The morning call., 1894-04-10

did you know it was an immoral
dance ?"
mo, never" was the reply, "or Inever
would have come to America. The people
in Chicago liked us,and regretted our ieaV-
ing that city,
The answers of Orida Akum caused
Belle Baya and Sayeda to grin and glkge.
AID they evidently thought that Orida,s
description of the ''danse des sabres" ana
''danse des Khabyles" was immense.
A mild sensation was caused when the
attorneys for the defense called Prose-
cutting Attorney O'KeeIe to testify. He
was asked if he had seen the dance at the
streets of Cairo in the Worlds Fair at
Chicago. Mr.. O'Keefe admitted that he
had, and thought the dance here was prac-
ticaly the same.
There will be no cross-examinati0D.'
said Ruef, and the prosecuting attorney
left the stand amid the laughter of the
audience. Nassom, the manager, followed
OKeefe. His testimony was to the effect
that the dances were national dances. and
not considered indecent or immoral.
Miss Belle Baya," called the defense
as Nassom stepped down. and buzz of
interest went around the court as the
dancer, clad in her lilac silk dress, lace
ichu and white straw hat with green and
white ostrich feathers. mounted the stand.
smiling until her back teeth could be seen.
She said her dances were danced at we'd
dings and festivals in Algiers. By the
time she had rendered her first sentence
in somewhat musical French the audience
was on tiptoes. and the bailiff had to force
it to sit down. Belle Baya said she
had danced in Petersburg. Moscow. Ber
lin. Norway and Sweden, and even ladies
OF the courts visited them.
Gould you give a representation OF the
dance?" asked Attorney Ruef.
Certainly"
Your Honor. we have the music, and
think it would be the best way to show the
jury" said Mr. Ruef
DO you decide to see the dance?" asked
Judge Conlan of the jury
Il think so." cried Juror Curtin, ex-
citedly. And then the gravity of the court
gave way. A prolonged roar of laughter
shook the room, and the excitement
even seemed to reach Judge Conlan him.
self. who cried: ''On with the Dance"
and then. remembering his judicial dig
nifty, raped for order and cried: "Bailiff
keep order in the court!'
The com motion for a time was general,
and the twanging of one-stringed fddles
and the cankng of the finger bells made
rem arkable addition to the scales ef JUS
tice. Then Fareia stood on the witness.
stand and took her sabers, while the jurors
craned their heads eagerly and the audi
ence rose to its feet. But Fareja could
not use her sabers and TWO sticks supplied
their places. Secretary Kane called for
the dancer to take off her jacket; but
Fareja excused herself on the ground that |
having been brought on bench warrant. |
she was very much en- deshabille. She |
went through the performance, however,
with enthusiasm, the musicians got |
excited, and for a few minutes pande-
monium reigned in court. the jurors |
almost dslocatiDg their neeks in order 10 |
take in all the show. Belle Baya followed !
in her dance, taking silk handkerchief |
in each hand and the castanets on her |
fingers. The solitary fiddler mangled "La |
Paloma" with frightful barbarity as an
accompaniment. AS the handsome Baya :
went through her dance the auditors went
wild with excitement. and a clapping of /
hands was sternly rebuked by the court.
Du JutOIc Ohy qua W QduCoE
asked Attorney Ruef.
"Pve had enough. don't want to see /
any more," cried several of theH jurors,
and thus ended one of the most extra
ordinary exhibitions ever seen In court
of justice. !
Baya resumed her testimony after recov- |
ering from the exertions Of the dance, but |
the interest was over, the court thinned |
out and justice again took the place for the |
time being usurped by the musicians and |
the muscle-dancers. Notwithstanding the |
oddity of the exhibition. the jurors desir-
ing to see the dance, there was nothing
left but TO let them see it, That they were
satisfied there was nothing immoral in IL i
their verdict showed.
The case was submitted without argu-
ment and the jury retired at seven minutes
past II. returning five minutes later with
a verdict of mot guilty."