The Phoenix index., 1940-10-19

significance.
The case on the surface, merely
involved a bit caresSing" on the
part Of a wealthy employer to his
comely employe during one of his
moments of intoxicated joviality.
However, lurking way beneath this
'forcible act" lay a very definite
principle which the court was urg-
ed to note, involved the right" of
tie employe to the sanctity of
their person, and to the ''protec-
ton" of their morals while in the
employ of their wealthy employ
erS.
Atty. Hugh McBeth, who guided
the plaintiffs case throughout the
length of two full court days, delv-
ed deep into the matter OF the
principles, both natural and moral,
involved in order to have the basic
rights of free individuals properly
adjudicated.
TELLS OF EMBRACE
Mrs. Juliette Smith, through her
attorneys. Hugh and Goler Nc
Beth, told the court sitting without
a jury. that she had been in the
employ of the Quentin Roland
Smiths, in their executive Bel-Air
estate home, 1862 Copa De Ora
Road, for the period of one year.
She testified that her work had
been satisfactory over this period
and that she had been discharged
along with two other servants the
day following her employers haV-
ing "forcibly and passionately" as
saulted. and given two weeks pay.
The plaintiff said that previous
to the incident, about tive months
earlier, the defendant employer
had informed his three colored
servants that he had lost a valu-
able ring. Counsel for the defense
tried vainly to show the court that
it was because of a suspicion OF
his employees honesty, that result
ed in the wholesale discharge OF
the colored employees of the house.
hold and the substitution. OF Ger
man servants, in order to show y
motive for the suit charging MS
client with the ridiculous" act.
An attempt to have Mrs. Jullette
Smith, the former maids charac-
ter "blackened" through the lnveS-
tigative office of District Attorney
Buron Fits. was "quashed' When
Atty. McBeth disclosed that the
ring had been found in the home
of the defendant, after the dis
charge of the colored servants.
The complaining former maid,
testified that on the night OF jan
uary 80, 1889, she was subjected TO
the unwilling kisses of Quentin Ro-
land Smith, her we"
and was only saved from further
embarrassment to her person by
the arrival of fellow employees.
GRABBED HER ARMS
She said on that night her
yc,,ng and handsome employer
came home from his club in an ap-
parent intoxicated condltlon. III
the hallway of the home, So grao-
bed her by the arms saying: come
IN to vour room and make love. l
ike YOU" She said he then began
to kiss her over her protest.
Mrs. Quentin Roland Smith, So
cial registrate wife OF the de1eno-
ant. who was before her marriage
Lucille Raleigh, heiress to the hugc
Raleigh Food Products millions OF
Memphis, Tenn, in testl1ylng III
her husbands defense intlmateo
that she suspected something was
going on wrong, by stating she
stood in her upstairs doorway
waiting for him to come upstairs.
Courtroom attaches noted the CO.
incidental discharging OF all her
colored employees the very next day
after the asserted kissing lnclden6
with two weeks pay, with consid-
erable significance. One of the wit
nesses for the plaintiff, Mrs. Carrie
Allen, discharged maid, testlfleo
that the defense had offered to
buv her stockings in order to make
statement to what occurred.
The other discharged colOred malo'
Elizabeth Oliver, testified to the
manner of her discharge and the
two weeks pay in advance.
Mrs. Smith, who resides with
her husband at 1907 West Seth
street through her counsel prayed
for the sum of $4,000. for the
grave mental humiliation she suf-
fered at the hands of her employ
err and to her future reputation"
Judge Stutsman, addressing his
remarks especially to the defense
counsel upbraided his wealthy
client fer his intoxicated act, and
pointed out that servants in the
homes of the wealthy have feel
ings and rights" that ought to be
protected, and the colored people
and white, rich and poor, employer
and employee all have the same