The San Francisco call., 1896-03-25
PULLED EACH
OTHERS HAIR,
West Oakland Property
Owners Use Their
Dainty Fists.
WOMEN AS PUGILISTS.
Separated by a Colored Man
Before Any Blood
Was Split.
a POLICE COURT DRAMA.
The Judge Gives No Satisfaction
and They Depart TO Quar-
rel Again.
POLICE COURT DRAMA.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, /,

OAhBAND OFFlCE CAN Is HRANC1SCO CALL.l
90S Broadway, March "a.
Mrs. ]. II. Troy and Mrs. Charles Davis
are beth property-owners in West Oak
land. This morning they were in the po-
lice court, Each lady has very settled
opinions of the rights of neighbors, and
each is willing to back up her opinions
with display of muscle. 1t was this lat
ter feature of their natures that brought
them before Judge Wood. Mrs. Troy was
on fatal for battering Mrs. Davis.
The two ladies presented rather modest
appearance N court. There was nothing
to indicate that either was a fighter in its
literal sense. The only display of bellig-
erencv was when their eyes met, and then
their lips and arms would become fidgety
and convey the impression that if it were
not for the court, the bailiff and the Judge
there would be circus with bare fists.
The story OF the feud is over a year old.
Last summer the Troys and the Dayises
found they could not agree. The dividing
fence was too low and one family could
see too much of the other. Familiarity
bred contempt and then war was inaugu-
rated which is still in progress, The Troys
decided to blot the Davises out of exist
ence so far as they were concerned, so thew
built fence q feet high. and since that
time this aerial fence has been one of the
sights of West Oakland
According to the story of Mrs. Davis the
battery was committed on March TO- She
said Mrs. Troy addressed her in very
Objectionable manner. and finally threat
ened that she would scratch her homely
face. Mrs. Davis then admitted that she
grabbed tiower-stake, and declared she
would strike Mrs, Troy if the latter at
tempted to carry out her threat on Mrs.
DAVIS face. The sight of that fower-stake
in the hands OF her old enemy was more
than Mrs. Troy could stand. A moment
later the two ladies were banging away at
each other with their fists and pulling
each others hair. A colored man saw the
row, and after he had separated the COM
batants he lectured them on the lmpro-
priety of their conduct.
Ex-Mayor Chapman appeared for Mrs
Troy and Court Commissioner Whitney
for Mrs Davis. Robert E. Johnson, the
colored man in the case, said that there
was "iots of talking ana not much hair
pulling"
Mrs. NJ Stella for the defense stated that
she had been friend to Mrs. Davis until
the latter started TO write obscene letters
to her daughter. Mrs. Davis strenuously
denied that she had ever done any such
thing and challenged Mrs. Stella to prove
any such charge.
1t was brought out that each family is
trying 10 force the other to move away.
As they both own their property they are
not willing to be driven off. After hear
ing all the evidence Judge Wood decided
that it was a neighborhood row and that
one party was as much to blame as the
other. He therefore discharged Mrs. Troy.
Fire Department Candidates.
OAKLAND, CAL, March 24-There are
three candidates for the office of first
assistant of the fire department. They are
the incum bent Smith, Fred Murdoch and
Joe King. 1t is expected that at the next
meeting the commissioners Will decide on
permanent appointment.
NIcC1oud Reinstated.
OAKLAND, CAL. March A.-W. H.
McCloud, the police officer who was dis
missed and then given a rehearing and
ordered on the suspended list, was rein
stated tonight.