Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-07-14
Kissing Bee in Court.

Young Fletcher Allison Haines may
have wronged the two women who
claim to have been married to him, but,
nevertheless, they hugged and kissed
him Wednesday in the Jefferson Mar
ket police court.
In fact everybody directly interested
in the case kissed each other, exchaDg-
cd affectionate greetings, nearly smoth-
cred the prisoner with caresses and
converted the examination into . love
feast.
Hafnes was first arraigned early in
The day. He was accompanied by his
father, Benjamin Howell Hains, and
looked thin and hag gard. Mr.. Haines,
sr., argued that as the complainant,
Ella Howell, wife No. 2, alleged the
oigamy was committed by marriage
At Arlington, n. j., the New York
courts had no jurisdiction in the case.
Justice Grady adjourned the exami-
nation to 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
promising then to decide on the point.
The morning hearing passed off quietly
and it was not until afternoon the os-
culatory features were developed.
Miss Jennie st. Clair, of Roster 4
Bial's, who figures rs wife No. /, ar
rived at the court with her mother ear
Iy in the afternoon. Wife No. =, with
ner mother and elder sister, soon fol-
lowed. Right at this point the kissing
bee opened. Wives Nos. l and 3 fell
into each others arms and began to
kiss. while their mothers followed sui;
with heartiness.
The sentimental excitement Jagged
until the prisoners mother put in her
appearance and then broke out again.
An ordinary mother-in-law unde simi-
lar circumstances might have hesitated
how to act. Not so Mrs. Haines. She
first took Miss St. Clair in her arms and
kissed her rapturous'y. Then, gliding
over to wife No. >, she hugged her
vigorously. Going right ahead with
The good work she kissed all the moth
ers in the case, and then sank into
a chair, wailing, ooh, girls, girls, how
could you!"
The court was crowded and every
one grinned as the prisoner was led in.
Wife No. flung her arms around his
neck in jiny and showered kisses on
his decidedly homely face.
Some spectators cried Break away"
and Miss st. Clair released the prisoner
Then wife No. 2 with low moan flung
herself headlong against his narrow
chest and kissed him with frenzy dis
counting Miss st. Clair's former efforts.
Haines after the first shock evident
ly enjoyed it and looked around with a
seif-satisfed expression which seemed
to say, 'They cant help it, but do you
blame them ~
Justice Grady then called the case
and decided the New Jersey courts
alone had jurisdiction in the case.
"But," continued the Justice, II
shall hold this man a fugitive from JUS
tice until this unfortunate girl (wife No.
q has had an opportunity to take steps
for the prisoners eXtradition. | shall
hold him in 81 900 bail for examination
next Friday.
So evident was the pressure brought
to bear upon the complainant by friends
of the prisoner that Justice Grady had
her promise to press the charge.
Miss st. Clair, her mother and. Mrs.
Haines hurried out of court together,
leaving wife No. . weeping hysterical-
lY. Her eldest sister then spoke out.
"All these persons are working togeth-
er to save this prisoner" said she.
"They are seeking to deceive my poor
sister with their kisses so that they
may victimize her. We are very poor.
Ny sister has neither a dollar nor an
influential friend, and we are powerless
to do anything
Lawyer Daniel o'Reilly, son of the
late Police Justice, volunteered his
services. He will accompany the COM
pIainant to Newark, where steps will
be taken to scure the prisoners extra
dition.-N. Y. Herald