Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-18
COURT GHOST DANCE.
Family Skeletons Trotted Out and
Put Through Their PAGES.
SEVERAL COUPLES FAIL TO AGREE.
A Frescoed Face the Result of a Batch of
Burned Bread.
WHY SOME MEN FOESAKE THEIR WIVES

Court yesterday was of short duration, but
of more than usual interest. 1t was rather
more in the nature of skeletons in family
closets exposed.
The leading case was that of Mrs. Mary
McGinnis against her husband, William r.
McGinnis, a couple who reside near Walls sta
tion, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, are we'll
fixed financially. and have been married 33
years and have grandchildren. ALI move
in the best circle of the neighborhood, and
the revelations made caused a sensation.
The casus belli, on which the proceeding
was founded, occurred on Tuesday morning,
November 9, last, and the stimulating cause
was some alleged burned bread. Mr.. Me-
Ginnis appeared, by the testimony, to
have gotten up wrong end first"
and. finding the bread burned, pro-
ceeded to fiesco Mrs. McGinnis'
face. She said that he had beaten her until
her face was black and her nose badly
swollen. As the hearing proceeded, evil
dence was given that such ebullitions on the
McGinnis' part mad not been infrequent
previously, and that one time boot jack
played part in family jars; that Mrs. Nc
Ginnis had been forced on one occasion to
take refuge with brother of Mr.. McGinnis,
and remain with mis- family all night.
Had to Sleep Under Haystack.
On another occasion she had been forced
under haystacll for night. Mrs. McGin-
MIS- complaint was buttressed by the testi-
nony of two grown daughters and some
young ladies resident in the neighborhood,
and Mrs. McGinnis said his cruelty had
been exercised during many years.
Assistant District Attorney Haymaker
appeared for Mrs. McGinnis, and Messrs.
Rcardon and Marshall for Mr.. McGinnis,
and there was some sharp cross-firing in
duiged in. Mr.. Marshall wanted to know
if Mrs. McGinnis had received an invitation
from her husband to settle, and she replied
that she had gotten something of
that nature, but it came from him
(Mr. MarshalD. Mr.. Marshall seemed
somewhat surprised at this statement, but
when she showed the letter. Mr.. Marshall's
signature was found upon it. Mr.. Aeardon
asked if she were willing TO resume marital
relations with Mr.. McGinnis, and she re-
piled in the negative, with considerable
energy. She then handed some newspaper
clippings sent to her by some one,
and said the handwriting was that
Of Mr.. McGinnis, and handed the envelope
to the Court for confederation. The clip
pings referred to some Of the sensational de-
velopments regarding Mrs. O'Shea's con-
nection with the Parnell scandal.
The Judge Quite Strongly Impressed.
Judge Stowe was strongly impressed with
what he heard, but said that Mrs. McGinnis
must go into the Common Pleas for complete
redress, and as her husband was already un-
der bail TO answer a charge OF assault and
battery, he dismissed him for the time be-
ing, but said he would consider PROPOSE
tion to require him to pay Mrs. McGinnis
sufficient to maintain her comfortably Tor
the time being.
Mr.. and Mrs McGInnis are 6ne-looking
couple, aud are sxid to possess some $50, 900
worth OF this worlds goods. The appear
ance, manner and conversation of all, both
principals and witnesses, indicated refine
ment.
Karl Romer's wife had him arraisned.
She said he was so jealous that he dreamed
at times that she was not doing just as she
ought to, and awaking would rave like
crazy man. 1t seemed that 2 o'clock A NJ.
was favorite time lor him to have a spasm,
and it had become unbearable. Karl was
allowed to tell his own story, and it so I'M
pressed the Judge that he made some re-
marks about the necessity of another kind
of treatment-remarks ACCOMPANIED with
pantomime expressive of something phreno-
logically out OF keller, and discharged the
case.
Lydia Van Fossen stated that she and her
husband, Byron, had been married ten
wears, and that he left her last September.
That he was bricklayer. and got S4 day,
and she seemed to think he ought to 'divy."
He was given the option Of paying her S5
week, giving 5000 security to do so. or re-
side in the cooler.
Hard to Save So Week in Winter.
Byron did not seem TO think any expla-
nation necessary further than to remark
that S5 week was a considerable sum Tor
a bricklayer to save this kind of weather.
Mary Gertisou had her husband Julius
hauled up for desertion. She said they had
been 16 years married, and that four months
ago he abandoned her and their children.
When asked what he had to say. Julius
stated he WAS shoemaker, and had sup
ported his wife until lately, when she went
to live where she shouldn't, and he felt his
obligation ended there. He called wit
nesses to prove her choice of abode. Mr..
Gertison also stated that he would gladly
support his children, but not his wife.
Judge Stowe agreed with Mr.. Gertison,
and further said that prompt steps must be
taken to get the children out of the den.
When Mrs. Gertison attempted to defend
the neighborhood where she lived and men
toned certain number in the classic pre-
cincts of yellow Row." His Honor's gore
seemed to rise, and he informed Mrs. Gerti-
son that the aroma Of yellow Row" was
well known in Court, and Mr.. Gertison was
not only assured that he need not support
Nc Carfirop in SurrouudIupe hut Eb,t
he could get all the help he wanted to take
Co hor