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Venus O'Conner, Gertrude Ross, and Others

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The Seattle Star, November 24, 1903

FUN IN A COURT

Mrs. Venus O'Conner Was the Innocent Cause of Merriment

Justice George listened all this morning to the family troubles of Mrs. Gertrude Ross, nee Coleman, and Frank Delatoire, her erstwhile sweetheart. She accused him at divers times and places of threatening her life with a butcher knife. The specific offense is said to have taken place No. 7 in a lodging house at 117 Washington street.

Mrs. Ross, who was married but a couple of weeks ago, told on the witness stand this morning the history of her past two years. In glowing language she told how she had supported Delatoire in luxure on the $3 a week she earned as a chambermaid. Several attempts were made to cut her off on the testimony if not relative to the case, but the attempts were failures. She told her complete story despite judge and attorneys.

Mrs. Ross' daughter Carmelia took the stand, and after she had listened to her mother's story and corroborated her in some statements. She said that Delatoire had acted in a threatening manner toward her mother several times.

Following Carbelia [sic Carmelia], a young lady, who said her name was Venus O'Conner, took the stand. When asked her occupation she set the court room into roars of laughter by saying: "I'm married to a policeman." After making this statement she thought that her testimony was completed and started to leave the stand. She was called back, however, to tell of various misdeeds on the part of Delatoire.

Mrs. O'Conner was careful to remark that her family was very wealthy and lived on Vashon Island. She had been a chambermaid for Mrs. Ross and in that way met Delatoire.

The case will probably take up the greater part of the afternoon.