The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24

writer of these lines may have gained
his inspiration from some actual ex-
perience and 1t may have been that
he attended some session of court such
as was held last Tuesday in the mu-
uicipal court room before Trial Jus
tice Thomas G. Lord. Wherever the
inspiration came from 1t appears the
the lines are justified.
The trouble had its beginning with
the strike at the mills of the Madison
Wooden Company. For some three
weeks this plant has been practically
shut down, the employees having
walked out and refused to return. Ii
all had stayed out things might have
been different but some returned to
work hence the trial and the appear
ance of some rs residents of Madison
at the court room on Tuesday. TWO
special cars we're required to haul the
witnesses and persons otherwise In
terested from that up-river town to
Skowhegan.
Many women were in the crowd,
most of whom we're directly connect
ed with the cases brought up. The
first for trial was that of John Gal
,agber va Joe Asoff In the warrant
il was claimed that on the evening
OF Thursday, Jan. II, Asoff, who is
Syrian, while standing with large
.crowd of strikers, threw a huge piece
of Ice which struck Gallagher In the
back. nearly knocking him down.
From what was told by witnesses for
the plaintiff, John Randall and deputy
y. l.. Jepson, 1t would appear that
there were 'doings' in Madison on the
evening in question The evidence
brought out the fact that many OF the
strikers we're throwing snow, many
school children were shouting at
those who had returned to work, ana
# looked for a time as if something
serious might happen.
In his defense the Syrian, represen-
ted by Judge c. o. Small, made COM
plete denial, saying that at the time
of the alleged assault he was standing
near Christopher's store, and several
rods from where Gallagher said ne
stood at the time of being hit, which
was at point near the Haines jewel
ry store. Asoff said that he did not
see Gallagher that night Mr. Ran
dali an overseer in the mill OF the
Madison Wooden Company, was posi-
tive that he saw the Syrian throw the
large piece of ice. The result was
that Asoff, was adjudged guilty anu
fined SIS and costs with 10 days In
iail In default of payment, and hne
dismissed with payment of costs.
This did not please Judge Small VINO
entered an appeal for his client WIN
Zacheriah Hendzee and John Naunlg-
han of Madison as sureties, bonds be-
ing placed at $50.
So much for that, but the next case
proved rather spicy and full of human
interest. 1t was case in which two
women "clinched' as they said, and
when two women clinch the result IS
better imagined than shown. Miss
Doris B. Fahey of Madison was one
of those who were still working In the
mill on that eventful Thursday even
ing. Among those who were not was
Mrs. H. A. Otis, also of Madison. The
scene of hostilities was staged at a
point near the postoffice, according
to both parties concerned, Miss Fahey
by the way. having brought suit
against Mrs Otis for assault and
battery.
Miss Fahey in telling her story, said
that on the evening in question she
was walking with her mother down
Madison street, and as they neared
the postofflce someone shouted rats
and looking up she saw Mrs Otis
about to Jump on her. Mrs Otis did
lump. according to the witnesses,
grabbed Miss Fahey by the hair,
pulled the same, and made things
otherwise uncomfortable. Miss Fahey
took her assailant by the throat and
choked her in self defense and then
the mother of the young girl took
hand in the matter. A large crowd
collected and things were moving for
a few minutes. Finally the two wo-
men we're separated and calm was re
stored for a short time.
Mrs. Otis, through her counsel
Judge Small, denied that she attacked
Miss Fahey, but that that young lady
started the attacking. Not only was
she struck first by Miss Fahey, but the
blows came upon her without aggra-
vation.. She couldn't understand why
Doris should so panhandle her In
plain sight of society. She did not
pull the plaintiffs hair, but only to
protect herself
or course large crowd collected
during the hair pulling contest. and
fair sized part of the crowd appeared
as witnesses in the suit for Mrs Otis,