The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-11
OF SWATT|NG
Mrs. Lewis, Colored, Done Hit
Her Employer, Mrs. Bradford.
DEMANDED HER MONEY
There Was Dispute as to Whether the
Wash Had Been Finished - The
Trial of the Cass Full of Anus
ing Features.

The trial of Mrs. Mary E. Lewis, the
colored woman accused of "swatt4ng"
Mrs. M. Bradford last Saturday and
charged with third degree assault
which was held in Justice Nichols
court yesterday, developed some rather
amusing features. 1t terminated in a
conviction OF the defendant, who will
receive her sentence to-day. Last Sat
urday the colored woman was
engaged to wash for Mrs.
Bradford. Before the job was finished
Mrs. Lewis demanded her money,
which Mrs. Bradford refused to give
her until she was through. At this, it
is alleged, Mrs. Lewis arose on her
dignity and ''swatted" her employer
and, grabbing up a bundle of clothes,
marched off home. Mrs. Bradford COM
planned to the authorities and had the
lady of color arrested. She also swore
out a search warrant to recover her
clothes, but as far as learned she has
not yet succeeded in getting posses
sion of them. The hearing yesterday
was upon the charge of assault. Chief
Deputy County Attorney Kelly appear
ed for the state and Gustav A drich,
the colored attorney, ably represented
the defendant.
Mrs. Bradford, the complaining wit
ness, in reciting the story of the trou-
Die, said Mrs. Lewis agreed to put in
a full days work for 81. In the early
part of the afternoon she announced
that she was through and demanded
her money. The witness refused to
pay till Mrs. Lewis completed her con-
tract, whereupon Mrs. Lewis gathered
up bundle of clothes and started for
home. The witness attempted to take
the clothes away from her, when the
defendant turned and "swatted" her
twice.
The only other witnesses for the
state were Willie Peoples, a boy of 49,
and Leo Austin, girl of TO- When
examined as to their qualifications as
witnesses they caused the other people
in the court room to smile at their
understanding of an oath.
do you know the nature of an
oath?" asked Mr.. Kelly.
Yes, sir" they responded promptly;
you are to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the TRUTH
And what becomes of you if you
do not tell the TRUTH"
The boy answered: "I'll go to hell,
SIR while the girl put it little diff
ferently. She said she would not go
to heaven.
Judge Nichols concluded that they
were both competent to testify ey
both said that they saw Mrs. Brad
ford and Mrs. Lewis struggling over
the clothes; saw the defen 7ant strike
Mrs. Bradford twice and heard her say
I'll kill you; I'll eat you up quick
Told in her own pecu lar way, Mrs
Lewis story was entertaining. II done
agree to do de washin' for two dol
lahs,' she said. ~ does the washin',
hangs all de clos out on the line
washes ma tubs, dries de boilah and
den | says, now. Use done and I wants
ma money. She says you NJ git
yo' money till ma man comes home.
I says, now, look heah, honey Ise from
down yondah, you don't comes no such
game on me. Ise from yondah and l
wants ma money Den I takes de
clothes, goes home. didn't strike de
woman nohow, but she done struck
me-
Three other witnesses testified in Mrs
Lewis behalf, but they failed to make
a very good showing, and the court
found the defendant sui ty. Attorney
Aldrich announced that his client would
take the statutory time to receive SEN
tence.
Nicholas Houshild, the employee of
the Great Northern who was caught
stealing ore from a car in the COM
pany's yards night before last by Su-
perintendent Burns, appeared before
Justice Nichols yesterday and pleaded
guilty to a charge of petit larceny. He
took till to-day to receive sentence.
Tassells shoe sale is the talk of the
town. Take advantage of it. 25 West
Park. Tassell's.