There was nothing immodest in the Dress said
another
1t Miss Hearne had been the unhappy possessor
of scrawny neck or a bilious skin people would
have said. "Oh, what q fright" but she would
not have been deprived of the pleasures of the
evening. 1t is only when the neck is, in the
| language of Solomon, like tower of ivory"
and the shoulders like alabaster, that modesty is
shocked
At the reporters suggestion Miss Hearne went