Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-17
SATURDAY AT scHoNE's DAM.
How Ike Smiths Hospitality Got Him
Into Trouble

How Ike Smiths Hospitality Got Him
Into Trouble.
The residence Of Ike Smith. on
Schemes Dam, this county, was the
Scene Saturday night at II O'clock. OF
one of the liveliest rows witnessed in
this section of the country for many a
day. All the participants We're color
ed. and the blood-red rum quaffed on
the occasion is said to have been guar
anteed to produce instanter the most
brilliant effects in the way Of convivial
pSrotechnics. Smith is a farmer and
his house is famous in the neighbour
hood as a place for social gatherings.
The latchstring is always on the out
sid and a rule of the old mans life is
to cheerfully entertain strangers lest
unawares he should deprive himself OF
an angels visit.
But for once. at least, Ikes hospital
ity has involved him in trouble, and he
is now wearing a choice assortment OF
bruises and Il bandage on his head.
Saturday night his company began
| to arrive early, among the females who
came being one Della Temple. a tlashy
tlamsel distinguished both here and at
Newport News for various and sundry
e:ccentricities. which have many times
caused her appearance before police
and magisteral tribunals. All went
we'll until about IL O'Clock. at which
hour the first faint sparks from the red
rum aforesaid began to make their ap-
pearance. Half an hour later the social
dynamo was whizzing away at top
speed, and conditions at once dazzling
and dangerous quickly enSued. Alarm
seized the hospitable Isaac and, bring
ing his patriarchal brogans down on
t he floor with a report like that made
by rapid fire gun on battleship,
demanded that the current be turned
off. But no one needed the admonition.
On the other hand. so the patriarch
says. Abe Cooper made break for the
fence. snatched off a picket and, re-
turning to the house, whacked him over
the head.
With this bedlam broke loose. One
or two timid females announced their
intention of fanting unless order was
Immediately restored But even this.
emphasized by series of screams that
cut the night air like knife, failed to
restore peace. 1t seemd. on the con-
trary, to accelerate the motion Of the
whirring dynamo. for Immediately there
was a crash, as if a regiment Of infan-
try had opened fire on the house. and
the floor was covered with broken vim
dow sashes and small pieces Of glass.
While all this was going on the attack
on Smith was renewed, and. to use his
own wards, he was left dead to this
world" About the same time pistol
shot rang out and James Simpson,
with the blood running from a flesh
wound in his leg, made break for the
! outside. He then ran to the house of
County officer Shepherd, who FASTENED
to Smiths and put a stop to the row.
Smith was arrested and gave assur-
ance that he would appear here today
for trial before Justice Saunders.
The real cause of the row will prob
ably never be known. 1t is said, how
ever. that it grew out of the fondness
of Abe Cooper and Bonnie Newsom fo1
leila Temple. Cooper escorted the wo-
man to Smiths and a little later New
som drove up and asked her to ride
with him. Her refusal, 1t Is alleged
brought on the trouble.