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Fall River MA, The Daily Globe, Thursday Evening, 24 Aug 1893
COURT CHRONICLES
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Assault Cases the Principal Theme of Interest
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At an Afternoon Session of the Tribunal Yesterday
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Very Little Business Brought Before His Honor This Morning
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In the court yesterday afternoon the oft continued cases of Michael Riley for assault on Ann Loftus and Annie Smith came up for trial.
Mrs. Loftus testified that she made a call at Riley's house on Bedford street, and say Mrs. Riley and her husband. The latter had spoken of his wife in the most disparaging way and called her vile names. The witness, although not at all related to, or interested in the Rileys, volunteered to give Mrs. Riley $20 with which to prosecute her husband for his vulgarity and illtreatment. This seemed to enrage Riley and he threatened to have her arrested, and even went out to get a policeman, but failing to find one returned.
Meanwhile, the witness had gone up stairs and had just returned as Riley entered the door. She sat down and he struck her in the face repeatedly, and the result was that she had a face black and blue in spots, and there was a big lump under her eyes. Her injuries were so severe that she called Dr. Cummings and he dressed them. At the same time witnesses said that Riley struck Annie Smith, who happened to be in the house. The assault on his wife was committed at the same time.
Annie Smith, who was also visiting at the home of the Riley's was assaulted, but not severely.
On cross-examination by Mr. Cummings, Mrs. Loftus admitted that she threw a glass at Riley before he went out to have her arrested, and also that there was 10 cents worth of beer in the house, of which she partook very moderately.
The testimony for the defense was to effect that Mrs. Loftus had busied herself in the affair between Riley and his wife, and that she had not only thrown one, but four glasses at Riley, and had made the place so hot for him that he went in search of an Officer. One of the glasses the woman threw struck Annie Smith, and that was the assault committed on her.
For this assault Riley was fined $25. For assaulting Annie Smith, he was fined $10.The evidence in the case of assault on his wife had been submitted at a former session of the court and upon it he was adjudged guilty and fined $15. He appealed in each case, and was ordered to furnish $300 bonds, which he did. Milton Reed for the prosecution. John W. Cummings for the defense.
The trial of Daniel Shay, for punching the eye out of Walter Rabbitt, which had been suspended in the forenoon in order to secure the attendance of Mr. Carey, a witness, was resumed. Mr. Carey was present at the time of the assault in Daily's saloon, and said that he saw Shay assault Rabbitt.
Counsel argued the case at length and the court found Shay probably guilty and held him in $500 to await the action of the grand jury.
This morning's session was brief and featureless..
Joseph Berger walked along Flint street Monday evening and paused in front of a grocery store long enough to get into trouble. He was arrested on a complaint for disturbing the peace and pleaded not guilty.
The Judge: "What was he doing?"
Witness: "Disturbing the peace."
The Judge: "In what way?"
Witness: "Swearing and calling me names."
Prisoner: "And what did I do that for?"
Witness: "I don't know."
Prisoner: "You are wrong. I was looking into the store to see if my mother-in-law was there, and you came out and kicked me. Didn't you?"
Witness: "If I didn't kick you, I made a mistake, because I intended to do it."
Prisoner: "You succeeded, and for five minutes I couldn't get my wind."
The Judge: "Mr. Witness, it appears to me, that this man is innocent. If you assaulted him as you say you did, and as he says you did, there is no cause for action and he is discharged."
Michael and Ann Sheehan live on Ford street, and the neighbors say they spend considerable time in lingering with the pail when the foam is on. Officer Golden was called into the house twice last night to straighten them out, and was finally compelled to bring them before the court on a charge of disturbance.
Officer Golden: "These people were fighting in their own house and the neighbors made complaint to me. The man is quiet, but the woman is a loud mouthed disturber."
Woman: "Did you see the sign of drink on me?"
Golden: "Yes, I saw it in a pail too, and you were very noisy."
Woman: "No sir, you are away off. It was Mike that was doing all the talking. He was full and I was trying to keep him quiet. For eight weeks, he didn't work---"
The Judge: "Never mind that."
Man: "My wife judge, makes all the trouble. Can't do anything with her, she was drunk that night."
The Judge: "Mrs. Sheehan were you drunk?"
Woman: "No judge. I was not. I didn't have one bit more than you have had this morning."
The woman was fined $15, and the man discharged.
Patrick Finnegan pleaded guilty to assault on Rosanna Crosson. The complainant was not in court, but Sarah Doherty said that she saw the prisoner strike the woman in the mouth. The regulation $15 was assessed.
John Noon, for larceny of $4.50 from a person unknown to complainant, was continued until tomorrow.
The same disposition was made of the case of Daniel Sullivan for assault on Alfred Lake.
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