Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-12
HDRSEWH|PS HER
FOE IN BATTLE
FOR DIVORCE
Mrs. Petit Uses Cowhide on
Man Who Testified Against
Her in Court.

Are lillian Petit. of AZ Doane
..rsAt is today under bond of 800 be-
80 che cowhided c. B. Reeves before
.score of spectators in broad daylight
:. The corner of Marietta and Spring
streets,
Reeves had testified against her In a
s,,,orce suit won by her husband, A. P.
petitt. manager of the Joel c. Roper
c,gar Company of Ivy street. Her
hrother-in-law, Edward Hurst, who
beld Reeves hands behind him while
~, inf,,riated woman literally wore out
hin across his head and shoulders,
inns far eluded the police. but
srinnd Vernon Hines, who stood by
and annlauded the thrashing, Is also
- stnO bond in Justice D. K. john
ston's court.
Evidence Helped Husband.
week ago Petit won his first YER
Nat In the divorce suit before jury In
.he sunerior court. His principal wit
n.ss and the one who gave the most
domaging testimony against Mrs. Petit
49, Reeves. an employee of Petitt's in
the cigar factory.
INST after the verdict Mrs. Petit
zoe informed that it was Reeves evil
aance that had won her husband the
hit and she set out promptly from her
noane street home to get revenge.
urrst and Hines joined her and, after
,e.rcbing the city day, she spied
Peoves entering the store of Steve
class near the corner of Marietta ana
Spring
once She stepped to the curbing,
where negro's dray was standing,
and borrowed his long, heavy whip. AT
~ same moment Reeves. all unsuspi-
cious of his danger, emerged from the
shop door and started leisurely up the
street.
Pinned Him For Whipping
Hurst rushed at him, according to
his account and pinioned his two hands
behind his back. Then he faced the
man toward the enraged woman. The
crowd at the corner looked on wonder
ingly.
You'll lie about me, will you?" cried
Mrs. Petit raising the heavy whip
above her head well, take that for
it YOU coward
The whip descended again and again
upon the head of the helpless Reeves.
Great welts rose where the thong struck
him Mrs. Petit rushed around him
pIving the whip with all the strength
of her arms. while Hurst still held him
In a vicelike grip, so that he could
neither run nor resist. Amidst the swirl
of the woman's blows the horsewhipped
man cried to the spectators for help,
but he cot no aid. Hines stood by it is
declared. either expressing his approval
or advising Mrs. Petit how TO reach a
particularly tender spot. Mrs. Petit
had given the agonized Reeves a severe
lashing when the whip, worn out by
the strenuous thonging, snapped near
the butt
But she was not yet satisfied. Hurl-
Ing the useless whip end into the street,
she ran at Reeves ans slapped him saw
agely on his cheeks and swollen jaws,
When she was finished she gave sign
To HDf male com pdulOIiS anu ~
walked calmly up the street unmolest-
ed
Reeves consulted a doctor first and
then lawyer. and warrants charging
assault and battery for Mrs. Petit and
her two relatives brought her and Hines
to Justice Johnston's court. Hurst could
not be found.
In court yesterday Mrs. Petit told
ths justice that she was proud to admit
every detail Of the whipping and would
do it again Reeves said he had been
coghided for simply telling the truth
upon the divorce trial Mrs. Petit and
Hines gave bond for appearance in the
criminal court on respective charges of
assault and battery and abetting as
.ault
Reeves. who is making the complaint,
pas represented by Attorney Walter
Sim as prosecutor, and Mrs Petit
and Hines by Attorney Thomas 3.
Brown