The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-25
SHE USED HER SLIPPER
Miss Hazelton's Weapon When
She Attacked Miss Stone.
PRODUCED AN IMPRESSION
Miss Stone Was Badly Disflyured, but
Belle Rhodes and Bern.cs Hsz alton,
the Defendants, Ara Dis
charged Just the Same.

Belle Rhoade and Bernice HazeIton.
charged with the crime of assault in
the second degree upon Bessie Stone,
were given a hearing before Jus ice
Nichols yesterday and at the conclu-
sion of the case the defendants wera
discharged, the prosecuting attorney
consenting. John w. Cotter looked
after the interests of the defendants
and Roy S. Alley, deputy county at
torney, appeared for the state
The first witness called was the COM
plainant, Bessie Stone. She testified
that on July 9 she was an inmae of
Belle Rhoade's place at No. 8 East
Mercury street, and that about II
o'clock of that night, as she was going
into the parlor, Bernice Hazelton came
up behind her and struck her with
some weapon on the skull, making
gashes on the head; that Belle Rhoade
wound up the affair by striking her
over the head with a heavy billy. She
said the whole crowd was slightly in
toxicated and that she did not remem
Der clearly what happened after she
was struck.
Grace Maginnis stated that Bessie
Stone had come to her place that night
about IL o'clock and that her head
looked as If it had gone through a
threshing machine; that her head and
face and body were covered wi h
bruises. She started to tell the court
of visit that the Rhoade woman made
to her place shortly after the troubles
and of her threatening the life of Res-
sic Stone, but the court dec that
it was not proper. Hazel Forsyth also
testified as to the wounds on the COM
plainant'S head.
In defense, Bernice Hazelton one of
the defendants, stated that she was
living with Belle Rhoade and that on
the 9th Bessie Stone had tried to make
trouble among the girls and had made
an assault upon her and choked her;
that after lunch she began hunting
trouble again and she and Bessie had
a general miX-up in the parlor.
Miss Hazelton, what, if anything,
did you hit Miss Stone with?' asked
Mr.. Cotter.
why, l used my slipper on her." said
the witness, producing h'gh-heeled
slipper.
The slipper was offered in evidence
and Frank Riley, the official stenog-
rapher shuddered as he took charge of
the unique weapon
The witness denied that Belle Rhoade
had struck Bessie and stated that she
separated them.
professor" Walter L. Wise, who
operates a piano at Belle Rhoadas
house, testified in substance the same
as Bernce Hazelton. On ross-eyami-
nation he stated that Bernice was ham
mering away at Bessie Stone and that
the latter was Just taking it,
Miss Bert Leslie told the same story
as the other witnesses. Alice Jackson
stated that Bessie Stone was looking
for trouble and that she, the witness,
had cleared things out of the way 50
they could fight it out.
You cleared the deck for action,
then, did you?" asked Mr.. Cotter.
Yes. sir, they wanted to fight and 1
wanted it settled" answered the wit
ness.
There were several other wi nesses
on the part of the defense, but the
prosecuting attorney, realizing that
there was no chance of obtaining
conviction, consented to a dismissal