1946 Delmar Tavern Brawl

FOUR FINED IN TAVERN BRAWL

 Maryland Inn Wrecked; One Man Jailed

 A. bloody brawl which wrecked the interior of the Maryland Inn, a Route 13 tavern near Delmar, resulted in the trial of four defendants on 15 different criminal charges in Peoples Court yesterday.

                                                                

Judge E. Sheldon Jones found the four giulty on three of four assault charges and four of eight drunk and disorderly conduct charges. Sentences totalled $375 and costs and with 60 days in jail for one man with more time to be imposed for non-payment of fines and costs.

The defendants were Carl Willey and Lance Willey. brothers, of 548 South Division St.; Herman Hill, 20, Route 3, Delmar; and Herbert Pusey, 408 East Locust St.

Hit With Pickle Jar

 The main casualty, apparently, was Carl Willey, who appeared in court with a bandaged nose and eyes. His brother testified Carl had been hit in the face with a one-gallon pickle Jar. The clothing of all four men was stained with blood.

Haakon Christensen, manager of the Maryland Inn, said four of the place's windows were knocked out "wood and all, 75 panes of glass broken from other windows, a $260 set of scales smashed, and the floor littered with broken bottles, glasses, pickle jars, and pickles after the fight Tuesday night.

Christensen told the court he was the target for most of the glassware. He said the brawl started after the' four defendants had had "five or six beers" each and Carl Willey had come behind the bar and struck him in the eye.

Walter Weakley, husband of the owner of the Maryland Inn, testified he arrived just as the defendants were leaving and that Car! Willey threatened him with a "knife as long as a butcher knife." He said the four ran when his wife shouted that police were coming. :

Arrested At Diner

Trooper J. J. Harbagh testified he and Trooper Claude D. Smith arrested the four at the Roseland Diner on Route 13. He testified both Lance and Carl Willey attacked him and resisted arrest. He also testified Pusey helped him by attempting to subdue Carl Willey, who was handcuffed to Pusey. In their testimony both Pusey and Hill denied fighting or destroying property. Lance Willey, who admitted being AWOL from the Army, also admitted throwing the first bottle at the Maryland Inn.

The Charges and Dispositions:

 Carl Willey, assault on Christensen, $50 and costs; assault on Weakley not guilty; assault on Harbaugh, $50 and costs; drunk and disorderly conduct at the Maryland Inn, $50 and costs; drunk and disorderly conduct at the Roseland, not guilty. Lance Willey, whom Judge Jones described as "the ringleader," assault on Harbaugh, $100 and costs; assault on Christensen, not guilty; drunk and disorderly conduct at the Maryland Inn, $50 and costs and 60 days in jail; drunk and disorderly conduct at the Roseland, not guilty.

Herbert Pusey, assault on Christensen, not guilty; drunk and disorderly conduct at the Maryland Inn, $25 and costs; drunk and disorderly conduct at the Roseland, not guilty. Herman Hill, assault on Christensen, not guilty; drunk and disorderly conduct at the Roseland, not guilty.

Above from the Salisbury Times 24 October 1946