Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-17
MARKET ST. .RUMPUS
'TW|XTTWO WOMEN
is AIRED IN COURT
One of Them Fined $50 for Assault
on Other, Though She Alleges
Self-Defence.
HUSBAND IN CASE, TOO

II YOU happened TO be on Market
street near Sixth yesterday afternoon
about 4 o'clock YOU saw n crowd, wonder
cd what was the matter, and We're told
perhaps because that was the tale
that two women had just engaged in
hair pulling match" possibly that
satisfied you and YOU went on about your
business, Possibly you we're there when
the curtain went mp in the performance
In that case YOU know that. halr-pulllng
or not, there was lively rumpus in which
two young women figured actively
though what IL was all about possibly
YOU didn't find out,
We'll, it was al aired this morning
before Judge Churhman in Municipal
Court and, as n result. one Of the woinon
was fined $50 and costs for assault and
battery upon tho other, although ehc
stobtly declared she had only defended
herself And then thore was sequel.
because no sooner hnd Judge Church
man gotten through with the case than
tho husband of tho complaining witness
was given a hearing on "a charge of non
support and ordered to pay sl5 week
for the support of his WHO and child
All through the first case doomed the
eternal triangle, that invisible but none
the less efficient and energetic source of
domestic trouble And this is the tale
First arraigned was Rood-looknR,
stylishly-gowned young woman docketed
as MYRTLE Boulden She said she wash
guilty % the charge assault and battery
hecause she had acted in sclf defence, so
n plea Of not guilty was entered.
THE TALB DEVELOPS.
Then the prosecuting witness was call
cd Mrs Catherine Settles, also young,
good-looking, also stylshly gowned, but
not rs physically efficient IN appearance
rs the defendant She said that Yesterday
afternoon she and her sister had been
shopping on Market street and just as
they came out of ono Of the stores along
came the defendant
Apparently they had reason 10 know
her. Judging from the testimony, which
Indicated that one of them had said,
There goes one of Ilarrys lady friends,
meaning by Harry" Mrs. Selies' hus-
band and by lady friend the defendant.
The defendant heard whatever remark
was made and resented It. Mrs. Settles
says this resentment, after "a few words
had passed took the form Of a half Il
dozen blows delivered by the defendant,
although she declared she had said she
didn't want To have words with her or
anything TO do with her, since she had
other WAYS Of handling her, or words TO
that effect.
At any rate, Mrs Selhes said she was
struck n number OF times, and that all
she did In return was To grab the de
fendant s veil Answering questions of
the court, she said she and Settles were
separated, and that she lived with her
sister on South Broome street.
Mrs. Settles sister gave testimony In
corroboratIon Of the prosecuting witness,
adding that physically her sister WASH t
ft TO cope with the defendant III per-
sonal encounter.
THE DEFERCEs SIDE.
The defendant said, when it came TO
defence, that as she passed along the street
one of the sisters made a very, very
insulting remark about her and when she
demonstrated she WAS attacked, whereupon
she defended herself
Judge Churchman pondered the matter
and then told the defendant she would
be adjudged guilty, the preponderance of
evidence being against her. Then he
imposed fine of $50 and costs, which the
Young woman heard without apparent
dismay
That settled the case. Then Court
Clerk Coleman called Harry Selies,
and dark, dappcr young man with a
somewhat Caapinesque mustache APP
peared This was Mrs. Settles husband
and the Harry Of the previos case
He was charged with non-support.
Again Mrs Settles testified. She said
Harry hadn't supported her for about
three years, although he had contributed
Al Il
separated, she declared, adding that he
worked for shipbuilding plant in Chester.
He was within the draft age, it was
shown, and had obtained exemption be-
cause of dependent family and as q
shipworker.
After hearing this testimony and ask
ing the defendant few questions Judge
Churchman made an order upon him Of
SIS week and ordered him to produce
$500 security that the order would be
complied with.