Source:No-formality/content
Peace and quiet which generally prevail in quaint old Chicken alley received a setback last night when F. W. Fleming and Henry Miller engaged in a spirited exhibition of the manly art. Officer John A. Kennedy happened to come along when the men were exchanging compliments in a fast and furious manner, and he placed them under arrest. They were taken to Central Station, where a charge of disorderly conduct was lodged against them.
At the hearing in the case held this morning at the session of Magistrate Stewart's court, the policeman testified that when he first saw the men they were standing on Diamond street, but a few minutes later they were battling in Chicken alley.
The prisoners reside in the same house in Chicken alley but they never had the pleasure of meeting until yesterday. Fleming lives on the third floor of the building and Miller on the fourth. Fleming testified that his wife was looking out of the window and that Miller, who was standing in the alley, made an uncomplimentary remark to her. When the husband heard of it he lost no time in getting acquainted with the gentleman. It was alleged that he rapped Miller in the jaw. The recipient of this touching compliment was gallantry itself, and it was alleged that he landed a powerful blow on the left eye of Mr. Fleming. A general mix-up followed and honors seemed to be even. Both men bore the marks of battle when they appeared in court this morning.
Miller testified that Fleming had made a mistake. He claimed that he was calling his roommate and that he didn't address Fleming's wife.
The court said that his statement might be true, but as both prisoners were extremely disorderly he sentenced each to pay the nominal fine of $1 and costs.
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The police authorities say that they have received complaints about the disorderly houses in Greasy alley. Officer Schneider was sent there last night and he raided the establishments of Rose Brown, Ida Gardner and Mary Johns. The proprietresses and nine visitors, five men and four women, were arrested.
At the hearing this morning the men were all discharged, but the women were heavily fined. Misses Brown, Gardner and Johns were each sentenced to pay a fine of $50 and costs or go to the workhouse for 60 days. The women visitors were each taxed $25 and costs or 60 days to the works.
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John Cameron, who has devoted a good deal of attention to the liquor habit, was before the court on a charge of drunkenness. Officer John A. Kennedy found the old fellow sleeping in a doorway on Diamond street last night, and after waking him, advised him to go home. Cameron got up and started away. Kennedy walked round his beat and when he returned he found Cameron lying in the middle of the street. It was impossible to waken him and he had to carry him to the patrol box.
The prisoner promised to introduce great reformatory measures in his daily conduct if the magistrate would discharge him, but he was sentenced to pay a fine of $5 and costs or go to the workhouse for a period of 30 days.
