Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-04
CLAYTON WHITE.
THE JURY TRYING HIM FAILS TO
AGREE.
General Mansfield Gives His Version of
His Encounter with the Irascible At
torney-Mr. White Tells His Story.

In the police court yesterday morn
ing Clayton White, the attorney, ap-
peared before Judge M. I. Owens upon
the charge of battery preferred against
him by General John Mansfield.
With his customary facetiousness,
Attorney Brooks moved the court for a
continuance until O'Clock, which was
granted.
On reconvening at 2 o'clock, the de-
fendant stated that Mr.. Brooks was un-
avoidably detained, but in order that
there might be no further delay, he
would conduct his own case. He then
made motion to exclude spectators and
reporters from the courtroom, but
Justice Owens promptly denied the re-
quest.
The complainant, General John Mans
field, was then called to the stand. In
effect, his testimony was as follows:
81 am an attorney at law, occupying
an office in to-, Temple block. Mr.
Dunlap has the E,om next mine. Ihave
no acquaintance with the defendant,
though have seen him number of
times and know him.
son the Goth of November he came
into my office and passed on to Mr.. Dun
laps room. l was writing at the time.
He went to the window, which opened
on Spring street, and began calling
loudly to some person across the way.
His noise annoyed me, but | said moth
ing !, and in a short time he ceased.
81 kept on with my work, and in a
moment or two he began calling more
loudly than before.
81 got up and went to the door be-
tween the rooms and called, Mr.. White
He did not reply called again and he
turned toward me. said, Mr. White,
you forget this is my office. You are
Just out of prison and l don't care to
have you shouting from my window, as
/ don't desire any OF that kind of noto-
riety.
81 turned half way around to return
to my desk, and had my hand on the
door frame, when l feM blow on the
head from that fellows fist. Twas over.
whelmed with astonishment that he
should strike me, and before l realized
what was going on he struck me again
in the face, which was badly bruised and
discolored from the blows.
tempted to stick his fingers into my
eyes. We struggled, and l threw him
the floor of my office. Mr.. Dunlap and
another gentleman came in and pulled
us apart, and few moments later a
policeman arrived. When White got up
/ saw revolver underneath him, and
picked it up and handed it to Officer
Jeffries."
Sergeant w. T. Jeffries was the next
witness called. His testimony was to
the effect that as he passed under the
window of General Mansfeld's Office on
Spring street, he heard some one say in
loud voice, ''I'll shoot the s. of d
b." He rushed upstairs to the first
floor of the Temple block, and found
White and Mansfield, Dunlap and
Adams, in a room, the two former being
bloodstained and disheveled, as if after
fight. He then arrested all the par
ties, but finally took the defendant to
the station.
j. B. Dunlap, an attorney, corrobor-
ated General Mans6eld's testimony in
every particular, and Judge d. M. Ad-
ans, who came in at the tail end of the
fight, also corroborated the complainant.
The defendant, Clayton White, then
took the stand on his own behalf, and in
a nervous and excited manner testified
in effect as follows:
county jail, but was released on Novem-
ber 10Th. 1 had told my friend Moye
Wicks to secure my weapons from the
court, because while l was in custody
had letter from party who threat
ened to do me violence as soon as | got
out.
''The court refused to give up the
weapons to Mr.. Wicks; but on the
morning of the twentieth l went to
Cheney's court and got them. then
attended to some business | had on
hand, and in the afternoon started out
to get permit to carry my weapons.
took them along as had an idea that 1
would have to show them. / met officer
Weatherman at the junction of Temple
and Spring streets, and as 1 did not
know the law with regard to such mat
ters, 1 asked him about it; and he re-
ferred me to the chief or mayor I then
went up to my Office in the Temple
block, and after cleaning things up bit,
started out again. Seeing Mr.. Dunlap
in his Office, went over to speak to him,
and met General Mansfield in the door,
way. l saluted him pleasantly and
passed in. While sitting at the window
with Mr. Dunlap, l saw my friend Judge
Adams, across the street, and as had
nOC SeeH Ilnn lOr long Jlmo, ne nav
ing just returned from Nicaragua,
l called across to him, placing my
hands to my mouth. l was unable to
attract his attention, however, and he
turned the corner out OF sight. Pres
emily l saw him emerge from the door
way of the Allen block and l beckoned
and yelled to him again, little louder
than before. Mr.. Dunlap told me not
to shout, as he would go over and catch
Mr.. Adams; but was afraid he would
miss him. Mr. Adams heard me finally
and as he started to cross the street |
went to meet him. As did so heard
General Mansfield say in loud and in.
sulting manner, What do you mean by
making so much noise about my Office p
apologized, but he grew more angry
and said, I wish you to understand,
sir, that this is my Office l told him
that had not intended any offense and
apologized again, but he got more and
more excited, and shook his hand in my
face as if about to strike me. As he
was crowding me and thought he would
hit me, l struck him and re-
ceived blow in the left eye at the
same moment which made me see stars.
We then went at it and pounded each
other for little while, until his supe-
rior strength overcame me and he swept