St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-14

AN OMAHA DETECTIVE is HERE
And May BE Called as u Witness in
the Trial Now in Prog
rCSS.

Detective Tom Ormsby, of Omaha
occupied a front seat in Judge Keily's
court room yesterday, and listened to
the case of Mary T. LauX and her hus-
band, John c. LauX, an action to re-
cover from the st. Paul Street Rail-
way company $12,5OO for personal in
juries sustained by Mrs. Laux in conse-
quence of an assault alleged to have
been made upon her by a conductor
named r. w. Koepeke. The Omaha
detective is here to TESTIFY IN the case
Detective Ormsbys presence recalls
sensational shooting which occurred
IN 1881 In the Nebraska town when a
mans watch saved him from being hit
with bullet. Mrs. Laux was then
Mrs Coval and lived in Omaha. She
had number of admirers. amonet
them being her present husband and a
physician named Burney. DR.. sBurney
roomed at Mrs. Covaps house. and. go
ing home one evening, found another
gentleman paying his respects to her.
He didn't like that, and next day he
went to the police headquarters and
started to tell Detective Ormsby his
troubles. The detective, on learning
ferred Dr. Burney to the sergeant in
charge. DR.. Burney said he had CIV
en- Mrs. Coval some presents which he
wanted to get back. The sergeant ad-
Vised him to let the matter drop, which
he did. A little later in the day the
representative of a sensational Kan
sas City paper came in and the sergeant
told him all about DR.. Burney's visit,
and what he had told about his love
affair. The story was written up, and
with all kinds of embellishments, ap-
peared in the Kansas City paper When
copies of it reached Omaha one Of
them fell into the hands of Mrs. Co.
vars father. He went out, bought a.
big revolver and went searching for
DR.. Burney. He encountered himI
leaving the Bee building, and, pulling
his revolver, fired. The bullet struck
watch which the doctor was carry
ing in his pocket, and smashed the
time-piece to smithereens, but did no
further damage. The shooting caused
sensation in the town. Shortly after
that Mrs. Coval left Omaha, secured a
divorce, and was married to her pres
ent husband, ]. c. Laux
In the case on trial the plaintiffs
allege that in September last, while
Mrs. Laux was riding on a car, the
conductor called her a vile name, and
said she was TO lady anyhow; that he
then struck her with his fist, knocking
her off the car, and that she has suf-
fered greatly in consequence ever since
She wants $4,000 damages, and her
husband 2,500 for the expense of car
ing for her, etc.
The defendant claims that Mrs. Laux
made demand on the conductor for
transfer, that he was engaged collect
ing fares at the time, and because he
did not give it to her Immediately she
flew into great rage and assaulted
him, and that whatever injury he did
to her was made necessary in order to
defend himself.
A number of witnesses testified for
the plaintiff yesterday. Some of them
denied that Mrs. LauX struck the con-
/ ductor at all, while others simply said
! they did not see her strike him. Among
| the witnesses were several women, Mrs.
j. B. Miles among them. Mrs. Miles
said she saw the the conductor strike
Mrs. LauX, and she waited anXiously
hoping to see 'Some man-some Ameri-
can-speak up and protect her.
''Well, did you see one?" asked At
/ torney Mum.
'Yes, but he showed so little spirit, -
said the witness, turning her lip ur
scornfully.
WAS he your husband?" asked Mr.
Mum tauntingiy, in the most matter
of fact tone.
mo, I wouldn't have such a man.
responded the witness contemptuously
1T wasn't 1, was it?" asked the at
torney smiling.
The witness in reply muttered some.
thing about black eyes and left the
! stand.