The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-01-06
The Court Of the Queer's Bench
in Sessi n
The Invt stig tinn CnUceruiug the
Conduct of Mrs. Emma Il. kOOns
Now Taking Place Behind Closed
Doors.
The Only Outsider Pre- sent is the News
Democrat---A Digest of the Proceedings
of the Inquisttiop.

waged. The forces are well massed and
firing on the skirmish line Wednesday
morning added to the excitement and
called to the front a battalion OF evidence
There was some sharp skirmishing on the
TANKS and the line of battle was broken
several times, but the chief officer of the
day succeeded in rallying her forces AM
with the setting SUI came a calm. Both
sides claimed the victory, and with some
degree of reason. 1t 10 but fair to say,
however, that the attacking party came
out of the encounter but liItle the better.
The reserves were not called into action,
but covered the retreat of tbe party which
attacked the citadel of woman's honor
and woman's character.
A glance through the keyhole of the
door leading into the G. A, Il. hall, affords
the observer opportunity for comment.
Battle Scared veterans look down upon
che Court Of the Queens Bench and the
vig4ges shine fOIth with more realism
fEDm the painted canvass as the fight
grows hotter and the battle wages more
lcrceiy, The NEwS DEMOCRAT was ac-
corded the privilege OF being in the
witness room and is therefore
able to give a digest OF the proceedings of
the court of inquiry, instituted for the
purpose OF examining into, of and con-
ceruing the alleged improper conduct OF
Mrs. Emma koons, treasurer of the local
w. X. c. The court was formally organ
ICED on Wednesday. Including the wit
. ness there are just eleven persons in the
hall.
The situation of the now Justly celebrat-
ed court of inquiry is in the southeastern
part of the hail. square is represented
by the positions OF those constituting the
court. Seated behind a table, facing
south, is the Judge Advocate General,
AIRS. Julia Mcdowell. BY her side, ana
at her right, is the prosecutrix, Mrs. Ada
Il. Clarke, who is also prosecuting at
torney., 10 the left are the five women
OF the Court, who have to decide concern
ing the character of a sister of the order.
First in order from the judge advocate is
Sarah Meredith. Beside her is Mary Hur-
ford, and following in line are Susan Kis-
singer, Flora Babcock and Magdalena
Ritterspaugh. These five women consti-
tute both court and the jury. The witness
occupies the third side of the square fac
ing the judge advocate. On the west side
Is the secretary. Beside her is the official
stenoRrapher, Mrs. Norwood. Beside Mrs.
Norwood is the accused, Mrs. Koons, who
isprovided with pencil aud paper and takes
notes of the evidence adduced. The ac-
cused has the same rights accorded to her
that any one has before any court. She
II permitted to ask witnesses any ques-
Etons she desires and may insist upon an
answer. Lively tilts between the corps
attorney Mrs. Clarke and the attorney for
the defense Mrs. Rooms, serve to keep
the interest alive.
So far the prosecution has had it all her
own way, with the exception that several
yWltDeases became somewhat fidgety under
sars. Koohs scrutinizing and penetrating
eye and clever cross examination.
Dr. ]. b. Devices was called during the
afternoon session but had very little
knowledge of the matters in controversy.
de was very nervous and moved about
in his seat like a school girl who did not
know her lesson. He was examined and
cross examined but nothing of import
ance was obtained from his testimony.
G. T. Oldfeld blushed coyly as he was
ushered into the presence of the court.
The Judge advocate looked at him severe
ly for his timidity but this only served TO
further embarrass the comrade. In a hesi-
Eating manner he told what he knew
about Mrs. Koens, What he didn't know
about ner would make much larger
volume, as he did not seem TO be aware
of anything particularly pertinent TO the
issue. Several of Mrs. Rooms cross-ques
tions fairly raised him from his seat, and
when he finally made his escape the per-
spiration was pouring oil him III great
drops of sweat.
j. j. Clark was called during the after
noon. The reporter could not hear all OF
his evidence, as some one kicked a heavy
rug over the trap door, but few remarks
found their way through the dusty mat
and into the wide open ears of the re-
porter. 1t appears that Col. Clark was at
Steubenville during the recent session.
1t appears in fact that Steubenville enters
very largely into the controversy, j. j.
Clark was not the only man there, and it
seems that there were some women at the
session also.
The important part of Colonel Clark's
evidence hinged upon an incident which
he stated occurred in Steubenville. Dur
ing the session there, a large number of
nh Vie Hala ~ N
tainment. Col. Clark stated that Mrs.
Rooms was at the entertainment, but left
before II was concluded. When she went
out Col. Clark says she dropped her hand
kerchlef and moment later man pick
ed it up and followed her. This was cou-
sidered very improper proceeding. On
cross examination Col. Clark did not un-
dertake to give the name of the man
alleged to have followed Mrs. Rooms.
Aside from the entertainments episode
Col. Clark's evidence was not of great
importance. He gave evidence concern
ing the anonymous letter said TO have
been received by MRS. Clarke and talked
asJ an expert on chirography and was
morally certain that Mrs. Koons wrote
that letter.
Mr., Harvey Dittenhafer, a comrade Of
tue G. A. r., was very important wit
ness. He told of the Detroit tencampment,
but was particular lucidly and enter
tie affair which he said occurred on the
steamer lakewood, between Toledo and
Detroit. He stated that IL was very dark
one evening, and that he was on the poop
deck when he distinctly saw a man and
q woman. He stated that the woman
looked like Mrs. Rooms, but he did not
know the man. When he saw the man
and the woman in the darkness, the man
had one hand on the woman's shoulder.
On cross-examination the statement was
made that il was the shoulder nearest the
Enan, that was occupied by the aforesaid
hlnd. This tended to knock some of the
re nance ont of the story. Mrs. Clarke
lesired The witness TO say that the hand
vas located on the shoulder farthestfr
i'm. The witness, however, was suTo
r.lRt the shoulder was the one nearest the
an.
This was all the point made out of Dit.
lhafer.
Mrs. Clark's married daughter, Abbie,
was called as q witness but had very little
90 cay which had any tendency to influ-
ence the court.
There was considerable excitement
when George Clark had finished his tes-
tiInony. 1t seems there were some big
G. A. r.. doings at Boston about two years
ago and Mrs. Koons and two other ladies
went 90 that city. IL appears that George
Went along as a sort OF chaperon. George
gave evidence concerning this trip and
stated that Mrs. Koons was indiscreet
In some of her actions. Moth
ing specific waf3 set out but
when Mrs. Rooms commenced her
cross examination a very peculiar and
somewhat touching tale was told. While
on the nleeper, the ladies' desired to retire,
but there were not suiiicent Derths: