Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-16
Desperate Fight Today in q Hotel
Office.
THEATRICAL men In TROUBLE
Quick Punishment Melted Out to
the Offenders.
A n o T H E r w A r r A n T

breakfast at the time. For several min
utes there was a rough-and-tumble fight
and it was only after one of the partici-
pants had been cut and nearly killed that a
colored man separated the fighters and the
police made two arrests. John N. Painter,
who is property man of the show at ker-
mans this week, was the victim, while his
assailantS were john and Thomas Thorn
ton, brothers of the proprietor of the show.
The Thorntons were very much under the
influence of liquor and were almost unable
to tell the cause of the trouble. When it
was reported that man had been seriously
assaulted the first precinct patrol wagon
made quick run to the hotel to get the
man in time to save his life, but DR.. Baldus
proprietor of the drug store across the
street. had succeeded, after considerable
trouble. in stopping the flow of blood.
Badly Hurt.
A small penknife was the instrument
| used, and the wound made extended from
the rear of and below the left ear to
point on the mans face near his nose. The
wound was deep one, and had narrowly
escaped making wound which would have
| cause death in few minutes.
The Thorntons were arrested by Police
men Sprinkle.and Carlson and locked up.
Later in the morning they were taken be-
fore Judge Miller and arraigned on
charge of simple assault, to which they
plead not guilty.
Tom Thornton was decidedly under the
influence of liquor, and was inclined to be
quarrelSome He gave the bai(if warning
not to put his hands on him, but the bailf
treated the intoxicated man the same as he
treats other prisoners.
Painter, who was not under the influence
of liquor, was called the prosecuting
witness. He had not lad time to remove
his blood-stained garments, and his ap-
pearance indicated the kind Of an encounter
in which he had figured
Painters Story.
He told the Judge that he knew the de-
PENDANTS. through their sister-in-law, the
wife of the proprietor of the show. This
morning, he said he went down stairs for an
early breakfast and when he had seated
himself in the dining room Tom Thornton
called him over to where he was sitting
and asked him about some members of the
theatrical company.
Il returned to my table," he said. land
Tom called me again."
Witness did not hear him, as he was
talking to another friend, and presently
Tom came over, tapped him on the Shout
der and asked. why don't you answer
me?'
Il didn't hear you," was what witness
told him.
Witness said that there were ladies in the
dining room. and he did not care to talk to
the intoxicated man. so he left the dining
room, and walked out to the Office.
Tom Thornton followed him and seemed
offended because he would not converse
with him in the dining room. John Thorn
ton. whom the witness called Jack" was
soon upon the scene and Tom told him
that witness would not talk to him.
Witness explained that he did not want
upon Tom took off his coat and said,
well, I'm going to give trouble"
Painter said he told him he did not want
any trouble.
Sai1 hot ba
fair play" said Painter. "and told him I
did not want any kind of play, as I wanted
to keep out of trouble"
The Fight.
Witness then described the fight Tom
started the combat by pushing him, and
then blows passed. AS the brothers came
to him he knocked them down, and then
when a colored man grabbed him (witness)
Jack cut him.
How lorg have you known these menu"
Judge Miller asked
About two MONTHS" was the response.
Il knew them through their brothers
wife,
other Testimony.
Thomas Gray, the hotel clerk. was next
put on the stand, and he told the court
that he saw the men when the fight
started, but did not witness the cutting.
Several other witnesses were called, but
none of them had seen the cutting done.
Policeman Sprinkle produced the, knife.
He found it in Toms pocket. and was told
that he CTom) had pursued a colored man
with it earlier in the morning.
The defendant who is known as Jack"
was not much under the influence Of liquor
In answer to the inquiries of the court
he said he was a resident of New York.
and is a bartender. He lives at No. 2O3
East 31st street, and said he had never
been arrested before. He denied that he
had done the cutting, as claimed.
Poor Effort.
Then the intoxicated defendant, Thomas
Thornton, was called to the stand, and he
made poor effort to convince the court
that he did not cut his brothers property
| man. He said that Painter had told his
sister-in-law something, ''and," he said.
my sister-in-law does not think the world
of me anyhow"
Did you cut Painter?" Judge Miller ask
ed him.
No, indeed" he replied.
He said he was in his brothers employ
as advance agent.
"Your testimony does not help the court
out MUCH said the judge.
'Then," added the drunken man, It'll
swear the Gods truth, 1 cut him, and
| Cunning to Palnter) you're liar
Keep quiet" said the judge, land be
careful. You are not in New York bar
room now"
The Sentence.
DR.. Baldus was sent for, and he said that
the wound was doing very well. and he
thought the injured man was in no danger.
Judge Miller questioned the witnesses
again, but none of them were able to throw
any light on the case.
Speaking to Tom Thornton the judge told
him that he might have been charged with
murder, had the weapon gone little deep
er. He was told that this city is not good
place for the exhibition of such conduct,
and the judge told him he was not going to
| let him off on the payment of the fine. A
sentence of six months was imposed, and
Jack was fined SIS or sixty days.
Another Warrant.
Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton, the sister-in-
law mentioned in the testimony, appeared
in the court later in the day and swore out
warrant charging John. or Jack" Thorn
ton with having made threats of personal
violence toward her.
1t appears that Mrs. Thornton handles
most of the CO sh of the show. and this is
why there is an ill-feeling existing.