The Old Times: MASHER THUMPED AND GETS 60 DAYS

It was April 23, 1908 and there was a lot of what seems to be normal news in the paper. Things like the escapades of the rich and famous, stories of people being mangled by trains, and snippets about suicides. Also, Mayor Thompson proclaimed Friday as clean-up day, and you now have to get up off your ass and clean your yard. And then you have this story here where a "pretty young woman on the eastside" scores a win for the 20th century feminist movement. 

Before the article a bit of 1900's terminology may need to be explained. A "masher" was a classy gentleman of the time who engaged in just tiny bit of sexual harassment in public. It got so bad as to where women began wearing large hat pins in their hat and would pull them out and threaten to stab these boneheads (a term developed at this time). 

Mashers need expect no sympathy from Police Justice Stein, as Kenneth McLennin, who was before the court Thursday morning, can testify.

McLennin, according to the testimony, stopped a pretty young woman of the east side on Hastings-st., Wednesday night, and attempted to engage her in conversation. She told him sharply to mind his own business and went on her way. McLennin followed and continued talking to her. Finally he proposed that she accompany him to Mt. Clemens, when the girl turned and roundly boxed his ears. She then reported the fellow to Patrolman Robert Weir, who arrested McLennin on a charge of disturbing the peace. McLennin was unable to pay the $25 fire Justice Stein imposed and will serve 60 days in the works.

Sweet justice. This guy wouldn't take the hint and she tried to walk away. It wasn't until he invited her to Mt. Clemens that she took action. Understandably. She two hand claps the sides of his head and runs to the cops. He gets arrested and his broke ass obviously can't pay the $25 fine ($820 in today money), so they send his sorry ass whatever the hell "in the works" is, which doesn't sound nice. What's the moral of the story? Don't ever invite a dame you are sexually harassing on the electric streetcar to Mt. Clemens. 

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