Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-21
PAYS HER FINE
FOR HOSE PLAY.
BITTER PIC0 STREET EEUD
AIRED IN COURT
PARTIzANs OUT IN
FULL FORCE
Defendant Defiantly Makes No At
tempt to Deny Charges of Hair
Pulling and Water Douching
Made by Plaintiff

Judge Roses court looked like con-
gress of mothers yesterday when the
entire feminine element living in the
neighborhood of 474 East Pico street
appeared to take sides in the trial or
Mrs. Marie Fife, who was charged by
Mrs. Lizzie Burton with squirting
garden hose in her face.
Mrs Fife admitted taking Mrs. Bur-
ton by the hair and turning on min
iature Niagara Falls, but said the at
tack was warranted. She asserted that
while she was in the bath room, with
the window open, Mrs. Burton, who
was hosing down the windows on her
side of the house, maliciously sent
stream of water through the window
as though she thought the house was
on fire.
Two of the rows of benches in the
court room were occupied by the Bur-
ton faction, who Uttered constantly
during the course of the trial. Then
came an empty bench, and the next
row to 1t was filled with friends of
Mrs. Fife, who looked solemn and
dubious. Dagger-thrust glances, like
electric currents. passed from one FAC
ton to the other. When the witnesses
for the prosecution were testifying to
the awful sight Of one woman gasping
for breath while another held the hose
to her face, the Burton faction leaned
forward in their seats and nodded APP
probation. When Mrs. Fife was on the
stand giving her version of the affair,
and telling what she thought of Mrs.
Burton, the front rows held their chins
in the air and shook their heads.
Mrs. Fife and Mrs. Burton reside in
the same house, double one, at 474
East Pico street.
The trouble between the two women
began several months ago and cul-
minated August is in Mrs. Burton's
involuntary shower bath. That the
end is not yet over may be surmised
from the statement made by Mrs Bur
ton as she left the court room: "She
needs good bath herself, and she Will
get 1t, too, some day."
Mrs. Fife is young and pretty. she
made a charming picture IN her Dig
| brown hat trimmed with white ostrich
plumes, as she took the stand in her
| own defense and explained in quiet,
| dignified way how she took Mrs. Bur-
ton by the hair and held the hose to
her face. II Just could not help IT.,
she explained. MRS. Burton has acted
nasty to me for long while. The
morning the trouble happened was in
the bath room, when, all Of a sudden, q
perfect shower of water came In
through the window. It wetted me all
over my back and covered the floor.
When I looked out Of the window to
see who did 1t there was Mrs. Burton
with the hose washing off the side
walk. as innocent as little lamb. Of
course I got mad, went down stairs
] and gave her dose of the same medi-
cine"
When Mrs. Burton, the complaining
witness, was called she said:
III was washing down the porch VIM
| dows and talking to Mrs. Reed. Mrs.
Fife was sweeping off the sidewalk.
When she saw me she came right up,
grabbed the hose out of my hands,
caught me by the hair so that could
not defend myself and shot the water
| in my face. She held 1t there for three
or four minutes and called me vul-
gar name-yes, a very vulgar one"
Mrs. Fife, who was not represented
by counsel, was asked If she would like
| to question the witness. II don't think
do" she replied family.
Mrs. Margaret Reed and Miss May
Blaisdell testified in behalf of Mrs.
Burton. Miss Blaisdell was seated at
the window of her home, next door.
Her attention was called to the strug-
xlers on the porch, and when she
| looked she saw Mrs. Fife swinging
Mrs. Burton around by the hair and
playing the hose on her face and neck.
Only three witnesses were calleu,
much to the disappointment of those
who were eager to tell all they knew.
After the third witness for the prose-
cution Warren Williams, deputy prose-
cutor, rested the case.
Mrs. Fife attempted to explain some
of the causes which led to her attack
on Mrs. Burton, but was not permitted
| to rehearse ancient history. She had
no witnesses to the bath room Incl
dent, or to her statement that Mrs.
Burton sprinkled her as she came
| through the front door.
"No one saw Mrs. Burton squirt on
me, but the whole neighborhood was
around when did 1t to her." she said.
Justice Rose remarked: This is one
of those neighborhood rows that result
from two women with bad tempers iiv-
ing too near each other. l find the de-
PENDANT guilty. Are you ready to be
sentenced?"
"Yes, sir" said Mrs. Fife. as she
stood up bravely.
give dollars or five days."
Mrs Fife paid her fine and walked
jauntily away with her friends while
Mrs. Burton and her cohorts followed
at a respectful distance.
Il