The sun., 1898-12-11
.PUMMaED WIFE BEAIER
Squire DOnohue, Of Wilkesbarre,
Thought Law Too Mild for
This Old Offender.
HE FOUGHT HIM WITH FISTS
Justice Ecemed Outclassed, But He
Got His Man Down and Pounded
Him.-LOnged for the
Delaware Whipping
Post.

WLKEsBARRK, Pa, Dec. Twenty.
three years experience as an alderman
convinced John II. Donahoe, OF this city,
there was but one effective way to deal
with habitual wife-beaters. Last night
he put it into effect.
The prisoner before him was Frank
Old6eld, of Plymouth, an old oiiender.
Oldfeld's wife presented q pitiable ap-
pearance. Both eyes we're blackened, her
face badly discolored and her body q
mass of bruises As witness after witness
told the story OF Oldfeld's cruelty, the
Alderman's face Redeemed with anger,
and, when the little wife had finished
her tale of suffering, the Justice jumped
from his chair, his eyes blazing.
Turning to the constable, who was
within the railing, he shouted: John
lock the doors and see that nobody comes
in or goes out. Pm going to give Oldfield
dose Of his own medicine, to see how
he will swallow it."
The words and manner OF the Justice
alarmed the spectators, of whom there
were thirty or go, but he bade them not
to interfere nor to leave their seats.
Throwing off his coat and vest, tossing
his cuffs into corner and rolling up his
sleeves, he told Oldfeld to defend him
self.
O'dfeld is a burly miner, but his size
did not dismay the justice, who is stock
lily built and in his younger days was @
good boxer The wife-beater reluctantly
removed his coat, but the fire in his eyes
indicated that the Justice would have a
hard fight.
Chairs were moved back, and the two
men squared off. The Justice feinted
with his left. Oldfeld parried, leaving
an opening and the Justice biffed him a
hard one with his right on the jaw. Old
field staggered, and, before lie could re-
cover himself, received a left handler on
the ear which sent him sprawling on the
floor.
In other contests the Justice would
have given some consideration to prize
ring rules, but in dealing with wife-beat-
ers he says every advantage must be
seized. Accordingly when Oldfeld fell
to the floor the Justice pounced upon
him with all his weight, grabbed him by
the throat and choked him until his
tongue protruded its full length.
By this time the spectators were stand
ing on the benches and chairs, urging
the Justice to "Give it to him." The lat
ter obeyed with will, and, after pun.
melting Oldfield for fully minute, al.
lowed him to rise.
Justice Donahue turned to resume lis
seat. But Oldfeld was not defeated.
With roar like an enraged bull he made
for the justice, and grabbing him around
the waist unawares bore him to the floor.
Over and over tile two men rolled like
giant wrestlers, but at last the Justice
got on top and remained there. He was
almost winded but with what strength
he had left he pounded the wife-beater
right and left until the latter begged for
mercy.
will You ever whip your wife again?"
asked the Justice between gasps.
"Nevcr, never" moaned O.dfed, and
the Justice let him up
Oldfed skulked off to his seat at the
defendants table and when the JUS
tice had regainel his wind he read
him a lecture and sent him home to his
wife
Justice D,nahue said after recovering
his composure that he was now in favor
os the Delaware whipping post and
longed for it " become Il factor in the
punishment df crime in this city. "Such
men as Oldfeld, who beat their wives,
should be strapped toa post and publicly
thrashed,' said the justice.