Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-30
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
THE USE OF A BROOM.
IT'S Apple alton o small Boy Considered IN
Police Court.

There was n case in the municipal
court at 10 o'clock, yesterday fore
noon, which was no doubt serious
enough for the interested parties but
which afforded the spectators about as
much amusement as any case Tor
long time. 1t was a case in which the
parents of Harry Meyer brought SUIT
against Mrs. Jules Peskutsky for in
juries to the boy alleged TO nave peen
inflicted on him by Mrs. Peskutsky
with a broom. G. {. Sheldon appeared
as counsel for the Meyers.
Harry Meyer who is young boy of
perhaps S years testified first. He
said that he was visiting the Kaplan
children who live on State street. last
Saturday afternoon. His sister Jennie
and Annie Kaplan had gone out of
doors 10 play and he went down the
stairs to go with them. When he
reached the foot of the stairs Mrs.
Peskutsky who lives in the lower
tenement OF the house appeared and
without any provocation whatever be-
gan to pound him over the head with
a broom. He did not know how many
times she struck him. but he was
Knocked down by one of the blows.
He was greatly frightened and van
home He said that his head ached
and his back had ached great deal
since then. When questioned he said
that he did not use any disrespectful
language to Mrs. Peskutsky. nor did
he approach her door.
Jennie Never testified practically the
same as her brother. She did not see
the whole Of the affair. but did see
Mrs. Peskutsily strike her brother four
or five times and saw him fall. She
did not hear her brother sauce Mrs.
Pesllutsky nor did she know OF his go
ing to her door. Mr.. Meyer then testi-
fed to the fact that the child had been
sick since the alleged assault. that he
had been very nervous, could not sleep
and would jump from his bed in
fright at times.
Mrs. Peskutsky next tried to testify
as 10 what occurred. She stood up
and tried to tell her story. and she
could say but few words before her
husband would interrupt her and try
to explain what she was saying. He
seemed to be laboring nuder the de-
fusion that his wife could not speak
English SO as to be understood. which
was not a very serious error of
Judgment, but that his own English
was something of which Lord Ma
caulay might have been proud. de
had to be warned repeatedly to Keep
quiet. but would scarcely close his
mouth after being ordered to keep
still. before he would feel called upon
to volunteer some more testimony
After a while he was made to under
stand that the court did not regard his
English as of such a superior quality
to that Of his wife that it was particu-
larry essential ana he was little
uuieter. Mrs. Pesl;utsky said that the
boy came down stairs and pounded on
her door and that she told him to go
away lie used some very disreSpect-
ful language and she tried to scare
him away with broom, but she vas
very positive that she did not strike
him with the broom.
Annie I<aplan next told her story
which practically agreed with the
story Of the Meyer children. She saw
the boy fan under blow from Mrs.
Peshutskys broom and get up after
which he ran home crying. She did
not hear him use any insulting Ian
gauge and knew nothing about his go
ing to the Peskutsky door.
At this point Judge Andrews said
that his opinion was that the boy
used the insulting language which
Mrs. Peskutsky claimed he had used
and that she had proba bly, struck him
as had been claimed. He then toltl
Mr.. Sheldon he might talk to both
parties if he wished. Mr.. Sheldon
warned both parties-Mrs. Pcskutsky
that she strike the how -lp
boy to let Mrs. Peskutsky alone under
penalty of trouble in the courts and all
parties were then discharged.