The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-31
ALEXANDER FINED
LIMIT OF The LAW
Judge Feagln Found Him Guilty
of Assault and Battery
TESTIMONY WAS UNUSUAL
Manager of Huston Biscuit Company
Attempted to Take Liberties With
Female Employees, Accord
Ing to Evidence.
TESTIMONY WAS UNUSUAL

women employed in the factory. He made
an appeal bond. but it Is not definitely
decided whether the case will be APP
pealed.
The evidence was to the effect that
Mr.. Alexander kissed the young woman
and put his arms around her waist
The court room was well filled with
spectators and witnesses, as the defend
ant is well known in business circles and
has many friends in the city. Attorney
Bullock represented the prosecution and
John c. Forney the defense. Both ar
gued the case for fifteen minutes after
the evidence had been submitted.
Evidence In Court.
Florence schwantes, the complainant
In the case, was the first witness examin-
ed. In reply to queries she stated that
she was employed at the Houston Bis
cult company factory and that on last
Monday evening Mr.. Alexander had come
up stairs and told her she was wanted
at the Bell telephone. Mr.. Alexander had
said that "twenty-nine something" want
ed her. She had asked him If 1t was 2990
and he had replied that he believd that
was the number. Miss Schwantes stated
that Mr. Alexander had gone down the
steps In front of her and that when she
got to the bottom Of the steps he had
seized her hand and Rugged and kissed
her. He had previously asked her on four
different occasions to kiss him. Miss
Schwantes stated that as soon as she
could release herself from Mr.. Alexander,
she had gone back up stairs, crying, and
had told the foreman OF her treatment
and later had told her sister and some
other girls who worked with her.
Upon cross-examination Miss Schwantes
said that Mr.. Alexander had never laid
his hand upon her previous to last Mon
day evening. She said the affair occurred
about 1880 o'clock.
Sister Testified.
Nora Sehwantes, a sister of Florence
Schwantes, testified that she worked with
her sister at the Houston Biscuit COM
pany and that on last Monday evening
Mr.. Alexander had come up stairs and
told Florence she was wanted at the tele-
phone. Florence had gone down stairs
and had returned soon thereafter crying
and had told the witness of Mr.. Alex
anders mistreatment.
Upon cross-examination Nora Schwantes
stated that Mr.. Alexander had always
treated her in a gentlemanly manner. She
also said that Florence had not told her
whatth trouble was when she first came
back up stairs. Nora stated that she
! ba RfGanft
company and that her father had learned
of Florence's alleged mistreatment by Mr..
Alexander on Monday night.
Teresa Sparks, the next witness, stated
that she had heard Mr.. Alexander tell
Florence schwantes that she was wanted
at the telephone last Monday evening
about 1880 o'clock. Florence had gone
down stairs to the phone, but returned
soon crying and told the foreman she
was going to quit. Later, Florence had
told her of how Mr. Alexander is alleged
to have treated the complainant.
Eugenia Frantz, the next witness, stated
substantially what Miss Sparks did Both
witnesses testified, however, that Mr..
Alexander had always treated them in n
| proper manner.
Arm Around Another.
Mrs. Monasco who works for the Hous-
ton Biscuit company, was introduced by
the defense. She stated that on last Fri
day evening Mr.. Alexander had put his
arm around her waist and tried to kiss
her.
Upon cross-examination she stated that
she was still working for the Houston
| biscuit company. She had remained at
work she said, because Mr.. Morgan, the
superntendent, had asked her to do so.
The first witness introduced by the de-
Tense was Mr.. Anderton, receiving clerk
for the Houston Biscuit company He
stated that he remembered some one OF
the girls employed by the company using
! the telephone last Monday evening, but
could not say whether or not 1t was Flor
ence schwantes. Mr.. Anderton said that
at this time Mr.. Alexander was not near
the telephone then and that he could
have heard any coversation carried on
near the shipping clerks office. where the
| witness was at the time In the two
years he had been employed by the Hous-
/, ton Biscuit company Mr., Aderton said
he had never heard any complaints
against Mr. Alexander regarding the lat
| ter's conduct toward female employees or
any one else.
| Asked If he had heard of Mr.. Alexan-
der saying that he would discharge any
employee who testified against him In the
present case, Mr.. Anderton stated upon
ross-examnation that he had not.
| David Simpson, cashier for the Hous-
ton Biscuit company, was the next Wit
ness. In reply to questions Mr.. Simp-
son said that he was at his office until
about o'clock last Monday night, and
that Mr. Alexander had gone away about
| 7 O'Clock He did not see Florence
Schwantes at all during the evening, and
had never heard any complaints before
| this one against Mr. Alexander
Mr.. Alexander on Stand.
| The defendant next took the witness
stand Mr.. Alexander said that at about
$3.50 O'Clock last Monday evening he had
received call over the Peoples tele-
phone for Florence Schwantes and he
had notified the girl of the call. Mr..
Alexander stated that he had then gone
about his usual business and saw nothing
more of Miss Schwantes. The first he
had heard of the charge against him was
when a warrant was served on him Tues
day. Mr., Alexander emphatically denied
Sthat he had made any sort of advances
i ott1 H. Oh, fro