The Portland daily press., 1895-07-20
NEloHBoRHooD aUARRELs.
Judge Robinson Says They Have Got to
Stop.

The Municipal Court room was well
filled by the adherents of the houses of
Delany and Kerwin yesterday afternoon,
attendant ON the hearing of the cross
complaints of Mary Delany against Mrs.
f. j. Kerwin and Frederick Kerwin for
assault on the one side and Mrs. E. J.
Kerwin and Frederick Kerwin VS.. Mary
j. Delany on the other.
Mrs. Delany is a laundress who resides
on Hammond street and the Kerwins are
nelghbors who reside on the same street
about as far off as the length of the
court room. The two families have fost-
cred feud for long time, it is s~said,
and this feud broke out in rough and
tumble fight on Wednesday last. Mrs.
Delany's little daughter, Nellie, and her
little friend Sallie Kane, Fred Delany,
the little son, and the complainant, Mrs.
Delany herself, took the stand. Their
story was that Fred Kerwin threw water
in Nellies face and Nellie chased him.
Then Mrs Kerwin threw rock (Which
Mrs. Delany produced in court), that
p0A uSh llCwIAdll6 vi b4lS dllu raised
asblaek and blue spot. Then Mrs Ker-
win fred a rock into the front door of
Mrs. Delany's dwelling and followed it
up, striking Mrs. Delany blow with
stick in the face, knocking her down
and pounding her. The affair occurred
as near as could be ascertained from all
parties about s O'Clock.
ssaaThen the Kerwins told their story.
They said the Delany's threw water on
Fred, as she was passing their house, and
then Nellie Delany struck him with a
stick, and he got the stick. Then all the
children bounced on him, and Mrs Ker-
win came ont to the rescue Mrs. Delany
ran out and seized Mrs. Kerwin and
pulled her into her house and beat her
and dragged her by the hair, and if Mr.
Mahoney hadn't come to the rescue,
shed been kilt entirely"
AS witnesses for the Kerwins appeared
Dennis Mahoney, Mary Conley, and
Mrs. Ida Mary Maloney, all neighbors
Mr.. Mahoney testified that he didn't
know anything about the beginning of
the row, but he heard Mrs Kerwin
shrek and cry murder, and he went to
the Delany house in his stocking feet.
There he found Mrs. Kerwin on the floor
and Mrs. Delany on top of her with her
hands in Mrs. Kerwins hair, and crying
| out, I'm teach you to invade my house. !"
He pulled Mrs Delany off and got Mrs.
Kerwin out The two women testified
that they saw Mrs. Kerwin dragged in
to Mrs. Delany's by the latter. They,
however, admitted they had had trouble
with Mrs Delany in the past, and also
that it was about dusk when the affair
happened and they were in their own
premises.
Mr.. ". H. Looney argued the case for
| the Kerwins and Mr. H. R. Virgin for
Mrs. Delany. Judge Robinson then said
that he was determined to put stop to
these neighborhood quarrels If children
are to see their parents fighting and
sauabbling in this way it would be use
less to expect the children to grow up
good citizens. The police Office is the
place to make complaints and if they are
not attended to then-as they doubtless
would be-then appeal to the county at
torney Anyway he would not have the
time Of officers and court taken up with
these senseless quarrels. Both parties
seemed to be more or less at fault, but
the key to the problem he believed had
been furnished by Mr.. Mahoney, Who a
witness for the Kerwins. testified he
heard Mrs. Delany say "I'll teach you
to invade my house, In other words
Mrs. Kerwin had trespassed on Mrs. De-
lany's property and he should consider
her and her son guilty Of assault. He
had no disposition to be harsh in this
case, but if any more of them came up he
should infict the full penalty. In con
sultation with Mr.. Virgin that attorney
said his client, Mrs. Delany had no de-
sire that the Kerwins should be fined but
she wanted them to keep the peace. Mrs.
Kerwin said she was willing to do so.
Judge Robinson then sentenced Mrs
Kerwin to pay SO, and Freddie S. for
assault, but should suspend sentence dur
ing their good behavior. He also said he
had no doubt Mrs Delany and her child
rem were not guiltless of provocation, nor
was Sallie Kane, and he advised them to
be oircumspect in future.
For two hours the neighborhood quar-
rel took up the time and patience of the
court and officers.