Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-26
BOTH UNDER ARREST.
MessRs. GUY AND MORRIss TO Ap-
PEAR IN COURT THIS MORNING.
Result of y Fight In n Commissioner,s
Onicc-Causc Of the Affair."
Recognized for Court.

~sNeo''' ""VhSou uuV ana hODcrt r. MOI
riss. the former member of the Rich
mond bar and the latter civil engineer,
We're arrested yesterday morning and
taken TO the Second station-house on war
rants charging them with committing
breach OF the peace by fighting in the
Office of Commissioner James M. Mathews
on Monday. They were recognized to ap-
pear before Police-Justice Crutchfield this
morning. The warrants were sworn out
by Captain j. b. Angle and executed by
sergeant Cosby and Officer Porteaux.
HOW THE TROUBLE OCCURRED.
The difficulty occurred during the taking
OF dispositions before the Commissioner.
MIR. Morriss was a witness touching GER
tain notes in the care of John G. Gibson.
trustee, and connected with the Dollar
Savings Bank litigation, and Mr.. Guy was
present in his capacity as attorney for Mr..
w. j. Cussen.
During his testimony Mr.. Morriss used
language which Mr.. Guy considered as re-
tiecting upon the memory of his brother.
Colonel John II. Guy, who was one of those
lawyers appointed by the Chancery Court
to distribute the assets Of the estate of the
late Richard g. Morriss. The testimony
III which this language occurred was as fol-
lows:
THAT the late Richard G. Morriss left will
Only recorded. leaving his two sons, G. Y. aud
Robert Z. Morriss, his executors and that the
aforesaid Robert r. Morriss found out that by
process OF law Jack Lyon, Jack Guy, and JACK
Meredith had been appointed 20 receive all OF
the assets OF the late Richard q. Morrss repre-
sentng al of bis tolls for over fifty years, and 10
distribute the same, and that had not received
as executor OF the late Richard y. Morriss, the
notes OF John G. GiDsOn, trustee, but had re-
ceived them from the appointees Of the court as
part Of my portion Of the funds for distribution
among the heirs"
Dir. Guys Statement.
When Mr.. Guy was seen by DISPATCH
reporter yesterday and asked to make a
statement Of the occurrence he said:
"The difficulty took place while Commissioner
Mathews was engaged in taking depositions.
Tho witness introduced was Mr.. Robert Z. Nor
riss, the client OF Mr.. +. ~ Conner in the case.
was present representing my client. Mr.. w. j.
Cusscn. Mr.. Morriss gave an answer which
construed IA a reflection upon the memory OF
my brother the late Colonel Guy, and which II
appeared was unnecessary "a not in any way
connected with the case"
Here Mr.. Guy recited the language given
above and to which he expected. and con-
tinued:
al said nothing when that answer was given.
When Mr.. Conner was through l asked Mr.. Nor
riss one questiOn-to state II he know. when the
executors OF his fathers estate obtained the
notes, how and whore, and II was his reply 10
this question In which he again referred stos she
three gentlemen. and this time as having be-
come or having made themselves receivers and
distributes OF his fathers estate"
THE LIE PASSED.
81 said | suppose ne meant 10 say distributors
% the estate: no (Mr. MOrrss) said no, IL was
written oorrcctly-distributees then told him
that / was the brother OF one OF the gentlemen
referred TO by him. and that i considered his
language n reflection up n his memory. Mr..
Conner mis- cOunscD then said to Mr.. Norris.
think you ought 10 adf there that ,ou meant no
reflection upon Colonel Guy. lie replied that lie
would not do It; that he moant no reelection
on any one, but upon the Chancery Court l
then demonstrated with him. telling him thHt
presumed he did not intend any reflection, when
he began with abuse OF Mr.. John LyC n. told him
had nothing TO do with Mr. Lyon; that what he
had said was a reflection upon Colonel Guy. The
suggestion was again mado-l think by his own
counsel-that he would add that he did not in
tend IL. which he again declined TO do, and then
arose from my seat and ssd Wen, sir, II Is false
lie replied, You are liar. | struck him aud
the fight ensued, and continued for short
space, when Mr.. Conner and Mr.. Mathews sepa-
rated us. The fight began In the southwest
corner Of the Office. and Mr.. Morriss retreated
under the weight OF my blows TO the corner
diagonally opposite. whom he rallied and eau ed
me to retreat to near the place Of beginning.
when again forced him bsck nearly 10 the
northeast corner, and 1t was then and not tlil
then that we were interrupted by the other two
gentlemen In the room. AS soon as they caught
US we ceased at tho same time 10 nght. and no
blow rds sfrltct by NE after my antagonist rds
caughL J had on no fngcr-ring. The injuries
given by me were with the fists and nothing else.
WOULD APOLOGIZE FOR ANY WRONG.
"Of course no one can regret an occurrence Of
this sort more than l do And after our faces
had been washed and We returned to the room
of the Commissioner told Mr. MOrriss that
did everything could 10 avoid II and that u
had done him an injury would get on my knees
10 apologize for H. which expression on my part
met with no response from him. considered
the insult 20 the memory Of my brother graiui-
tous and warion.'
Declined to Make IA Statement.
Mr.. Morriss upon being requested by the
DIsPArcH To- give statement OF his side OF
the case said he had nothing to aid to
what had already been made public. He
was under peace bonds. he continued, and
did not wish to render himself liable 10
the charge of breaking them. He einsisted,
however. that he had been held by Mr..
Conner while Mr.. Guy was striking him.
de had stated that he had no intention Of
rejecting upon Colonel Guy. but he would
not exonerate a man whom he had de-
nounced through the public prints. He
had done everything he could before his
arrest 10 obtain satisfaction, but now his
hands were tied and his lips sealed.
MIR. Conners Explanation.
Mr.. Conner. upon beng asked ABOUT the
affair, SAID when the fighting began Mr..
Mathews and himself tried to separate
the gentlemen and stop the fight. After
several blows had passed he (ConneD sue
ceeded in catching Mr.. Morriss by the
arms and held them.
Mr.. Conner further said Mr.. Morriss was
mistaken. he thought, in believing that
Mr. Guy struck him while he was holding
him. He was quite sure such was not the
case.
Mr. Mathews's recollection was that
after Mr. Conner had caught MIR. 1lorriss
by the arms and while he held them no
blow was struck by Mr. Guy. He and Mr..
Conner were both, he said, trying to stop
the fight.
signs Yesterday of having received well
delivered blows.
RICHMOND BOYS ON THE SEA.
of the Virginia Yacht Ciub