The evening world., 1904-02-18
JUDGE WHO L|CKS
W|FEBEATERS WINS
Alderman John F. Donohue, Who
Hammers Every One of This
Kind Of Brute A~rraigned Be-
fore Him, Is Re- Elected.

WlLhEbBARHE, Pa, Feb. 1S.-The
advocates for physical force for wife,
heaters have swept the city for their
leader. Alderman John F. Donohue.
Every woman in the city was lined I'D
for the doughty Alderman. and. al
though certain shifty-eyed citizens with
a fondness for coming home drunk and
walloping their wives two or three
times a week opposed him, they didn't
have a chance.
Alderman Donohue carried the day
win RIDICULOUS ease, and for the next
i've years he will continue to hand out
left hooks and uppercuts to woman
oeaters who are arraigned before him
In the course OF judicial duties.
FOL i've years now Alderman Dono-
nue. has been the terror OF the brutes
of Wilkesbarre. Whenever a wife-bent-
er has been arraigned before him he
mas thrown of his coat, left the bench
and pummelled the prisoner until he
howled for mercy. He has taken them
on regardless Of size or physical con-
dition. always politely inviting them To
defend themselves II they could. Some
ave tried 1t. but rave invariably found
that their opposition only served TO in
crease the fury of the little Alderman
and have decided that 1t was best IN
take the regular dose handed out and
not provoke the Alderman to greater
EFFORT.
Kept IL Up for -Four Yenrs.
Alderman Donohue began the admins.
tration of this crude form OF justice in
1893, He was moved to IL by n particu.
larry revolving case of wife beating tbn
came before him. or course the undIe.
nifed spectacle OF a Judge leaving IN.
bench to lick n prisoner created n greut
sensation. and the Alderman's political
opponents were not slow to make cnpi-
tai out OF II. Nevertheless, the Alder
man found so thorough a cure for wife.
beating in his method of punishment
that he refused to abandon II In spite
OF criticism. and now. ut the first cleo
tim since he began his work. he hal
been indicated by the largest majority
ever given n local candidate for any Of
hce in this city.
1t was a memorable day in the his
tory Of the little courtroom at the
south end Of this city when Alderman
Donohue tackled his first wife-beater.
He was Frank Oldheld, a burly miner
and IN habitual wife-beater. His wife,
a poor. crushed. spiritless little woman,
appeared in court with both eyes black
ened and her head and body n mass Of
bruises. She would have Withdrawn the
complaint against her husband II she
could, but Alderman Donohue insisted
on her going ahead.
As witness after witness told of, Old
fields cruelty the Alderman's face red
dened with anger and nnally he jumped
from the bench, threw on his coat,
yelled to a court attendant to shut and
lock all the doors and windows In the
room. and then, approaching Oldield
said:
His Own Medicine.
Now, YOU brute. I'm going TO give
You a little of your W medicine
courtroom fairly gasped for breath. for
alongside of the burly miner the Alder
man looked a mere pigmy. AS for Old
field. he actually laughed at the idea
OF the little Alderman beating him.
That laugh e~xtinguished the last spark
OF mercy that Alderman Donohue felt.
He kicked enough chairs and tables out
OF the way 10 make a good. open space
made oldfeld take of his coat and at
a signal which gave the miner plenty
Of time TO prepare himself. rushed at
him.
Then tho amazed spectators learned
broad shoulders and that the Alder
mans stunted frame concealed a very
elaotic system OF muscles. The Alder
the miners nose before the bout had
been going five seconds. He followed
this with q WALTON On the "a which
sent Oldfeld spinning around like q
ton. The miners mighty arms reached
wildly In every direction for his little
opponent. but the Alderman was never
there. Ho generally bobbed up from
behind and planted a fresh one on some
vital spot.
V~anquished His Victim.
Under a fusllade of the A~lderman,s
tap tsa foo shot Tshe ene W miRer a fihn awI ,b fsll
everything was fair under the circum-
stances. the Alderman leaped on his
opponent and kicked and thumped him
until he had hve bruises for every one
he had ever inflicted on his trembling
little wife. He wound up the tight by
clutching Oldield by the throat and
When he let him up. the miner had the
appearance OF a wet rag. and. In n
husky. broken voice. swore that he
would never beat his wife again. And
His success with CAifeld led the AL
derman 10 try the same method with
now crowded every time 1t is known
that a wifs-bcater is to he arraigned.
but the Alderman. with a proper sense
OF the %proprieties. refuses to have spec
tators present any more at his fights.
He has never been licked vet, but has
| anded out some OF the finest OF beat
ings where they would do the most
good.
Meanwhile the women Of this city.
In fact all over the country. have APP
plauded the Alderman for his method
OF curing wtfe-beaters. and his home
Is full of testimonials from women's So
%cieties. At this election the women were
solid for the reelection of Alderman
Donohue.