AN ALLEGED INSULT.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3982, 3 October 1881, Page 2

AN ALLEGED INSULT.

A few days ago a young woman gueat at a West Point hotel, Miss Ida Scoofy, who lives in San Francisco, complained that in the course of an otherwise pleasant conversation, Captain Burslem had called her a liar, and she was advised to say nothing further about it. The matter was then passed over, and was forgot, ten by all except the young woman and Captain Burslem and their friends. On Wednesday evening the young lady attended the cadet's hop, and on her return to the hotel, while mounting the steps to the piazza, she was confronted by Captain Burslem. There were a number of men and women present, and such eye-witnesses as are willing to talk on the subject unite in the statement that the Captain stared at^the young woman, and, throwing back his bead disdainfully; blew a puff of cigarette smoke at her head. The young woman asked : "Is there not a gentleman here who will protect me from the attack of this ruffian?" No one stirred. The Captain laughed, and again puffed smoke toward her, "Is there not a man present who will interfere to save me from these insults H" she again demanded. There was no response. Without further appeal the young lady struck the Captain j fair in the face, and as he raised his cane to defend himself she seized it, and with several well directed blows broke the cane over his head and knocked him down. The waiters sprang to assist the Captain, and he was raised and carried into the house. A cut over his eye was the chief apparent damage, and after dressing the wound with an oyster he retired to his room., The young woman and her mother left the house yesterday and came to this city, where they took rooms at the New York Hotel. Last evening a reporter called upon the young woman, who deprecated any publication of the adventure, and warmly contended that she was justified in what she was compelled to do. She declined to detail the circumstances leading up to the affair.