Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-06
FIGHT IN COURTS
over OWNERSHIP
CHECKERED SKIRT
Case Pending Before One Mag
istrate and Another Started
Before Justice of Peace.
TWO MAY BE BOUND OVER
Garment Awarded to Mrs. Mary Nc
Carney by Judge and Other Wo-
man Swears Out Warrant.

In a spirit of revenge. thinking that
she was released from the clutches of
the law, Nettie Fritch, charged by
Mrs. Mary McGarvey, with having
stolen a checkered skirt from her. ap-
Feared before Justice of the Peace
Carl J. Kuehl and swore out a war
rant alleging that Mrs. McGarvey bur-
glarized a suit case of hers.
When the trial of the Fritch woman
was in progress before Police Magis,
trate c. J. Smith this morning Mrs.
McGarvey stated that in order to get
evidence which would prove before a
court that the Fritch woman stole
her skirt, she in company with two
other girls opened the suit case belong
ing to the defendant and there found
box containing portions of the goods
of the skirt.
Magistrate Smith after hearing the
testimony told the Fritch woman that
he believed that the skirt was the
property of Mrs. McGarvey and that
he would either have to hold her over
to the grand jury or else Mrs. McGar
vey should Withdraw the charge.
He suggested that the two women
arrange a settlement of the case. At
ter this was attempted without re-
suits, Mrs. McGarvey turned the skirt
badly worn and torn over 60 Police
Matron Mrs. Schroeder to give to
some girl in need of such apparel.
Thought Case Dropped.
Mrs. McGarvey then left the police
~
Fritch woman thinking that because
the magistrate had said that the wo-
men could settle the case between
themselves. had dropped the matter,
Immediately went to the office of JUS
tice Kuehl with the three girls who
were Witnesses for her and swore out
a warrant charging Mrs. McGarvey
with having burglarized her suit case.
The case was set for hearing for 3
o'clock this afternoon. and Magistrate
Smith later stated that in case the
Fritch woman prosecuted the case
against Mrs. McGarvey he would bind
the Fritcn woman over to the grand
jury. as the matter of the stolen skirt
was still pending before him, and that
evidence showed that she stole it.
Mrs. McGarvey's accurate descrip-
tioh OF the garment, which she gained
when she witnessed it being made by
q tailor. the magistrate stated. showed
that she was the owner of the goods.
When the Fritch woman arrived
from Kansas City and took employ
ment at the John ]. Grier restaurant
at the Rock Island depot a month
ago. Mrs. McGarvey took her to her
room and she stayed one night there.
Mrs. McGarvey worked at the res
taurant also. and went on duty at I
o'clock in the evening, being head
waitress at night.
Had Worn Garment Month.
The three girls testified that the |
Fritch woman had worn the skirt |
since she came. Mrs. McGarvey stated |
that the reason that she did not dis
cover the alleged theft until recently |
was that she saw the woman but once
during the day, and that the large |
aprons worn by the waitress covered !
their skirts.
After the magistrate stated to tn 9
Fritch woman that he would have to /
bind her over unless she made a set |
Element with Mrs. McGarvey and the |
latter withdrew the charges, Mrs. Nc
Garvey suggested that the woman pay |
her 81 for the skirt. which amount |
was less than one-half of what it had |
cost her.
But the woman made no overtures
10 accept. and not until she was threat
ened a third time with being bound
over did she go out of the court room,
but she would not come to an agree
ment with the owner of the skirt.
1t will depend upon Judge Kuehl
whether he will take as an excuse for
Mrs. Garvey's opening the suit case the
fact that she was trying to get testi-
mony to prove she owned the skirt. If
he considers that she was warranted
in so doing she will not be held to the
grand jury.
Mrs. McGarvey showed the court
this morning that the goods taken
from the skirt was the red selvedge.
with which she had stated to the
Fritch woman she could identify her
property.