A FEMININE FLUTTER.

NZ Truth, Issue 243, 19 February 1910, Page 5

A FEMININE FLUTTER.

DEMONAIC— NOT DOVE-LIKE.

Bother m the Barbadoes.

LYNN LYDIES LINGER LONG.

Hurling Rocks on their Dad's Roof,

Sophia Sallies. Ont with a Stick and Furious Fire m Her Eye to Repel Boarders.

February 3 was a red-letter day m the annals of Barbadoes-street, Christchurch, or that portion of the thoroughfare that junctions with Byron-street. The latter public way suggests poetry, but if the Muse happened along on the date mentioned her sensibilities must have been outraged by the volcanic language floating ,about the atmosphere, and a black eye at least would have been her portion. When four perfect "lydies' 1 declare war, hell let loose is a mere circumstance beside it, and the resulting violence is a thrilling entertainment for the neighbors.

Sophia Harwood, Jenny Lynn, Amy Lynn and Ellen Lynn (formerly known as "Nellie") were charged m Christchurch S.M. Court last week with a breach of the peace, and immediately divided into hostile camps m the court, Sophia and Jenny seeking the protection of Solicitor Leathern, and Nelly and Amy finding a defender m Lawyer Donnelly.

Nellie, who had her brain box m a sling and wore mourning on her left eye, also charged Mrs Harwood with assault. The Harwood female is living with old man Lynn, there being children m the establishment, and Jenny visits the domicile occasionally, if she isn't an habitual boarder therein. Sophia and her aged pal, however, don't play speaks with Nellie and Amy, who booze to fill m time, and come round and hurl obscene reproaches at Pa and Sophia, and project road metal at the tenement, and play the very devil generally. At least that is what they did on February 3. One of the neighbors who was scandalised and terrified by this, dreadful episode was Mrs Ethel Annie Gregory, wife, of Walter G., who; upon the suggestion of Sub-Inspector McGrath, confided her knowledge of the affair to Beak Bailey. She was engaged peacefully m her household duties when she became aware of a disturbance /at the corner of Barbadocs and Byron-streets. Hard substances used for road making crashed down upon the Harwood mansion, which was also the abode of the aged Lynn, and beastly remarks' played a demented accompaniment to the .noise. Gazing fearfully out, Mrs Gregory discovered Nellie and Amy shifting the crown of the road on to private property two square inches at a time.

Nellie was referred to as "the little one" and .Amy as "the big one," and every time they were so mentioned the female . under discussion would shake with suppressed amusement, and even Sophia and Jenny showed wide gashts m their faces when some alleged funniosity enlivened the proceedings. The hour was about 3.30 p.m. and flinty ammunition was poured upon the devoted dwelling for some considerable tune without any response by the inmates. A . child belonging to one of the shikkurcd Misses Lynn added its yells to the general din, and tried to prevail upon its mother to depart. Finally the two moved away towards ' Waltham-street, but returned again, arid throwing her hat to the howling infant to keep it quiet Nellie joined her sister m another road-metal attack on the building. The assault was m full swing when Sophia Harwood sallied forth with a stick, and repelled the enemy with great slaughter. Aiay shaped up to Sophia, who is large and stout and muscular, but was immediately felled with a blow from the cane, which appeared to be a walking stick. Nellie showed more fight, but was speedily vanquished, although the actual larruping was administered beyond the vision oT Mrs Gregory. Jenny followed- Mrs Har* wood out of the house, but didn't seem to take any active part m the fray excepting to rush towards Amy when she was lying on the road. In reply to Mr Donnelly the witness said Sophia was liviug with the Lynns' father on one corner and Mrs Gregory on the other corner. The young woman Nellie had been a tonment to the neighbors. "She's enough to frighten anybody" remarked the witness. George Ellis, employed m the DJL.C, who lives m Byron-stfeet, saw Ifce stone' throwing and the temporary obfitcratiou of Amy with the stick. Copper Golding told Lawyer Donnelly that the stick used appeared to be a light sugar cane. The woman Harwood, had three or four young children' on the premises. The policeman didn't think she had been before the court before. Nellie had no settled place of abode. Mr Donnelly at this stage said that there was nothing jn the evidence to justify him m abandoning the case of assault against the woman Harwood. Beak Bailey remarked that no case had been proven against Jenny, and that young lady was discharged. Mr Leathern mentioned that Nellie had been warned not to go near the house m Barbadoes-street. She had a recordt as long as counsel's arm. ' Nellie : Excuse me, I have not. What about Jenny ?

Counsel said he cculd prove it. After throwing stones upon the Harwood establishment, the besiegers probably got all that they deserved.

A baker named Fred. Sweeney said he had known Sophia for five years, but had never known her to cause anybody any trouble 'or annoyance. On the 3rd he saw Nellie with her dress about up to her neck throwing stones on to the roof of the dbmicile, and Sophia chastised both sisters with the stick. The unwelcome visitors were half boozed.

Sophia Harwood said she had lived with old James Lynn for some years, she had four youngsters, and this was her first appearance before the court. Old Lynn gave Sophia instructions that NelJie and Amy were ■ not to be permitted near the place. The two were m beer when they assaulted the house, and both showed fight when tackled by the exasperated Sophia. They were the cause of the whole trouble. '

Mr Donnelly : What did you. take the stick out for ?— lt's handier than the hands. (Laughter.)

The witness said she used the shillelagh purposely. "They shouldn't interfere with me," she said. Nellie put up her dooks, but couldn't get one m, Sophia didn't see any blood about. "" Nellie : I'll take this oil (grabbing at her bandage) and let you have a look at it.

Mr Donnelly : Before the woman went to your house, didn't you tell Mrs Scott that the "Johns" were after Nelhe ?— Yes, that was only done for fun. "Johns" is a nick-name for the police, I suppose ?— Yes, I'm not afraid of them. I've never done anything to make me afraid of them.

Sophia Harwood was then charged with assaulting Nellie Lynn, and pleaded not guilty. Nellie, whose black eye and bandage were conspicuous m the witness-box, wore four rings on one hand that was visible. She suffered so much from the assault, she said, that she had to visit the doctor three times. When she was going past Sophia's gate on her way to the doctor's, her unvenerated pa came out and said, "Come back, you pair of Wankers if you want to fight."

Mr Leathern : You are a convicted prostitute, aren't you ? — Yes ; but what about the others ?

His Worship decided to convict Nellie and Amy. With regard to Sophia, it was a question of whether she was justified m assaulting the others. She seemed ±o have given one of them a bad handling with the stick. ' Sophia was fined 10s and costs, but Nellie and Amy were requested to part with £land costfe