The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-13
THE JUDGE FLED
Attacked by Three Women
in a Court Room.
Granted Decree of Divorce
Against One of Them.
Petitioner Assaulted and His Head
Banged Against Wall.

White Plains, n. ", March 13.-Justice
Dykman, holding special term of the
Supreme court yesterday afternoon, had a
very exciting experience at the end of a
divorce suit, when the defendant and two
other women attacked him bitterly be-
cause of his decision, and were only re-
strained from inflicting physical punish
ment by the efforts of sturdy court
officer. When the opportunity came the
Justice fled from the court room by back
door and lost no time in getting home.
The suit which led up To the fracas
was brought by Antonio Laceca who
keeps IA saloon in Park row, New York,
against his wife, Ellen. The plaintiff and
defendant came up from New York, with
"A dozen friends and their lawyers and
drove To the court house in four carriages.
After hearing the story of wife S
faithlessness from the lips of Antonio,
Judge Dykman granted the divorce. Be
sides other friends, Mrs Laceca was ac-
companied by her sister, Mrs. Brady, and
Mrs Hclstein of IL Jones street, and
when the judge decided the case in favor
of Tony the three women rushed upon
him. Had IL not been for the efforts of
court officer George Sec the judge would
have been badly used up by the enraged
women.
Finding that they could not maltreat
corner and repeatedly banged his head
against the wall Court officer See rushed
TO Iony's assistance and succeeded III
dragging the women away from him and
covering his retreat.
AS soon as the door was opened Tony
ran for his life down the hall and out
into the street. He did not stop running
until he reached the depot.
When See returned to the court room he
saw the dignity of the court in danger.
There sat Judge Dykman, corralled by
the three women, all talking AZ once and
dcnouncing him In vigorous language for
deciding against Mrs. Laceca The judge
ordered the officer to protect him and turn
the women out of court.
Sec had To carry each one out into the
hall. They struggled and fought all the
| way. AS soon as the room was cleared
Judge Dykman escaped through the dis
| trict attorney > room and started for his
home out of the rear door of the kcourt
| house.
When the women arrived at the depot
| to take the train for New York they
espied Tony on the platform and started
for him, but he was too quick for them
! and fled down the street. When the
| train came along he got into the smoker
without being observed by his enemi cs.
| Both Laceca and his wife have had an
eventful career Some years ago Mrs.
| I.aceca was considered very handsome.
Tony fell in love with her and married
| her in 1880. A few years after their mar
riagc the city was flooded with counterfeit
| coin, and the Secret Service men learned
| that Tony knew something of the matter.
\ They arrested him and he betrayed the
| countcrfeitcrs. The gang was captured,
and several hundred dollars worth OF
| spurious coin and the complete counter
| feiting outfit were confiscatcd. The
| gang swore vengeance, accused Tony as
an accomplicc. and he was sentenced to
| Sing Sing. After serving four years in
| prison he was proven innocent and par.
| doned.
| While he was in prison his wife took uT
with Dave" Kennedy, IA highwayman,
who died "A short time ago in Jail await
ing trial for highway robbery. This was
the cause behind the present action.