, 1884-07-22

of the paper and his unalterablc intention
to maintain him there, no matter who
was employed by Mr.. Mercer.
The ball opened just then.
Mr.. Mercer said he would have his man
there and Mr. Marney asserted that he
would have his. Even for a hot morning
the conversation was becoming interesting.
The word liar was intercl anE d and
in at least one instance it was supplement-
ed by Il Strengthening prefix. From the
best information that could be gathered it
appears that Mr.. Mercer struck the first
blow. The harm done was not very great
but affairs became very complicated at
this moment. There were wierd and
dissolving views of a pair ofmen %prancing
around with little regard for appearances
within the office railing. The children
screamed with terror and those not other.
wise engaged We're very much excited.
As the scufie progressed Mr.. Mercer
went over the railing with an extreme
degree Of srddenuess. Mr.. Marney fol-
lowed him a close second. When the
horizon cleared somewhat it was noticed
that Mr.. Mercer was on top, clawing
fiercely, while Mr.. Marney was underneath
clawing just as f~iercely. In a moment
the scene changed again and the positions
were reversed Mr.. Marney was on top,
MIR. Mercer underneath.
The excitement had even before this
reached the composing room and the
business Office was well crowded with ox-
cited spectators.
Mr.. H.. w. Moore, the foreman of the
Office, Mr.. Burton and Mr.. Trimble made
strong efforts to separate the combatsnts.
At this juncture, however, they suddenly
found their hands full from another
quarter altogether. Mrs. Annie i. Mercer,
the wife of A. s. Mercer, appeared
in the arena. Comprehcnding at a
glance the situation she snatched
from the desk a heavy paper weight
which was nothing more nor less than a
bronze imitation of 4 bull, and rushed
toward the struggling men. She struck a
single blow before Moore caught her and
took the weapon away from her. In
ccnsed and violent, she caught up a large
maioliea spittoon which was close at hand
and made another attempt to go to the
rescue of her struggling husband. This
time Burton caught her and disarmed her,
while Moore made vigorous attempts to
pull Marney off and TO separate the two
men. Just at this point a new clement of
belGigcrency made its appearance in the
persons of two young children, a girl about
ten years of age and a boy somewhat
older, both children Of Mercer, who came
to the rescue each with q rock in hand
ready to strike a blow for their father. In
order to head off this new danger Burton
let 60 of Mrs. Mercer and blocked the way
Sc as 10 prevent these children from
interfering. Released now and with the
opportunity Mrs. Mercer again snatched
up the spittoons nd rushing quickly around
to where she could get the proper open
ing, she dealt Marney a terrible blow on
the back of the head lacerating it in a
dreadful manner and breaking the spit
toon into a dozen fragments. Senseless
and covered all over with blood Marney
was picked up from the floor and carried
to his room, and DIR. j.. j.. Hunt sum
moned in hot haste. The MERGERS, who
ii seems were about as much Mortified az
any at what had happened and the serious
outcome of the alteration, were, ~ofcourse,
silent spectators of the bloody scene.
The news of this encounter spread like
wildfre through the city, and in a very
short time Burton appeared before Judge
Lee and made acomplaint against Mr.. and
Mrs. Mercet for aggravated assault and
battery. Afterward Prosecuting Attorney
Baird appeared in court with DIR. Hunt
who had dressed the wounds. The latter
stated that Marney's injuries were seri-
ous and there was . possibility that they
might prove fatal. The first complaint
was then withdrawn, although n warrant
had been issued and served on Mercer by
Deputy Sheriff Smalley. Two new com
plants were made out against Mercer for
assault and battery and one against Mrs.
Mercer for assault with a deadly weapon
with intent to kill.
Later on in the afternoon Mr.. and Mrs.
Mercer appeared in court, with Judge
Wright as their counsel. The former
pleaded guilty to the charge of assault
and battery and paid a fine of SO and
costs, while Mrs. Mercer waived an exam.
nation and gave bail in the sum of 81 900
for her appearance at the next term of the
District Court.
Mr.. Marney was seen in n cosey room
of his residence corner of Eighteenth
and Warren VENUE. He was in a condi,
ton to talk ~intelligently although his
head was swathed in bandages. The back
of his head is laid open by an ugly jagged
cash, which, although very painful, will
probably not prove dangerous unless the
hot weather should produce dangerous
complications.
What condition does this row place
you in regard to the paper?' was asked
him.
well" said he chcerfully, 81 still
own q half interest in the concern. We
made $4,000 in the last eight months above
running expenses, and | would not sell
out for $4,000.
The business Office of the Lire STOCK
Journal was open as usualyesterday after
noon, and everything about it looked quiet
as q prarnvard