Evening journal., 1912-10-15
DANCE IMMORAL
JUDGE ADMITS
BUT DROPS CASE

Declaring that although the dance
given by Hilda Partridge in the Will
mington Bicycle Club rooms. No. sl7
Market street. which was raided on
Saturday night was not conducive TO
good morals, and against the laws Of
God. Judge Cochran. in City Court to-
day dismissed the charge Of keeping
disorderly house against William
r. Goodley, president OF the club.
who was arrested in the raid. This
decision was made after David J..
Reinhardt, counsel for Mr.. Cooley,
had proven to the court that the law
under which the case was prosecuted
had not been signed by the speakers
OF the houses of General Assembly
in 1885 when the law was passed.
Volume No. 20. Laws OF Delaware
on page 222 shows as an amendment
numerous laws which we're not sign
ed and it was on one of 'these that
the case was brought In dismissing
the charge Judge Cochran said:
Il don't ike this thing Mr.. Rein
hardt, and If there IS any more such
affairs there. they viii be prosecuted
We will find a law that will cover
IT,"
This mornings session Of court was
crowded. among those present being
the Revs h. c. MacNichol, of Ashury
Nj. 3. Church S NJ Morgan. Of Mt
Salem NJ e Church and George
White Dawson, OF Harr son Street M
E. Church. The clergymen represent
ed the trustees Of the Florence Crit
tendon Home
Mr. Cooley pleaded not guilty
Many OF the men who saw the dance
were in court but they were not called
as witnesses. But two were called
I they being Patrolman Mcbride, who
made the raid, he reviewing the tes.
timony given yesterday, when Hide
Partridge, the English ballet dancer
was dismissed on the charge OF dis
orderly conduct The woman herself
attired In a snow white sweater and
wearing a black cloth skirt made AZ
impression as she answered all cues
tions In z cool manner. She said sh'
lived at No. 1915 Tatnall street. She
said she had been engaged TO givl
four dances In the club house through
the help of a Mr.. Buck. The presi
dent OF the club was 10 pay her bu
she did not know who he was.
Mr. Reinhardt asked that the wo
man be asked questions dealing viii
the dances given. not with those Hhl
was to give. This Judge Cochran
said would be done The woman thel
described the various dances. tn
first she said. was a French dance II
4 which she was TO wear silks an'
laces which dance she said had beef
given in the cafes Of Paris. TIL
second dance she said, was a Gre
clan dance, aud the third the Salome
In al these and the other dance, Eh
did aud was 70 wear tights, she said
She said she had given such dance
before IN Baltimore and Chicago.
Asked about the liquor she ha
drunk, Hilda said she felt sick ow
ing TO her taking mixed drinks. sh
said she had asked Mr.. Cooley fo
one of the drinks. She said her fourt
4 dance was to be in scanty attire.
Judge Cochran addressing M
Reinhardt. said: THAT last answe
is damaging and it Is not necessar
70 go further"
Hilda started to explain the dance
saying she was 10 be clothed In a rob
and while dancing the cords we're :
break as If by accident and she woul
stand before the audience coyere
with roses. This concluded the testi
; mony and Mr. Reinhardt asked 70
dismissal Judge Cochran was nc
disposed TO do this and said so an
MI Goodley's attorney asked that n
charge be held up saying that n
more such dances would be held here
Mr. Reinhardt also referred 20 th
law which was NOT signed and III
> case was dismissed