Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-02
CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
Officer Hendricks Accused of Brutality by
His Wife.
She Claims He Struck Her. Judge
Miller Fines Him $5O-The Evil
dence Presented.

OulCer w m. ". f1euOr1CkS WAS CnaIBeQ
by his wife. Mary L. Hendricks. with as
sault at their home. on 9th between o and
streets, on the 11th of December last.
and he was defended by Mr.. Campbell Car
rington. The wife testified that they had
lived happily together for four years. until
his brother married and brought his wife to
the house; that she has three little chill
dren, the oldest three years old, and the
day after the last was born, on December
II, he came to the house and assaulted her
by striking her and afterward he took her
two babies away. She stated that when
she found her husband in her sister-in-law's s
room she insisted that she would leave the
house and they had practically lived apart
since.
Miss Anna Mills sister of Mrs. Hen
bricks, testified that the morning after the
baby was born the defendant came to the
house. walked in, and cursing her, slapped
her In the mouth and took one of the chill
He also said that he was going to take the
child away to his mothers.
General Denial.
The defendant denied that he committed
the assault. He asserted that he left the
house because his wife's people were run
ming 1t and had since paid the rent and
grocery bills and hired a colored woman,
whom his wife had run out of the house
that he had taken the children to his moth
er's when she was sick, and he proposed to
take the child. He denied emphatically that
he had committed the assault He denied
that he had been expelled from the police
force. but had been suspended. He asserted
that her folks wanted to run the house and
he had to order them out
On cross-examination defendant said that
his wife was excited that the sister was
crying because he ordered her out He in
sisted that his wife drank, but he could not
live there when others ran 1t.
More Testimony.
DIR. William Gill testified that he saw no
evidence of black eye eleven days after
the alleged assault. He had attended the
family but he knew nothing Of any trouble
till about Christmas.
The court recalled Mrs. Hendricks, who
said that he struck her in the mouth; that
the black eye was three months ago.
She Indignantly denied that she drank,
and admitted that she followed him to the
street cars to learn of her child, the boy
who his mother said he had sent to Balti-
more. He insisted on having the boy. say
ing she could go to the devil with the 9TH
ers.
BY the court-She had taken no action in
reference to divorce, being a Catholic, she
did not believe in divorces. Her husband
might want a divorce. for he was running
after other women. she said.
Mr.. Darlington said the midwife was an
important witness and had been summoned,
but was not here. ..,
The Midwife.
Mrs. Margaret Ford. the midwife, was
sent for and appeared. She testified that
she heard Mr.. Hendricks say II the sister
hnd -xnmained Eay-he would have sent a
colored woman there to do the work; that
Mrs. Hendricks said her sister thought Mr.
Hendricks struck her, but he did not; that
he had shaken his fist at her, but did not
strike her. She also heard Mrs Mills
accuse Hendricks of striking his wife. and
he said, 1T is lie; didn't strike her."
Mrs. Mills insisted. notwithstanding this
statement, that the blow was struck by
Hendricks.
The court said that If he believed that
this man struck this woman he would not
walk the streets for eleven months and
twenty-nine days. but IT was a question.
Mrs. Hendricks said that the blow was
struck. and she did not know how she
could have said otherwise If she did.
Argued and Decided.
Mr.. Darlington argued that the defend
ant should not be held, and If he was held
he would be held up a coward To do so
would only make the breach wider and
probably If the sister-in-laws on both sides
could be kept away there would be a solu-
ton of the difficulty
Mr. Mullowney. in reply, said that from
the defendants own testimony he was the
very man to do just what he IVES charged
with, and he submitted that the defendant
had been proven guilty of the assault and
should be at least fined, If not imprisoned
Judge Miller, after analyzing the testi-
mcny. said he would give the benefit of
the doubt, and he would assume that he
did not strike her. but he would hold that
he had shaken his fist in her face. that he
had assaulted her. and would impose fine
of $50 or ninety days in jail.
The defendant noted an appeal and bail
was fixed at $500.