The record-union., 1897-07-24
A RED-HOT FAMILY BROIL.
THE BURNS SISTERS AIR THEIR
AFFAIRS IN COURT.
Mother and Three Daughters
Against Two Other Daughters
"A Lively Riot.

Yesterday was washday in Justice
Henry's court, and the Burns family OF
huntsville availed themselves of the
opportunity. Mrs. Burns was there
with FIVE of her daughters, and the way
they showed up their family affairs was
a caution.
One of the daughters, Agnes Burns,
had sworn to a complaint charging her
sister, Mrs. Lucy J. Doyle with as
sault with a deadly weapon and threats
against life, and the accused sister was
up for examination on these felony
charges. She was supported in her
defense by her sister, Nellie, but her
mother, her sisters, Mrs. Ford and
Agnes, and another and younger sister,
testified so strongly against her that
Justice Henry held Mrs Doyle to
answer before the Superior Court on
the charge of assault with a deadly
weapon. On the other charge the tes-
timony was taken, but the courts de-
cision was continued till to-day, when
the testimony will be written up and
signed by the witnesses.
The immediate cause Of the trouble
was a couple of chickens, but these
only afforded an opportunity for the
elimination of a family row that had
been long brewing When Peter Burns
of Burns slough fame-died his valu-
able ranch east of the city, near the old
beet sugar factory was found TO have
been decided to his wife. This caused
more or less chickering's, and two of the
daughters, Lucy and Nellie, seem to
have incurred the displeasure of the
mother and the other daughters. Lat
terly the ranch was leased by Mrs.
Burns to her daughter, Agnes, who di-
vides her time between teaching school
and running the ranch"
Eight years ago Lucy Burns married
a Mr. Doyle, but they did not prosper,
and a few years ago they went to Den
Yer. Her health was poor there, and
she returned to the old home-she says
at the urgent invitation of her sister
Agnes, who sent her money to help
pay her fare back to the coast.
According to Mrs. Doyle's story, told
on the witness stand, she had been
home but few weeks when she found
her mother and other sisters arrayed
against her sister Nellie. She sided
with the latter, and was soon made to
feel that her presence in the old home
was anything but agreeable. Indeed,
very hot family rows were Of frequent
occurrence. She was determined on
staying there, however, because she
said her father had always told her
she should have a home there. Mat
tiers became SO unpleasant, however,
that she and her sister Nellie had to
take to the basement and lived pretty
much apart from the rest of the fam
lily, going to their meals only after
the others had left the table
Some time ago they purchased a few
hens and went to raising chickens but
the rest of the family made too free
with the poultry and gave so many
chicken dinners to their friends that she
and Nellie protested, as they consid-
cred the poultry belonged to them.
Finally, on Thursday last, the straw
that broke the camel's back was laid
on the mythical hump. Agnes had
caught a couple of chickens, which her
mother was about to slaughter for the
pot, when Mrs. Doyle interposed an OBJ
lection and undertook to pull the fowls
away from her
Then the fun began Agnes, accord
ing to Mrs. Doyle's story, got her by
the hair, and with one of the other sis
ters' help, threw her down, she in the
meantime defending herself as best she
could with a wagon spoke that she hap
pened to have in her hand. She evil
IDENTIFY made good use of it, for Agnes
face was pretty well SCARED in court
yesterday, though it wasn't a circum-
stance to that of Mrs. Doyle.
The latter said that after her sisters
got her down they pummelled her I'M
mercifully, and then her mother came
up got possession of the wagon spoke
and beat a tattoo on her with it. Mrs.
Burns herself admitted that she used
the stick on Mrs. Doyle while the others
held her On the ground.
II gave her a few welts with it across
her lower limbs said the mother
They wanted me to give her more, but
/ thought she had enough"
To make the story short, some one
called the workmen to come and quell
the riot, but before they reached the
spot the fight had been resumed inside
the chickenhouse. However, the battle
ended at last, and the women contented
themselves with administering tongue
lashings to one another, while some one
sent messenger to town for Sheriff
posse.
1t was then that the alleged threat
against life was made. Mrs. Dolye de-
clared that all she said to her sister
Agnes was that she would get even
with her, or something to that effect.
but her mother, Mrs. Ford, Agnes, and
the younger sister testified that she
said she would kill her yet, and they
believed she meant it.
Mrs. Doyle kept her temper during