Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-02-25
LADIES' AID
GETS TO COURT
Sick Policeman Says Noise
making by Society Men,
berS Was Unbearable
WITNESS ADMITS TWO
COUPLES WERE DANCING

Banked in solid rows. to the number
OF fifty, members of the Ladies' Aid
Society of Madeley NJ. y. Church, took
seats in the City Court room this
morning to testify. if necessary, 70 the
nature of the meeting of that society
which was held on Thursday evening
in the homo of Charles A. Cook, No.
( 1910 b street Cook was charged by
/ Patrolman Serson with keeping a dis
orderly house, accusing the gathering.
whatever IL was. of singing, playing
and dancing until the late hours and
making sleep impossible to Cooks
neighbors.
Serson, who lives next door to
Cook, said that on Thursday evening
he went to his homo about 10 o'clock,
at which time the people in the house
next door were carrying on and rails
ing thunder Serson declared that
Cooks guests were playing the piano.
organ and fiddle, as we'll as singing
and dancing He said he put up with
tho disturbance until after n O'Clock.
when his head ached him so that rest
was impossible. Then, he said he
went to the Cook home and after
pounding and kicking on the front
door for five minutes, succeeded In
summoning the tenant. lie asked
him II he wouldn't please abate the
noise, he being sick. Serson said he
was told that "he and all the police
men in the city couldn't stop It,"
Serson then telephoned to police
headquarters, and informed Captain
Kane OF the noise I'm the house Short
ly afterward Officcrs Yirden and Rob-
inson went 10 the house, but noted no
disorder. Learning that it was
meeting Of the church society. they
SO notified Captain Kane. However.
Serson said that following the visit
OF the officers. the racket subsidized for
short while. but soon grew louder
and louder until. when the hands of
the clock pointed to 1906, he once
more called up Captain Kane and ask
ed TO have the officers sent to the
house again. He was informed that
4 it. was a church society meeting and
that the police could do nothing. Ser
son said It was 1913 o'clock to the
minute when the hilarity ceased and
things in The ncighborhOOd OF 1910 b
street became quiet.
Serson said TINT Thursday evening
was not the first time noise from th
Cook house had disturbed his sleep.
Similar noise came from The house
two weeks ago. the officer said.
/ Cook Pleads Innocence.
When called TO the stand Cook
/ pleaded not guilty. He was represented
/ by J. Frank Ball.
Mrs Lulu Grifiinburg. of No. 500
! Heald street, a member of the society
said she was present when Serson had
first gone TO the Cook door and asked
that the visitors keep quiet. She said
that she had been to town and had NOT
been able TO attend the meeting of the
society until after IL o'clock She said
she heard Serson say that those who
we're In tho Cook home were carrying
on like crowd of Polanders." and
that IF il was meeting of the
Ladies' Aid Society, he had no use for
the aid of the society She also de-
clarcd she heard Scrson say that e
was free and easy place"
Mrs. Mary Quinn. another member
of the society, living at No. 81 Hoald
street, said there was no disorder or
loud singing, dancing or anything OF
the kind going on I'm the house what
ever, and nothing that she would not
have sanctioned in her own home.
Two Couples Waltzed.
We're they dancing?' questioned
Judge Cochran
No. II there was any dancing there
wasn't any noise as only two young
girls aud two young men waltzed. and
anyhow the floor was covered with
velvet carpet"
81 thought YOU Methodists wernt
allowed 10 dance" remarked His
Honor.
"Oh il didn't amount to anything" ="
replied Mrs. Quinn.
Several other Witnesses were called
to the stand, both for the prosecution
and the defense. Among those who tos-
tihed i'm the prosecution were James
Serson and Joseph Serson, brothers Of
the complainant, and Herman Faulk-
ner, a brother-in-law.
The case viii be continued on
Thursday morning at which time the
defense will seek to show that the
meeting was not disorderly. it being
church society and the singing and
playing being in no way objection
able