New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-10
WHAT EX-JUDGE HOLME SAYS.
HE DENIES THAT DIR. FULLER SPAT IN HIS
FACE.
TIE FIRST BLOW, HE ALSO DECLARES. WAS

THE FIRST BLOW. HE ALSO DECLARES. WAS
STRUCK BY HIMSELF.
The assault on cx-Judge Leicester HOlme by DR..
Fraser c. Fuller, that occurred gu a ferryboat between
Thirty ~fourth-st. and Long Island City on Wednesday
afternoon, was an interesting topic Of conversation
yesterday about the City Hall, where ~ex-Judge HOlme
has many friends and acquaintance. From the stories
first tod Of the encounter it was believed that Mr..
Holme had got the worst Of the contest. and that he
had submitted to i~ndignities At the hands Of DR..
Fuller. and had acted as II he were afraid TO face the
doctor. AT the same time DR.. Fuller's conduct was
commented upon unfavorably, and there was little
sympathy expressed for him. His action In pre-
cipitating a conflict in q cabin full Of women was con-
demned by every one who was heard to speak on the
subject. II seems, however, that there is a difference
Of opinion as TO what really took place on the boat.
The stories Of DR.. Fuller and Leicester Home disagree.
DR.. Fuller was not at home yesterday. He returned
on Wednesday night from Far Rockaway, where he
was going at the time of the conflict, and started early
yesterday morning for %seabrirht, n. j., where he has
his summer home. His mother was at home. how
ever, and she related the story as the doctor had told
it to her on Wednesday night. According 10 this
statement Of the case, the doctor, as he was walking
TO the front Of the boat, saw ex-Judge H0lme, and at
tie sight became AZ once exceedingly angry. He had
not seen HO!me since the trial Of the divorce suit,
some time ago, in which, in his proceedings against
his young wife, formerly Miss Hastings, he named
Leicester HOlne as Correspondent. The doctor lost the
suit. When he saw Mr.. HOlme he stopped in front
Of the ex7Judge, called him a scOundrel and spat In his
face. Holme sprang to his feet and tried 10 strike the
physician, but the blow fell short. Then DR.. Fuller
closed in on the Judge, and they tonight across the
cabin floor. The doctor IS a much larger man than
Mr.. Holme, and in the struggle. according to this state
ment. the Judge was considerable damaged. The
doctor punished HOlme, it is said. until he slunk away
to avoid further punishment. Then he called out:
Il rtt- T. - T,d IN TTn1nra Ta IL a CoyCnpd and a
scoundrel.'
Then he took of HIS hat and a~pologized TO the
women in the cabin for his conduct. After that he
invited Judge HOlme outside. and made some remark
about throwing him overheard.
Mr.. Holme has q different story 10 tell. When
seen By a Tribune reporter, ~ex-Judge Holme said " As
TO nv being badly beaten, you can sec for yourself
that | didn't suffer much, for / am in pretty good con-
diuon now. Most of the stories published bear the
impress of Dr.. Fuller, who, as is we'll known, having
sued his wife on a foul charge, sent the newspapers the
account. It ought 10 be sufficient for decent people
that the court by its judgment branded him as q vile
calumniatOr. II IS true that l met this person on a
Hunters Point ferryboat yesterday afternoon, and that
there was some blows struck. ! must admit that l
struck the first blow. 1t is absolutely false that he
spat in my face. l was sitting alone in the cabin.
He passed me, and then turned as if 10 strike me while
I was in my seat. lie Is IA much larger man than l
am. His manner and the disgust | had for nm
aroused me. l jumped up and struck him, just as
he was apparently about to attack me. Several blows
we're interchangcd. You can see whether he, big
as he Is. hurt me. I forced him to the other side Of
the cabin. some of the ferry guards entered the cabin
and separated US. The only thing l can remember
his saying WAS, L spat in his face, and he struck me.
I wanted him to strike me- Well, he got what he
wanted. but he didn't spit in my face. If
he took of his hat and a%pologized to the
ladies for his conduct. I certainly didn't see him do
IL. A big man whom I did not know. put his hand On
my shoulder and said 20 a guard Arrest this man!
lie struck the otherP
Il sat down and waited. This occurred In the
middle Of the river. I walked from the boat within
three feet Of Fuller when We landed. l went % the
Long Island Railroad station and bought a ticket for
the eastern end Of the island. On my way there 10
occurred 10 me that it might be better 10 be IN New
York in case a story Of the fracas was published. So
I returned 10 the city. 1t Is a source Of keen regret
to me that such n thing should have happened, yet I
feel that / was not 10 blame. / had been pLacarded
before BY this man. He had made the vilest charge
possible against his Young wife, and when the charge
was put To the test il was ~disprOved. In order
again 10 put his wife In q false light before the public.
he sought an encounter with me, and when Ii was over
he seems TO have hurried to the newspaper men with
false accounts VI it. l can say no more about such a
fellOW.S