Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-29
DISTRICT COURT.
Lawyers Furman and Pendieton Have "a
Personal Encounter over the Evil
dence in the Case OF the state
Il. IL n do

Personal Encounter over tho Evil
dence in the Case of the state
vs. j. IL. Fonda.
District court convened at $50 yes
tefday morning with Judge Cooper In
the chair. The first and only case
which came before the court was that
of the State of Texas VS.. Il. II. Fonda,
who is charged with theft OF cattle.
The evidence. all Of which has not
been heard, developed the facts that
Fonda, in company with Snyder q
Davis, wholesale grocery nrn OF
Dallas, did, in the year 1881, go INTO
the cattle business and had Il herd OF
cattle near Grapevine Prairie; that
in the following spring the cattle
were removed TO Tarrant county.
shortly after the herd left Dallas,
Mr.. w. G. Dobkins who lives near the
line between Dallas and Tarrant coun-
ties claimed to have discovered several
cattle in Fonda's herd, branded with
his brand, and stated that Fonda had
stolen them. Other cattle belonging
TO different parties were discovered IN
the herd which were claimed by aileg-
ed owners, all of which Fonda claims
TO have purchased from different par
ties. Upon evidence such as the
above several indictments were re-
turned against Fonda ip Tarrant
county. The first one came up in the
trial yesterday, az d the cattle in ques-
ton were those claimed by w. g..
Dobkins. The defense claimed To have
purchased these cattle from w. ThOrp
OF Ellis county and offered in evil
dence letter from Thorp to Dobkins,
wherein, as the defense claimed,
Thorp had told Dohkins prior TO the
indictment that he had sold the
cattle in question to Fonda.
The council for the prosecution ob-
lectcd Oh the eround that such evil
dence was easily fabricated. Mr.. Fur
man of the counsel for the defense said:
The defense does not fabricate evil
dence, hut its county attorney Is u
wholesale. fabri6ator" Mr.. pendIe-
ton said. "Nou are Il consummate
liarn Immediately the court was Il
scene of great disorder. Mr.. Furman
sprang to his feet and selling chair
made for Mr.. Pendletou who assumed
an aggressive position himself. Friends
and officers of The court separated the
gentlemen before they succeeded in
injuring each other though they had
gotten in close quarters and several
blows passed between them. Mr.. Fur
mau had the little finger on his left
hand dislocated and was scratched on
the forehead. There are no marks of
the conflict on Mr.. Pendleton.
The fight only lasted one round, and
the referee, his honor Judge Cooper,
decided il 10 be draw, and fined the
gentlemen $50 each. Mr.. Milt Bowler
was fined 500 by Judge Cooper for in-
reference in the encounter. The
affair was the talk Of the city yester.
day, and all regretted that the lawyers
so far forgot the digAity of the court
and the fraternal relation of their pro
iesslon as TO create such scene. The
letter was ruled out of the evidence,
and the case proceeded. Messrs. Fur
man and Pendleton adjusted their
difficulties 10y mutual apologies, and
no doubt their personal relations will
be rs before. Court adjourned ovei
until 500 this morning, with the ease
against Folda still on trial.