THE DOAN DIFFICULTY – FIRE-ARMS, STONES, HOT WATER AND CUSS WORDS

The Case Before the Kadi- The Persecuted Joel Reluctant to Testify Against his Loving Wife, who Shed Copious Tears During the Examination-Fined for Carrying Deadly Weapons.

[Welland Telegraph, 15 May 1891]

On Thursday of last week the domestic harmony of Mr. Joel Doan’s life was subjected to another periodical disturbance, and the wife of his bosom proceeded to execute summary chastisement upon her liege lord for misdemeanors both real and imaginary. Joel had been gazing lovingly upon the lager as it foamed over the top of the shuper, and in consequence, according to Mrs. Doan’s ideas, was incapacitated for his routine of duty. Mrs. Doan also had grave suspicions that her husband was bestowing too much affection upon another woman. Being a woman of some spirit and possessing the faculty of getting down to business without any prefactory nonsense, she vowed eternal vengeance upon the frail Joel and the seductive siren who was basking in the sunshine of his smiles. Now it is pretty well known that when Mrs. D starts out on a mission of this kind she is very apt to make things interesting, and once the vials of her wrath are uncorked a hale of blue atmosphere, suggestive of brimstone, is easily imagined to surround her. About noon on the day in question Joel was in the Frazer House when the enemy approached, who with a sting of language not authorized by Webster, pounced upon him, slapped his face and clutched his fat pocket book, which she consigned to her own pocket. She pelted him with stones, uttered dire threats of terrible vengeance, and upbraided him with all the wrongs in the calendar. Joel finally escaped but during the afternoon she found him at a home on Division street where she was denied admittance, and received with a pail of warm water. She had secured a revolver and when the truant husband appeared this was discharged, which action led to her arrest on complaint of her son Benjamin. She gave bail to appear on Monday, when she came before Police Magistrate Hellems, charged with “unlawfully and feloniously shooting with the intent to do grievous bodily harm on Joel Doan.

The court was called at 10 o’clock, but it was 10.35 when the defendant put in an appearance followed by a few whom she had secured to testify in her defence. She was somewhat disappointed when told that her witnesses could not be called and that the court could only take such evidence as offered by the crown, but that she might be represented by counsel. She inquired for Mr. German but he being away she went after Mr. Harcourt, and not securing his services hunted up Mr. L.C. Raymond.

The defence elected for summary trial, but the Court would not decide until the evidence was heard, as it might be of such a nature that would necessitate commitment to trial.

Several witnesses testified to hearing Mrs. Doan threaten to shoot, and seeing her with a revolver. Her son had seen her running about Geo. Minor’s house and threatening if her husband did not come out “to bore him clean through;” he had seen his father afterwards and took him to the City hotel and washed the blood off his face, but did not see the shooting.

Joel Doan, the man alleged to have been shot, was very reluctant to testify, and treated the matter as a joke, saying he guessed his wife only wanted to scare him.

On his evidence the prosecution broke down and had no case to go on with, but the Court felt inclined to take action on the statute regarding the carrying of firearms. He gave the defendant quite a lecture and strongly advised her to guard her word in future. He dismissed the charge of shooting with intent and reserved his judgement on the matter respecting the carrying of fire arms until Wednesday when he imposed a fine of $20 and costs.

During the progress of the examination Mrs. Doan wept copious tears of sorrow and repentance and her sobs echoed through the court room like the plaintive wail of injured innocence.

[Related TALE: JOEL CLARK DOAN]