The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-01
DOUGHERTY TRIAL.
Patrolman's Wife's Divorce
Suit Makes a Lively
Time in Chancery.
TILT WITH THE COURT
Vice Chancellor Pitnsy Gives Lawyer
Bisssll Time to Think-Dear
Ladies Again.

Besides the women who focsxed yester-
day afternoon IN vice-Chancellor Fitneys
court room to hear the divorce suit Of
Mrs. Elizabeth Dougherty against her
husband. PatrolHan Thomas Dougherty
Of the First precinct. there was small
platoon from the police department. it,
self, some in blue and others in civil dressa
The testimony in the afternoon was eng
llvened By the petulance Of counsel1e@
John w. Bissell, who became so enraged
at repeated corrections IN his method Of
cross examination, that he gathered up
his papers. refreshed himself at the
spitoon, and turning indignantly to the
Court, said
am conducting my case as I best
know how. II I am not allowed TO go on
as please will abandon the case"
Very good, sir. Please yourself.~
quietly answered Vice. Chancellor Pitney,
evidently amused at the outburst.
Mr. Bissel thought better of It, rear
ranged his papers and proceeded 20 tackle
OHicer Pete" Green, who said that he
had called upon Mr.. and Mrs. Dougherty
repeatedly at their house in Van Nos
trand place, had a glass of beer but never
saw Mrs. Dougherty intoxicated
Ex-Policeman Samuel Hunts testimony
was exceedingly interesting, particularly
TO the ladies IN the rear seats. He w.t.
messed a Scrap between Mr.. and Mrs.
Dougherty on Grand street when Dougher-
fy was assaulted by his wife. Hunt hap
pened along and marched Dougherty OF
nome to prevent scene, he said Mr.
Bsssel tried conclusions with Hunt. and
mn cd to oI-s.
to blame. but the lawyer met his match.
HUNT was cool. told a straight story, and
evidently impressed the Court.
Mrs. Ann Sheridan. mother OF the de-
fendant, said that she had repeatedly
seen her daughter-in-law intoxicated at
the home in Fairmount avenue. On one
occasion Mrs. Dougherty used violent Ian
guage to the witness.
Miss Kitty Dougherty, sister of the de-
fendant, described a scene In the Fair
mount avenue house when Doughertv. M
der the influence of drink, abused her has-
band. tried to strike her sister-in-law,
and finished up by smashing the glass
door with her fist
bis morning the trial was resumed.
ana as sort of bracer to the proceed
ings Lawyer Bissel1 again pursued his
method of cross-examination which
Droaght from Vice Chancellor Pitney a
question, Improper 4 rule Il OUT
The ladies' were again in evidence. but
warned by the experience of little Mrs
leave the court room, they did not even
whisper to one another. Tho Eice-Chaf-
cslor's gavel was a rod IN terrorem-
There was very nearly an outbreak, how
ever, when the Vice Chancellor asked
Dougherty if his wife loved him, and the
patroiman said he thought she didn't be-
cause she broke table over his knees
one plump creature in a black and white
striped silk waist sniggered aloud but
| perceiving the Vice Chancellor's gaze di-
reeted at her, she heroically stuffed her
choking. sound which set the whole
row Of black plumes and black hats
a-nodding.
Patroiman John Dougherty. brother of
| the defendant, said that he had once
| effected a reconciliation between the hus-
band and wife. His testimony was very
brief.
| Then Patrelman Tom Dougherty him.
self took the stand and Strengthened ous
| the charges made against him. He ex-
planned his relations with Widow Latlmer
OF Lafayette. He said that that lady
| loaned him $500, and he from time to tirne
paid certain sums back IN installments.
He denied that he ever fired pistol at
| his wife, She, he said, was continually
drunk and used profane language and
| generally wound up a drinking spell by
| throwing everything at him not screwed
i down in the house. He had also>zcom-
planned to the priest Of st. Bridget $
/ Church.
T object to that" said Lawyer Bis
sell
| to take their troubles to the priest: but
| what they told the priest is not evidence, =
1 said the Vice Chancellor, and the officer
began to describe the ,scrjmmage on
\ Grand street when his wife few at him,
| tore his uniform. knocked him down and
/ scratched his face.
You didn't want to strike her?"' asked
| Mr. Collins.
mo, SIR" replied Dougherty. IT could
have, Of course, overpowered her, but ]
didn't want to hit her. and l called on
bystanders to keep her away
| The officer was then asked to explain
| why he had refused to give his wife SDme
money one day, and he said that she was
| in the habit of entertaining httle Mrs
| Metz, a Mrs. Burns and her sister too fire.
| quently, and the liquor bill was too high.
| AT this the ladies' alluded to sitting in The
| audience tossed their heads and assumed
| an injured-innoeence air which gradually
| gave place to q h-I-had- you'll my
| clutches look when the officer said they
| ESCAPED out Of the back doors OF hls
| house on his approach.
Lawyer Bissell started in to cross-ex-
anime and nearly succeeded In precipitar-
1 ing a scene. He continued asking q1es-
| tiens which the Court had previously
overruled, and wanted 10 argue the points
/ when the Vice-Chancellor, who had been
extremely lenient, said frmly;-
Il will not tolerate the waste OF tht
/ Courts time l must be arbitrary
| The little lawyer proceeded again II
1 gather up his papers, and with face a.
/ white as the documents themselves said =
| "I can't proceed with my case; dcnh
feel competent to try II because am
| hampered by the Court / can't talk;
| can't think"
| sIf you talk less and think more" re-
| turned the e-Chancellor, with a Quiei
4 smile ssyou will get on. will give you
a few minutes were passed In silence
| while Mr.. Bisseil was thinking. Then he
| began to dig into Dougherty's police rec
1 ord The witness was frank and didn'l
| try to conceal the technical charges made
against him from time to time by his SUI
perior officers.
The cross-examination continued up =
| recess.