Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-01
PARADED In PUBLIC.
Family Skeletons That Persist in
Skirmishing in the Courts.
WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE MISERABLE
Wealthy Couple Find 1t Impossible to
Live in Harmony.
TREATING A PRISONER TO DELICACIEs

i Domestic infelicities and backyard squab-
bies between irate women got the usual Sat
urday airing in the Quarter Sessions yester.
day, and there was q vast amount of female
oratory, very impassioned, but not always
on elocutonary principles or rules.
Elizabeth McCleary, of the West End,
said she was willing to maintain herself and
family, but objected to her husbands
threatening to make a premature angel oil
her. She said James told her she could sue
him as much as she pleased, as Mr.. Minnick
would go his bail, anyhow. He must give
security to keep the peace, and must pay the
| costs.
J Maria Devine. or Devinney, asserted that
Lenora Breen had thrown water on her. and
threatened to get revenge. Plaintiff had a
cloud OF women witnesses, and the alterca-
tion became so great that Judge Stowe
warned them to desist, as the Court had no
water handy to throw on the combatants to
| separate them. Mrs. Breen was required
| to pay the costs and give security to keep
| the peace.
| The case of Mrs. Anne McGinnis against
her husband, William r. McGInnis. came
up. A fine of S25 and costs was i'm
imposed on him for assault and battery.
The case would have possessed humorous
features, had it not presented so many sad
ones. the family's happiness being wrecked
through an unfortunate incom patability of
temper which even the possession of $75, 900,
beauty, and an evident appreciation of cul-
ture, cannot obviate.
The Causes of a Family Breakup.
The impression conveyed was that Mr..
McGinnis was a well-meaning but irascible
man, and rather too dogmatic in his views
OF family government to blend with the
spirit of the age, and the fact that his
mother-in-law, brother-in-law and one SON.
in-law sided with him, com plicated the situ-
alton and made it difficult for the court to
prescribe a remedy, the more the case
being diagnosed the greater the perplexity
arising. Attorneys Marshall and Reardon
put Mr.. McGinnis on the stand and he
denied the allegations of Mrs. McGinnis,
the children and witnesses generally. He
said he treated the family as well as it
treated him. On the subject of support he
said he had paid 5000 to $500 store bills, be-
side wash bills and other expenses yearly,
and in addition the family had consumed
the products OF 2 farm. ..
went out nights to spelling schools, singing
schools, literary societies and church TO an
extent that annoyed him, and when he re-
monstrated Mrs. McGinnis and the rest of
the family took their part. He also denied
that he had ever struck Mrs. McGinnis with
with his fist, but admitted that he had
slapped her ON three occasions with his open
hand.
Where the Defendant Came to Grief
Mr.. McGinnis. however, came to grief
when he admitted to Judge Stowe that the
yearly expense of maintaining the family
had rot been over 81. 200 year, which the
Judge regarded as moderate considering
Mr.. McGinnis' circumstances financially, it
being admitted that he had S45, 200 in
money, in addition to real estate OF consid
cradle value.
~ Mr. McGinnis asserted that at one time
not long since he had made overtures to his
wife for reconciliation, and she had SO far
relented as to throw her arms about mis-
neck, and they kissed and made up, when
married daughter interfered and destroyed
the entente cordiale.
Mrs. Lang, Mr.. McGinness' mother-in-
law, was called to rebut the accusations
made against Mr.. McGinnis, when she
astonished the audience by going square
back ON her daughter. She gave Mr.
general and especially domestic virtues. She
said Mr.. McGinnis not only provided for
his family as well as his means would allow,
but had been very kind to witness. Mrs.
Lang said she was present on the Sunday
morning when Mr.. McGinnis was charged
with biacking Mrs. McGinnis' eye, and
knew that the charge was not true. Mrs.
Lang took the bits in her teeth when cross
examined by Mr.. Haymaker, and refused to
Il.
owing to her age she was allowed to have
her own way.
Blood on the Plaintiffs Face.
A witness named Walker thought Mr..
McGinniss averaged pretty we'll as a family
man, but he had heard him swear at his !
boys sometimes. He admitted having seen
blood on Mrs. McGinniss' nose ON the Sun
day morning in question.
Mrs. McGinniss' brother Mr.. Lang, testi- |
fed that McGinniss treated his family as |
we'll as its members treated him. On being |
asked his business by Mr.. Haymaker, Mr.. |
Lang replied: II attend to my own busi- |
ness as well as I'm able" All Mr.. Hay- |
maker was able to make on this head was |
that Mrs. Lang and her son were in a way |
proteges of the son-in.law and brother-in- !
law.
J.T. Hoey, son-in-law of the McGin-
Miss family, rather inclined to Mr.. McGin-
Miss side.
John McGinnls, a SOD, testified that on a |
Sunday morning in November his father
had knocked both witness mother and sis
ter down; had threatened to blow up the
house, and had locked the boys out when
they got home late.
Mr.. McGinnis explained that he was talk
ing about some men who were grading and
blasting, and he had never said or thought
anything about blowing up the house him.
self
Mrs. Downing, a married daughter, re-
mother. ....
Too Far Out to Be Reconciled.
Judge Stowe said it seemed evident the
family could not live together in peace.
and he would take the case under considera
ton.
Attorney William McElroy next made
application to have a man named Van Fos-
sen let out of Jail, stating that he could get
work at bricklaying this sot weather, and
would pay his wife the SIS awarded. if he
were given chance. Sadie Van Fossen.
however, ambled up to the bar and objected
stating that woman had been
carrying Van Fossen delicacies to Jail. Mr..
said the woman was Van Fossen's
sister, but this Sadie denied strenuouslv. and
Judge Stowe said it Van Fossen could prove
that his ministering angel was his sister the
cred; otherwise he might stay in Jail an in
definite period.
FORCED TO HIRE A HALL.
4