HATCHER, Rufus - Putnam

Rufus Hatcher, a 19-year-old boy from Limedale, appeared before Mayor Birch this morning to answer the charge of assault and battery upon William Goodwin of the same place.  The evidence developed the fact that the trouble commenced in fun and a supposedly friendly scuffle, which ended in much profanity and boating but without blows.  The mayor decided, in view of the fact that Hatcher is a poor boy without money or friends, and that Goodwin was guilty of provoke, that the case should be dismissed   --- kbz