The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-09-05
NINE AGAINST HIM
ALL FAIR WITNESSES-AND
CONTRACTOR LOSES.
Charged with Ungentlemanly Behavior,
Says He Was Injured Party-Court's
Sally at Philadelphia.

thorny pathway of life. have trans
gressed and paid the penalty. was
changed this morning and comedy was
substituted. comedy enhanced by the
appearance of nine pretty young
women.
Miss Hermine Schreinert, of 122 Eliz-
abeth avenue, was the star. and was
ably assisted by Benjamin zelman, in
the genuine role of a contractor erecting
a, tenement house in the vicinity of
the young woman's home, and the
owner of an unruly horse who insisted
on eating the grass on the lawn at
Schreinert's home, and also the proud
possessor of a 9-year-old ''coachman,'
who lives in mortal fear of the clear
eyed healthy looking leading woman"
The bevy of young women all had
speaking parts, and acquitted them
selves admirably, and Mrs. Mary Flem-
ing. the defender of the accused builder,
in a strong character part, infused con-
siderable Celtic humor into the pro-
duction.
The specific charge made before
Judge David T. Howell by the young
woman who played the "lead," charged
the contractor with using indecent
language to her and striking her, on
August 26. The contractor. on the
other hand, claims that he never used
bad language, and further asserts that
the young woman in question did
strike his horse with a large and knot
ty stick, which was introduced as
exhibit No. l." and did further
throw water on him and his 9-year-old
"coachman," and finding this revenge
insufficient, did catch hold of him by
the ears and pulled him about and
then ended the scene by striking him
over the head with two water pals,
until he was NEARLY unconscious"
A dress rehearsal" of the play"
was given to Judge Howell last week.
and he deferred action until today to
fortify himself for the ordeal.
Miss Schreinert was the first called,
and in clear voice said that the con-
tractor had allowed his horse to crop
the grass on the lawn of her home,
while he and his men were busy at the
house they were erecting at 12 Alpine
street, and that when she had remon-
strated with the defendant he had used
bad language and refused to take the
horse away. She admitted that she
had struck the horse with stick and
held on to the reins after she had sent
for policeman to prevent the man
getting away; that when he left the
wagon to release the reins, after the
coachman had fled, she grabbed him by
the ears, and he did likewise to her,
and then the young witness remarked
that she had held on the longest, much
to Zelman's discontinue.
Mrs Esther Crane, of 122 Elizabeth
avenue; Mrs. Grace Seaman. s9me ad-
dress; Miss Mary Dalxin and Mrs. Lii
lian Fay, both of 1874 Elizabeth avenue.
appeared for the plaintiff and corrobo-
rated the testimony of Miss Schreinert.
Zelman acted as his own lawyer, and
but for the fact that his enunciation
was faulty and he seemed little mixed
in his choice of words, he defended his
position quite ably.
Judge said he, 'I never did say
anything to this woman. She held onto
my ears, threw water on me, hit my
horse, scared my coachman so that he
ran away and tried to take my horse
and wagon away from me-"
The Judge looked at the pretty young
woman accused of these herculean
feats, and then turning to Zelman,
said: did she scare your coachman
so that he fied?" and on being an
swered in the affirmative, the judge
asked IL the coachman was in court.
"No, sir" answered Zelman; "he is a
little boy what drives me around be-
cause he likes to ride, and he Is .
years DID,, and then the court off,
GERS called for order.
Mrs. Mary Fleming, of 10 Alpine
street, was the first of Zelman's wit
nesses called. 81 have known this
young man for abou. four months.
judge" she said, land niver heard his
voice above a whisper. He is fine
broth of a bye sor, but I saw this
lady chase his coachman and strike
him over the head with a couple of
pals, and then hans on to the reins
whin he tried to drive away, an she
certainly can fight This and much
more Mrs Fleming told the court. and
then her husband, David Fleming, was
called, but could throw no further
light on the matter. Henry Boylan,
of Philadelphia, who is visiting the
Flemings, substantiated the story OF
the defendant.
How long do you know me!' asked
Zelman, of the witness, and the an
. bWCT WdSs lOuI WSChos W ANAA - eAeAN~
Zelman turned to the court and said
You see, judge. these people who ap-
peared for me are almost strangers to
me, and not neighbors, like Miss
Schreinert's witnesses; my witnesses
tell the truth"
"This Is not a case to determine the
veracity of your witnesses" said Judge
Howell 'I admit that man from
Philadelphia can tell the truth" and
then when the laughter had again been
subdued he imposed a fine of $50 on
Zelman, telling him that when the
} ladies had asked him to move his horse
he should have done so without argu'
] ment.
The man paid the fire and promised
that in the future he would have moth
ing to do wit wimmins.
The girls left the court room wreathed
in smiles.