Evening star., 1895-10-17
N couRFT !F GAL N
John Thornton Charged With Threatening
His Brothers Wife
Another ch.ps*r d the Cutting Array
at Cobb. .Hdtsi-Held in $500
Real Estah Security.


days experience, and Judge Miller listened
patiently to the witnesses as they related
the stories of midnight drinking parties.
fights and threats. This one big time in
which some of them INDUCED happened after
the vaudeville show was over. Sam Des-
sauer said in court that he thought the court
proceedings served as good advertisement,
but Bonnie Thornton, his partners wife,
said she detested newspaper notoriety, part
ly on account Of her people in New York.
John j. Thornton, who was famil1arly
called Jack" one Of the three brothers,
was defendant in today's case, and the
charge was that he had threatened the life
of Bonnie, who does not happen to be one Of
the pretty" actresses.
Jim Thornton, who is Bonnie's husband,
has not been to see his two brothers. who
came here Tuesday night and figured in
fight in Cobb's Hotel yesterday morning,
forsaken them.
AS printed in yesterdays Star, Jack"
Is the one who was fined $25 yesterday, and
this morning he was driven to court from
his temporary residence on the branch
ard given hearing.
Bonnie Thornton, who is a little woman,
with scar on her face and will OF her
own, was the first witness examined, and
she convinced the court in few minutes
that she was not in love with her brother
in-law.
No Love Lost.
"And," she said, "hes hated me for sew
eral years, and has threatened me to my
face. He came on here to do me- so this
lady CMrs. Sam Dessauer) told me-"
She went on to tell the court that she
had had an unpleasant experience in New
York. where sne showed at a theater.
What theater?', Judge Miller wanted to
know.
London TLeater,,' she answered, ION the
Bowery."
Witness went on to tell the court that
Jack had loitered about stage entrances to
New York theaters and annoyed her.
He despises me-" she said, land says
If he had me out of the way he could get
my husbands salary"
did he ever threaten you in New York"
Yes. SIR she answered. He said he
would finish me once when 1 met him at
Proctor's Theater."
Are you on good terms with your nus
band?' Bonnie was asked.
II was until these brothers came here,
she answered.
Mrs Thornton tod the court that she
had said to her husband that she would
not go on the stage If his brotners came
here"
1.-The sight of them,' said Bonnie, "gives
me the Mysteries
Ibid John ever strike you?" Judge Mil
ler inquired.
Yes. your honor" she replied. "Six
years ago he struck me-
Although she said he had threatened and
annoyed her for six years while in New
York, she had not had him arrested be-
cause of the unpleasant notoriety It would
have given her.
Two Witnesses.
Sam Dessauer and wife came next to
take Bonnie's part IN the affair and they
made a complete success of their under
taking. }"
Mollie said to the court: I'm profess
sional actress
She related tdfthe court the story of the
midnight beer partyfand fight in her room
in the Hotel L4wreRfe. 1t was something
like $50 am. when, the party separated.
and six hours later the Cobb's Hotel fight
occurred. y ~ q"
The three brothers. were there she said,
and they got In a fight Sam was in the
room III his sleeping gown and he took her
part in the affray.
Il interfered in the fight" said Mollie.
land John came at me-
What threat was made?" the court ask
ed. .-.
John said that he had come on to finish
Bonnie Thornton" she answered. He had
been drinking and his voice was very
rough"
She also said that he had some words
about paying for the beer and in addition
to assaulting the waiter he choked her
husband Sam.
The Prisoners Questions.
The prisoner here took part in the pro-
ceedines and questioned witness. Her an
swers showed that he was not an intruder
in the room, and that no effort was made
to get rid of him until the fight was
started.
Sam Dessauer, one of the owners of the
show, appeared on the stand, and told Of
the beer party as he remembered it. He
said that Jim Thornton did not want to
see any trouble, and that he got on his
knees and cried. He had never heard John
threaten his sister-in-law, but he did wit
told of some highly indecent and threaten
ing language that was used toward his
(Sam Dessauer's> wife.
Bonnie Thornton was again called and
questioned, and among other things she
said: John smashed me in tine face
Found Guilty.
John got on the stand once more and
told the judge that If his brother were in
court, different phase would be Put on
the case.
where is he?" the judge asked.
"At the Hotel Lawrence suppose
The defendant told the court that he was
employed as bartender at Petersen's's, No.
234 Sth avenue, New York city, and denied
most of the statements made about him.
He said he was invited into Mrs. DeS-
sauer's room to drink beer, and claimed
that he was not responsible for the trouble
in the room.
The best evidence that he did not intend
to harm her. he thought, was the fact that
he had not done so in all the five years in
New York.
Judge Miller concluded that the case was
one in which the defendant should De held.
and sentenced him to give bond in the sum
of $500 or go to jail for four months.
WASHINGTON HOLT HERE.
preuarinr for the Will Proceedings