Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-08-15
A NEIGHBORLY ROW,
Which was Settled by a Judgment
From Justice Austin.

from justice Austin.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Augusta
Lynch, a middle-aged widow, appeared
before Police Judge Austin for trial upon
the charge of battery, preferred against
her by Mrs. Olive Joso, buxom young
woman, about % years of age. The
complainant, who was fully corrobora-
ted by her husband and his brother, told
a long story of the shocking treatment
she had received at the hands OF her
neighbor, Mrs. Lynch. She alleged that
about half-past six O'Clock yesterday
morning, Mrs. Lynch, who lives next
door to her onBanning street came round
to the kitchen door and abused her in q
shameful manner. She returned the
compliments with interest, and finally
went out into the yard to argue the
matter with her neighbor. Mrs. Lynch
then picked up billet of firewood and
struck her several severe blows on the
arms and back with it, whereupon, as
she was in delicate condition and I'M
able to defend herself, she called upon
her husband to do so, when Mrs. Lynch
retired from the field.
The defendant who was accompan led
by a toddling infant, then took the
stand in her own behalf, and told
another story altogether. She stated
that she was a poor, Woodworking
woman. While on her way to get some
water from the common hydrant, she
had to pass the door of Mrs. Joso's
kitchen. AS she did so, her neighbor
called out, "there goes the old-now,
with her baby" This was too much
for her overstrained nerves, and she
turned upon Mrs. Joso and proceeded
to relate some OF that lady's family his
tory, even going so far as to cast ref1ec-
tions upon Olives reputation. All
these "reminiscences naturally incensed
Mrs. Olive Joso, and she picked up a
club and attacked Mrs. Lynch. The
latter thereupOn ran back to her own
house and arming herself with like
weapon, returned to the fray. Mrs.
Joso struck her on the legs with her
club and she promptly belabored her on
the arms and back until she ran away
Mrs. Lynch endeavored to introduce
several more equally interesting ac-
counts of former pitched battles, but
was called to order by the court.
An elderly lady named Mrs. Dryer,
who lived in the same house with Mrs.
Lynch, was called upon to testify for the
defense, but artlessly explained to the
court that "she knew that they would
have row." and as soon as they COM
menced she shut herself in the house so
as to avoid being dragged into court.
Justice Austin after finding Mrs.
Lynch guilty as charged, remarked that
if either OF the women came up before
him again upon a similar charge, as was
not at all improbable, he would certainly
send both of them to jail. He would in
this instance, however, fine the defend
ant in the sum of ~.
On hearing the verdict of the court,
Mrs. Lynch announced that she "didn't
have no money!" and her washtub was
full of clothes now, consequently she
would have to get her other little boy
and stay in Jail for two days.
At this juncture Deputy District Attor-
ney Phibbs suggested that as the object
OF inficting fine was not so much to
punish the defendant as to put stop to
these neighborly quarrels, Mrs. Lynch
be allowed time in which to pay the
money.
To this course, however, Mrs. Lynch
demurred, saying that work was so hard
to get just now that she would sooner go
to Jail than pay the fine. The court
thereupon ordered her to pay the 50 on
or before Monday, the 25th inst. or go to
Jail, and Mrs. Lynch left the courtroom,
breathing threats of vengeance against
her victorious neighbor.