, 1885-02-03
ROMEO AND JULIET.
Vigorous Sentiments, Demonstra-
tive Caresses and Pistols.
Life Under the Gaslight Exposed
in the Courts.

JUSTICE Lee 3 court was the mprOmptu
stage Off serio-comic and melo-dramatic
entertainment yesterday afternoon, which
began at 2 O'Clock and did not end until q
| O'Clock.
Several days ago a rather stylish mem
Der of the demi-monde named
Madge Woodford made a complaint
that Mr.. A. D. Adamson, a well known
ranchman, had assaulted, beaten. choked
and otherwise injured her. and that he
had also threatened to kill her. A war
rant was issued for the arrest Of Adamson
and was given to Constable Smalley to
serve. Adamson came in from his ranch
last Saturday, but the trial Of the case was
postponed until yesterday. When It was
called the court room was packed with
spectators and standing room was at a
premium.
In some respects the case was quite
sensational. The prosecuting witness told
the story of her wrongs, Adamson gave
his version Of the affair. and several wit
nesscs told what they knew about the
matter. Boiled down into the principal
facts the evidence disclosed the following
story:
Madge Woodford testified that the de-
PENDANT and herself were rather intimate
friends Indeed her absence in Califor-
mia 50 weighed upon him that she re-
turned in compliance with his
earnest appeals. At various and SUI
dry times the two have quarreled
on account OF a jealousy that appeared to
be mutual. A short time since she went
to Denver, and upon returning to Chey-
enne found that Adamson was doing his
level best to drown the sorrow for her alb
sence by bestowing copious attention
upon a black-eyed girl named Erma
Davenport. She learned that Adamson
and the object Of his incidental and more
recent affections were in the house, and
going to the apartment where they were
she partially expressed her sentiments by
kicking on the door. When the door was
opened she coyly informed Adamson that
she wished to speak to him in private and
out Of the hearing of that hateful
thing as ~personated for the nonce by
the petit black-eyed girl Thereupon
Adamson went with her to another room.
The interview between the two was
stormy, indeed c~yclonie in its violence.
Adamson knocked her down, choked her
by way of variety, jumped upon her in
the excess of his emotion, and finally
planting his knees on heI abdomen, waved
a pistol aloff in a theatrical and most san
culinary manner. Eventually she escaped
from him and seized a small poker. The
weapon appears to have been more orna-
mental than useful, for she failed to accom-
plish any aggressive or defensive effects
with it, but received another choking for her
armed resistance. During this entertain
ing little interview Adamson threatened to
kill her and she wanted protection; she
desired that her demonstratiye lover be
placed under bonds to keep the peace, to
the end that she might not be made a
premature and interesting corpse.
When Adamson was placed on the
stand he admitted the choking, but as
serted that the nok er game began before
he made the assault, and that he acted
upon the defensive. although he may
have made his defense so vigorous that a
prejudiced person might construe it into a
sort Of r~etribution. He denied that he
had threatened to kilLthe GIRL
A nurse testified that she attended the
injured woman for FIVE days after the as
sault had been made. and also related the
extent of the injuries received
/ DR.. Marston also testified as to the ma
ture of the injuries and their effect and
Erma Davenport appeared for a brief mo-
ment as a star performer in the Eengage-
ment
Messrs. j. J. Rowen and Thos. NJ.
Fisher, for the complainant, and
Mr.. Hugo Donzelmann for the defendant.
made long arguments and at 6 O'Clock the
case was given to the court. Justice Lee
failed to detect the necessity Of any bonds
and merely fined Adamson $40 and costs
for the assault. The fine didn't figure
conspicuously, but the deceptive costs
made the bill a handsome one-some-
thing like 500 or SO. Immediately after
the decision Adamson took an appeal to
the district court
Last evening a civil action for damages
was commenced against Adamson by
Madge Woodford. For the purpose,
probably, of bringing the case within the
jurisdiction Of a justice court the damages
were placed at 800. The necessary pa
pers were served on Mr.. Adamson last
night and the case was set for trial Sat
urday afternoon the 7th inst.