The morning times., 1895-09-27
TWO WOMEh's TROUBLES
Contesting for the Possession
Of a Boarding House.
ONE is AN 1NTERLoPER
Miss Fannie L. Gait Claims That Her
crime Fishburn-They Are Camped
Out I'm Separate Rooms Awaiting
the Laws Decision.

Two women at the head of hostile camps
in the same house, one keeping guard by
candle light, tls. other and more aggressive,
sitting in the dark alone in a parlOr
almost unfurnished and waiting for the law
to act, made up a sensa ton last night that
strongly suggests the creations OF Dickens
Imagination. The house isa nethree-story
brick residence, No. 912 street northwest.
Miss Fannie l. Gait sat with two or three
friends in her room on the second floor and
took counsel how she might get possession
of what she claims to have paid for.
Miss Catherine Fishburn, who claims Gen.
Wade Hampton as her patron, sat in the
spacious and handsome double parlor and
defied the world to prevent her from making
any agreement She chose and asking the
other party to live up TO it. She had no
light but that did not disconcert her.
Simply the gas had not been turned on.
Sheis engaged tobemarried andshe wasable
to take care OF herself. II not her fiancee
who was a lawyer she said, would be able
to care for her interest. Meantime Mr..
James Lowndes was her attorney.
LOOhlNu foR n WA l.
Miss Gait, the other hand, was hopeful
the law wound find a way to give her what
she claims to be her rights. She says that
about September g she answered an adver-
tisement by Miss Fishburn for a partner
in a boarding house. Miss Fishblrn, who
is tall and of fire figure, while Miss Gait
is of medium stature and slender, called
at her home Miss Fishburn had letters
of recommendation from Gen. Wade Hamp-
ton and Rev DR.. Elliott. They soon made
an agreement, under which they were to
lease the I street.house together.
Miss Gait was to have charge OF the rooms
and Miss Fishburn to look after the dining
room and kitchen Miss Fishburn appeared
to be person OF unusual physical strength
and good executive ability. She had been
an artist, but now was disposed to turn her
hand to something more profitable.
On September 10, they moved in. Miss
Gait brought with her furniture from
he n street place and four roomers. Miss
Fishburn, so far as Miss Calf has been able
to learn, brought nothing but herself and
her trunk. Mics Gait said last night Miss
Fishburn had not paid the thirty cents to
pay the man who moved the trunk and she
believed had not the money to buy postage
stamp.
When the lease for the house was made
out the two ladies went TO the real estate
office together. Miss Fishburn directed the
drawing of the paper, Although she was
asked to have both names put in as lessees
she used only her own.
When the money was to be paid, Miss Gait
says. she drew out roll of bills and Miss
Fishburn took them. saying she had been
clerk at the Treasury and could count them
best So she crossed them this way and
that, counted out the amount and paid it
to the clerk.
MISS GAIT PAID.
When the time came for meals Miss Fish
burn was not exactly ready for lack of
china, provisions, etc. Finally Miss Gait
went to Iansburgh's with her and they
bought full outfit. Miss Gait paid down
$50, for which she took q receipt, and they
signed joint notes at $50 a month to pay
the remainder of the bill.
Then housekeeping began, but Miss Fish
burn was not able to satisfy Miss Calf in
keeping up her share of the business and
Miss Gait says did not seem to care to do
her part. They disagreed completely. Then
hostilities commenced.
Miss Gait says her late partner took the
locks off thebouse So she could not be locked
out, broke open satchels, went into trunks,
and so annoyed the roomers that two left,
took possession of the parlor key and would
not allow her moments peace.
She was afraid to leave the house for fear
Miss Fishburn might further exhibit her
executive ability by getting legal posses
sion OF her goods. She had already got all
her money at command and in sucn u way
as to leave almost no redress.
Miss Gait has faithful colored boy en-
ployed, and declares she does not dare to
leave the house unguarded in her absence,
and does not like to remain there alone
with Miss Fishburn on guard in the parlor.
She found her trunks broken open, and
applied for a warrant on the ground that
Miss Fishburn broke them, but she could
not say she saw the mischief done.
MISS FIsHBURNS COMMAND.
on the other hand, Miss Fishburn had
commanded her to vacate the house, and
had torn up her stair carpet and thrown it
into the yard. She only desisted when
he colored boy threatened to knock her
down IL she touched anything more. She
had employed several men to do work
about the place and failed to pay
them. one of them threatened to have her
arrested.
Miss Fshburn said her protector, Gen.
Hampton, Is out of the city, and Miss
Gait and her friends were trying to take
advantage of her. She had promises OF
help from her sisterlln Virginia, who bad
told her to go on making arrangements
for keeping a boarding house and the
sister would give her the necessary backing.
She had employed man to do some
work, but had not agreed to pay him till
Saturday. He came back demanding his
money yesterday and was very trouble
some. She could not see why persons should
not live-up to their contracts.
She said she was from Charleston and
had lived here seventeen years. For a
time she was a clerk In the Treasury.
She had friends and her word would
stand against that of Miss Gait and her
friends.
Miss Fishburn has brought suit before
Magistrate Mills to eject Miss Gait from
the premises and the case is set for Monday.