The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-25
FIGHT IN A LAWYERS OFFICE.
M. Jackson Guy and Mr.. R. ?. Horrlss
Agree to Disagree.
STATEMENTS OF THE AFFAIR BY BOTH.
The Lie Passed and Number or Blows Fol-
1ow-Br. NORRIS Claims that He Was
Unfairly Dealt With.


the Office of Commissioner Mathews. on Main
street.
Mr. Robert F. NORRIS. who lives at No. 512
north Seventh street, was asked by Mr.. +. NJ.
Conner to appear last Saturday in Commits
sioner J. NJ Mathews Office, at No. 1O1i cast
Main street, TO testify as 10 certain notes IN
the case Of John C. Gibson. trustee, growing
out of the Dollar bank Mr.. Morrissappeared
Saturday 70 give his deposition in the case.
but the examination was postponed untH yes
terday at noon.
AIr Morriss made the following statement
last evening. which is here presented III sub
stance During the examination, he says, he
made cortan statements 20 Which MI Jack
son Guy excepted. Words passed. and Dir.
Guy finally struck Mr.. Morriss. Mr.. NORRIS
then attacked Mr.. Guy. and struck him seye
raj severe blows. Mr.. T. NJ. Conner was also
in the Office and caught Mr.. Morriss from be-
hind. when Mr. Guy turned on Mr.. NORRIS
and struck HIM severely several times, bring
ing the blood profusely from number OF
wounds on tho forehead and eyes.
mr. MOrrlss is a man perhaps sixty years OF
age. and is well known in Richmond as "a
civil and mining engineer. He ia ar ex-Con-
federate and is somewhat disabled from the
wounds received during the war lie stated
last evening that the commissioner several
times ordered peace but that Mr.. Guy con-
tinued to strike him while he was held by
Nr. Conner until Messrs r. J.. MOrriss, &. d.
Swami and others entered from adjoining
offices and succeeded in putting an end to the
assault The matter has been kept very quiet
and no arrests have been made. Mr.. MorIss
last evening wrote tho following. which he
claims is q true statement Of the case;
MB. MoREIss' STATEMENT
As witness before Commissioner J. VI.
Mathews in answer TO the question. How
1 came in possession Of a certain note!' l
answered III substance
That the late Richard c. Morrss left a will
duly recorded, leaving his two sons. e. \:
and Robert f. MOrrss. his executors. and
that the aforesaid Robert T. Morriss found
cut that by process Of law, Jack Lyon, Jack
Guy and Jack Meredith had been appointed
10 receive all of the assets Of the late
Richard q. Morriss representing all Of
his tolls for over fifty years, and 10 distribute
the same. and that | had not received as exec
utOr of the late Richard \. MOiTiss the notes
Of John G. Gibson, trustee. but had received
them from the appOintees IT the court as part
of my portion Of the funds for distribution
among the heirs.
MR. GUY EXCEPTED.
When the deposition was near its close
Mr.. Jackson Guy remarked that he excepted
TO the language had used in the foregoing
"
I ceasel. | replied had not reflected or In
tended 10 reflect upon John II. Guy. but
upon the law which made it possible for dead
mems estates 10 be taken out Of the hands 81
those whom they had appointed and placed
in the hands Of those who had no inherent or
blood kinship in them, and that my oath
in this particular note case required me to
state the fact that il WAS not received by me
as one Of the executors left by the late Rich
ard Ct. Morriss, but was received and dis
tributed by the appointees OF the court.
Herein consisted my sin. Mr. L. NJ. Conner
suggested should state before the commits
siOner that had not intended TO reflect upon
any one Of the three appointees of tho court
to which replied could not as one OF said
appontees | had posted as a swndler, &c.
(See Richmond Whig.) Whereupon Mr..
Jackson Guy said my statement was false.
THE LIE PASSED.
Il told him he lied and received the blow
he struck. / thereupon followed him across
the room administering to him what he de-
served. when my arms were plnloned from be-
hind by Mr. +. NJ Conner When Mr. Jack
son Guy turned from facing the wall and see
ing me held by strong and young man adj
mlnlstered heavy blows upon my face and
head plead with Mr. Conner TO
release me in vain, whilst receiving the
cruel and cowardly punishment. He did not
release me, nor did Dir. Guy cease mis- blows
fees. The commissioner commanded the
peace, but it did not save me from one of the
cOwardly blows from those who are supposed
TO know the law. not that / invoke it. only
ask for fair play. / denOunce the assault
upon me in Commissioner Mathews Office
whilst his court was in session us being most
cowardly and outrageous. The law having
failed TO give protection, then asked Dir.
Jackson Guy if he recognized the code Of
honor to which he plead piety in the presence
of n witness. IL is a melancholy fact for per
sonal liberty and property; when a citizen
cannot testify as TO the truth before court
in the State of Virginia"
Mr. Guy was seen last night by TIIEs re-
porter and wrote the following statement:
The difficulty took place In the Office of
Commissioner James NJ. Mathews. l0l4 Main
street. while he was engaged IA talking depos-
tons. The witness introduced was Mr.
Robert Z. Morriss. the client Of Mr.. F. NJ
Conner in the case. ! was present represent
ING my client Mr. w. J. Cussen MIR. NORRIS
gave an answer which l construed as re-
lection upon the memory OF my brother
the late Colonel Guy; and which
it appeared was unnecessary, as not III any
way connected with the case; IN former an
swer Mr. Morris had stated that ms father.
MI Richard q. Morriss. had died, leaving his
brother Charles \ MorTlss. and himself as
bis executors but that by some process OF law
Jack Lyon, Jack" Guy abiding TO Colo
mel John IA. Guy ana JACK Mereulln
(alluding 10 Judge John A. Meredith had be-
come the receivers Of the estate and from them
he Robert +. Norris had obtained thenotes IN
question. | said nothing when that answer
was given. When Mr.. Conner was through |
asked Mr. NORRIS one question: 70 state.
If he knew. when the executors Of his faith
er's estate obtained tho notes how and where!
and il was his reply TO this question in which
he again referred 10 the three gentlemen,
and this time as having become, or having
made themselves receivers and distributors
OF his fathers estate
when he was through answering asked
Mr.. Commissioner Mathews TO read the an
swer and satisfying myself that | was not
mistaken in the word. | said | do not under
stand Mr. Morriss. ! suppose lie meant TO say
distributors of the estate; he (Mr. Morriss)
Said no il was written correctly. | then
addressed him and told him that was the
brother of one Of the gentlemen referred TO by
him and that | considered his language d
reflection upon his memory. Mr. Conner
(his own COUNSEL then spoke up at once and
said Mr. NORRIS. yes, | think you ought 10
add there that you meant no reflection upon
Colonel Guy Hereplied that he would not do II
that he meant no reflection on any one. Out
upon the chancery court. | then demonstrated
with him. telling him that | presumed he
did not intend any reflection. He then be-
gan with abuse OF Mr.. John Lyon.
told him | had nothing to do with MIR.
LYON; that what he had said was a
reflection upon Colonel Guy, and the sugges-
ton was again made, ] think. by his own
counsel that he would add that he did not
which b. apaip Iaoliuad 10 do. and