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

,frs lillian Petit. of AZ Doane
80, is today under bond of 800 be-
80. she cowhided c. 3. Reeves before
GORE of spectators in broad daylight
The corner of Marietta and Spring
streets
reeves had testified against her In a
,,,.orce sl,it won by her husband, A. P
p.+itt manager of the Joel c. Roper
r,oar Company of Ivy street. Her
hrother-in-law. Edward Hurst, VINO
bald Reeves hands behind him while
49,. infuriated woman literally wore out
hin across his head and shoulders.
Va inns far eluded the police but
t.iopd Vernon Hines, who stood by
80 snnlauded the thrashing. is also
- 500 bond in Justice d. K. john
stons court.
Evidence Helped Husband
week ago Petit won his first YER
81, in the divorce suit before jury in
H. superior court His principal wit
,ase and the one who gave the most
s,roaging testimony against Mrs. Petltt
. Reeves an employee of Petitts in
fine cigar factory.
Inst after the verdict Mrs. Petit
ms informed that it was Reeves evil
denco that had won her husband the
s,jt and she set out promptly from her
noano street home to get revenge.
u,,rsr and Hines joined her and, after
searching the city a day, she spied
psaves entering the store of Steve
(lo.s near the corner of Marietta and
Spring.
orce. she stepped to the curbing,
where negro's dray was standing
ana borrowed his long heavy whip. At
the same moment Reeves, all unsuspi-
cious of his danger. emerged from the
sbon 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
ngy
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
unou tn, heaG Of the helpless Reeves.
Great vets rose where the thong struck
him Mrs. Petit rushed around him
pving the whip with all the strength
Of her arms. while Hurst still held him
in vicelike grip, 50 that he could
neijaeY run nor resist. Amidst the swirl
of tie wonans blows the horsewhipped
man cried to the spectators for help,
but he col 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 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 and slapped him saw
agely on his cheeks and swollen jaws.
When she vas finished she gave sign
to her male companions and they
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
10 Justice Johnstons court. Hurst could
MOI be found.
In court yesterday Mrs. Petit told
the justice that she vas proud to admit
every detail of the whipping and would
dc il again. Reeves said he had been
cowhided 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
sault
Reeves, who is making the complaint,
was represented by Attorney Walter
Sim as prosecutor, and Mrs Petit
and Hines by Attorney Thomas b.
Brown