Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-13
AN ExPENsIvE TONGUE.
what 10 Cost Mrs. Thompson 70 Call
Her yeighber . Thief.

A Batavia IN. " telegram says: For
thirty years Mrs. Rachael Ann Bushman
and Mrs. Marnda Thompson, residents OF
South Byron, in this county, have known
each other, and for eighteen years they nave
lived In that village IN houses that stand
side by side. A fence divided their
premises, but in 1t was gate, aud
they frequently paid lack.door visits
10 each other in the most nncnnvon'
tional and neiehborly way. Their rela-
tons were always friendly, with absolutely
nothing 10 mar the serenity OF their meet
ings until August, 1885, Notwithstanding
The DISPARITY IN their conditions 80 far ~
the possession Of worldly goods goes.
Mrs. Bushman was the wife OF Andrew
Busbmap, q carpenter by trade, who toied
hard for the living Of his family, which in
cludes two sons and q daughter. Mrs.
Thompson became a widow few wears
ago, and her husband left a good sized es-
tate. She and her adopted daughter. Mrs.
Sarab Peek, now also widow, lived To-
cstber on the interest Of the estate.
Early In the morning on the 10th OF Au'
gust OF lat year Mrs. Thompson says she
was awakened by noise lust outside OF
her house. She arose, and, looking from
window, she saw a woman with an arnlul
Of wood leaving her woodpile. She watched
the woman, who went through the gate IN
the line fence and up on TO the back step
of Mrs. Bushmsn's home. Then MIS-
Thomson SAYS she heard door
open and shut. Half an hour later
the woman came again, and was In the
act OF picking up more wood when MrS.
Thomson raised the window cried out
Haven't YOU got about enough OF thai
woodyo The wcnan was frightened
away. Mrs. Thompson met many friend.
in the next few days. TO whom she related
IN detail the story OF the great fright she
had experienced on Monday night. sht
said the woman was shoIt and thick-set
wore faded calico dress, and had bale
SPOT on her head. Her friends knew thai
that was u description OF Mrs. Bnshman
"Why, YOU don't mean that MIS-. Bush
man az the thief" she was ASKED. iiel
answers TO such question varied.
On Friday Mrs. Bushnian heard TIA
Mrs. Thompson accused her OF stealinl
wood. She was shocked, and hardly he
lieyed the story. The next day she Wen
out calling. While she was al her sister
m laws. Mrs. Thompson arrived there
The latter had Just crossed the threshold
when, bowling fr,gidly TO Mrs. Bushman
she exclaimed: "Why, ! haven't scel
You since saw you stealing my wood.
Mrs. Bushmsn gasped for breath. and re
phed Indignantly: ~ never stole site
Of Your wood 10 my life."
al saw a woman taking my wood Tues
day morning." was the reioinder. "an'
the woman went through my back var,
and up on to your back steps, and II
swear 10 It,"
The conversation was brief, and The OLE
ladies parted. Early the next week Mr.
Bushmau consulted a lawyer, and ON th
following Wednesday Mrs. Thompso
found herself the defendant IN suit e
$4,000 damages for alleged sisuder. TIL
case came To trial In the Circuit, Court
Batavia, before Judge Cailds, on Tuesds
last, and about thirty residents OF Sou'
Byron, mostly women, TO whom Mr
Thompson had told about the 10
Of her wood. were among the witness
for the plaintiff. Mrs. Thompson and h
daughter were the only witnesses for Il
defence. Mrs. Thompson denied that 81
had ever said Mrs. Bu'hman was the w
man she saw, and testified that she did NJ
mean 10 insinus,e that she was the THE
The ease was given to the jury to-day, an
after four hours deliberatlon a verdict i
favor OF Mrs. Bushman FOR $500 damage
was rendered. The ease will be appealed
The result OF the trial Is gratifying 70 neal
~ eserybody in South Byron.