Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-18

An Encounter That Interests the society of
Two Cities.

Two Cities.
An encounter between Mr.. s. &. Howland
and Col. Robert Neville at the horse show in
the Madison Square Garden at New York yes-
terday has become the topic OF conversation in
the society circles Of the metropolis and the
national capital. II was about noon Mr.
Rowland sat in the box Of Secretary W. r.
Wharton looking at the ponies being Judged in
the ring. when there approached him along the
aisle between the boxes aud the front row %
seats a broad-shouldered. wcll-built man. who
bore at once the unmistakable signs of good
breeding and good living. His hair was
streaked with gray and his complexion was
rosy. almost ford. He was Col Robert
Neville
When Col. Neville reached Mr.. Rowland the
colonel struck him somewhere about the head
As 10 what be struck Mr.. Rowland with, his Est
or bis umbrella, there are two versions At the
instant Mr.. Rowland felt the blow he sprang 10
his feet, To see Col Neville descending the steps
by the box. Mr.. Rowland lifted his cane aud
brought 1t down alongside Of Col Nesiiie's
head, knocking of his hat Col Neville picked
mp his hat. put it on, and walked ieisur.iy to-
ward the sth avenue end Of the garden.
The other men In the box arose with Mr..
Rowland. Secretary Wharton. who was In tbs
ring, came running over 70 the box, which n
on the south side Of the garden, about mid
way OF it's length. Pretty nearly everybody
under the big roof followed Mr.. Wharton
ARREST that man, Stop that man" cried
Mr.. Wharton to one of the employees OF the
show.
Col. Neville was still slowly making his way
toward 4th avenue and might have been lost in
the gathering crowd had not Mr. Wharton fol-
lowed him and pointed him ont 10 the usher.
The usher placed his hand on Col Neyille's
shoulder and the latter turned coolly around.
COL NEVILLE ARRESTED.
The colonel was az once put under arrest, a.
Secretary Wharton insisted he should be,
though Mr.. Rowland was averse to prosecuting
him.
At the Jefferson Market police court the
hearing was postponed until Monday and Col.
Neville put under $500 bail. DIR. Guy y.
Whiting offered himself as surety.
lit was an entirely unproyoked an atrocious
assault, saId Mr.. Rowland. speaking without
the slightest heat. II was seated an the back
OF the box. He came up behind me and struck
me with his umbrella. l struck him in return
with my cane. He was running away when he
was arrested. Yes. have had previous ac-
quaintance with him for some wears. but
wrote him a letter Rbont xix months ago In
which told him that desired 10 know him no
longer. You really must pardon me, I cannot,
do not wish TO tell Won the reason Of our dis
agreement. l viii say nothing about it. It
was about deceased friend. 1 positively re-
fuse. if You will allow NE. to say another word
on the subject"
II did not come up behind him. /" said Col.
Neville. II approached him 20 his face and
struck him on his right jaw with nv open hand.
i did not strike him with my fist with my
umbrella. Had / struck him with either he
would now be in the Emergency Hospital When
my hat fell off l stopped 20 pick ii up and
dropped my umbrella. That Is the only wayip
which the umbrella figured in the affair
Il had no intention to injure him. " continued
- IL - n
desired TO insult HIM publicly. / have been
awaiting n chance to publicly insult him for
the last two months, for il is two months, not
six, since he insulted me IN letter he wrote 20
me-insulted me because / have the check
which sent TO him and which he refused 10 ac-
cept in payment of debts. I had 10 strike him
or else rest under the imputation Of being .
liar
THE PARTIES TO THE APFaR.
The parties 70 the affair are well known IN
Washington society. Mr.. Rowland married
the daughter OF the late August Belmont. They
occupied a house on street when living in
this city. He is a member OF the Metropolitan
Club and its offshoot the Dumblane Hunt Club
He also owns a farm at Mount Morris Living
ston county, y. y. known as Belwood. His
mother a Miss Dulaney Of Virginia. She
was aunt of the Miss Dulaney whom Col
Neville married.
Col Neville is tall. soldierly looking man.
with gray hair and sandy gray mustache. Heisa
member OF the Metropolitan and University
clubs. member of the DGmblane Hunt Club and
who has a stock farm in Loudoun county, Va
He married sister Of the late Hal Dulaney.
II is asserted with positiveness that the feel
irg between the two gentlemen was caused by
q dispute over betting debt which il was
claimed Col Neville owed to the late Percy
Dravton.
Percy" Drayton was q cousin Of J. Cole
man Drayton, who married Miss Astor.
"Percy" Drayton the friend of both Mr.
and Mrs. 5. s. Rowland. When he died in
their house in Washington. last June, they
mourned him n brother. 'Percy" Drayton
was immensely popular in society and club life
in Washington, New York and Pbiiadephia
He was only thirty-ive years old, tall, Athlete
and a thorough sportsman. He was stricken
with apoplexy in Washington May 80 xhiis
riding his polo pony.
Mr.. Drayton, Mr.. Rowland and Col. Neville
met constantly at their clubs, at entertain
ments, at the hunt, while, in fact, participating
in all the enjoyments ofthe set to which they be-
louged. Like other men of that set. they bet on
this or thst-on anything. When Mr.. Dnyton
died, it appears. Col Neville owed him some
money. Mr.. Rowland was Mr.. Drayton's sx-
ecutor. and in the correspondence that passeA
between them on the subject Of the debt arose
the ili-feeling that eliminated yesterday.