The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-02

Twelve good men and true yesterday
declared in criminal court that a man
has a perfect right to hug his wife
even against her protestatiOns.
This verdict was found in the case
of ii. J. Hoover, of Bald Mount. who
was accused by his wife with assault
and battery. She claimed that he
seized her by the wrists one day last
summer and also squeezed her SO tight
ly about the waist that she was choked.
MIR. Hoover averred that he did this
but not so violently as his wife alleges.
Hoover says that he and his wife had
falling out in the morning and that
they did not speak to one another all
day long. At night he approached her
with a proposition that they kiss and
make up but she wouldn't acquiesce.
When she retired he followed but as
soon as he came she got out of bed
and went back to the sitting room. He
followed her again and attempted to
sooth and caress her.
WAS ONLY PLAYFIRE.
She was however mad" all the way
through and repealed his endearments
He then caught her by the wrists and
drawing her gently into his lap huggcd
her right heartily. In the morning she
told her relatives. the Shellys. about
her husbands goings on and they in
sisted on her prosecuting him. She did
and yesterdays verdict was the out
come.
The jury did not only find Hoover not
guilty but directed William Shelly. who
brought the action and was the prose-
cutor in fact, to pay the costs. Hon.
w. q. Ward and Thomas p. Duffy de-
Tended Mr.. Hoover. A. ]. Colborn, jr.,
assisted District Attorney Jones in con-
Quoting the prosecution.
Patrick Gilbride, charged with as
sault and battery on James Murphy,
jr.. was called for trial Immediately af-
ter dinner. He was defended by At
torney NJ. j. Walsh. District Attorney
Jones was assisted in the prosecution
by Attorney Joseph O'Brien. The
prosecutor alleged that Gilbride kicked
the Murphy boy in the abdomen, injur-
ing him severely and permanently. The
defense cOntended that Gilbride saw
young Murphy running away from the
Gilbride home and thinking he had
stolen something, followed him up.
Catching him he gave him shaking
and demanded to know what he had
X. Mclean swore that they had ex-
amined the boy and could find no in
jury. DIR. Daniel II. jenkins. who was
also called to examine the lad, found
evesy evidence of his having been
kicked as described. No verdict had
been returned at adjournment.
LAMBERT WENT SUMMING.
Last June Arthur Lambert. a farm
lahorer from Clarks Summit, met a
dapDer young man at a central city
saloon who volunteered to show him
the sights. Lambert was down to see
the sights and readily accepted the
proffered guidance. Yesterday the man
from Clark's Summit was trying to
persuade a jury that Emily Griffin. of
Franklin avenue. robbed him of 500,
while he was sOjourning at her place
to which he was steered by the dapper
young man aforesaid. The case was
on at adjournment.
The jury which had the Kelly-Hen-
ley feud in hand same into court yes
terday morning with verdicts of guilty
In all four cases: James p. Kelley.
pointing a flrearm. Ellen Henley.
prosecutrix; Ellen Henley, assault and
battery, James p. Kelly, prosecutor;
Ellen Henley, assault AID battery,
Bridget Kelly, prosecutrix; John Hen
ley, assault and battery, James p. Kel-
ly, prosecutor. Kelly was recon-
mended to the mercy of the court.
Verdicts of not guilty We're taken in
the following cases. the prosecutors
failing to appear and consequently be-
ing compelled to shoulder the costs:
Mary Jane Stevenson, assault and bat
terry, Cora Hall, prosecutrix: Reuben
Williams, assault and battery. Mar
gart Hart, prosecutrix: Michael hill
bin. assault and battery. Patrick ].
Philbin, prosecutor; John Hermann.
assault and battery, John Witkovitz,
prosecutor: James Casey. assault and
battery, Mrs. James Casey, prosecu-
triX.