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
a disorderly house against William
r. Cooley. 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 1895 when the law was passed
Volume No 20. Laws OF Delaware,
on page 22e. shows as an amendment
numerous laws which were not sign
ed and il was on one Of these that
the case was brought In dismissing
the charge Judge Cochran said:
II don't like this thing, Mr.. Rein
hardt. and IL there is any more such
affairs there. they will be prosecuted.
We will find a law that will cover
it,
This mornings session Of court was
crowded. among those present being
the Revs. 4. c. MacNichol, of Asbury
NJ E. Church: S. NJ. Morgan. of Mt.
Salem NJ L. Church and George
White Dawson, OF Harrison Street NJ.
f. 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,
they being Patrolman Mcbride, who
made the raid, be reviewing the tes-
timony given yesterday. when Hilda
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 an
/ impression as she answered all ques-
tions in e cool manner She said she
lived at No 1916 Tatnall street. She
said she had been engaged TO give
four dances in the club house through
the help of a Mr. Buck. The presi-
] dent OF the club was 10 pay her but
she did not know who he was.
Mr.. Reinhardt asked that the wo.
man be asked questions dealing Will
the dances given, not with those. shf
was 10 give. This Judge Cochran
said would be done. The woman ther
described the various dances. The
first, she said was a French dance IN
which she was to wear silks and
laces which dance she said had beer
given IN the cafes of Paris. The
second dance she said. was a Gre
clan dance, and the third the Salome
In all these and the other dance, sh,
did and was to wear tights, she said
She said she had given such dancei
before In Baltimore and Chicago.
Asked about the liqquor she ha'
drunk Hilda said she felt sick ow
ing 10 her taking mixed drinks. Sh
said she had asked Mr.. Goodley 70
one OF the drinks. She said her fourt
I dance was 70 be In scanty attire.
Judge Cochran addressing MI
Reinhardt. said. THAT last answe
Is damaging and II Is not necessar.
to go further"
Hilda started TO explain the dance
saying she was 10 be clothed In a rob
and while dancing the cords were Z
break as If by accident and she woul'
stand before the audience covereI
with roses. This concluded the testi
, mony and Mr.. Reinhardt asked TO
dismissal. Judge Cochran was no
disposed TO do this and said so AM
Mr. Coodlev's attorney asked that tn
charge be held up saying that nj
more such dances would be held here
Mr. Reinhardt also referred TO tn
law which was not signed and tn
. case was dismissed.