Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-05-23
General Agent
AN OLD FASHIONED LAWYERS FIGHT


/ Ten. Reuben Davis Encounter with q
Judge Who Had Fined Him.
! In his racy book, "Recollections OF
Mississippi" Gen. Reuben Davis gives
The following account Of "A personal en-
counter he once had with "A judge who
had fined him for contempt:
My patience gave way, and | felt my
self in a perfect blaze Of sudden fury.
had in my pocket a very fine knife with
long, thin blade. As I sprang TO my
feet drew out this knife, opened il and
threw it point foremost into the bar,
looking steadily at the judge all the
while Ny object was TO induce the
judge TO order me TO Jail and then 10 at
tack him on the bench. The knife vi
brated, and the weight Of the handle
broke the blade near the handle. Gen.
D. }. Gholson and several others ran
upon the bench beside the judge, ordered
the sheriff 10 adjourn the court and car
ried the judge out Of the court room,
while a Number Of persons seized me.
Judge llOwry being Withdrawn, prudent
men among my personal friends CON
demned my action and appealed to me
10 let the matter stop. Iagreed TO this
Intending TO pass straight 10 my hotel,
saw Judge iowry come forward to-
ward the place where was standing. l
awaited his approach and when close TO
me asked him if he had intended by his
fine TO insultme. He said "No." / then
said had been guilty Of no ohense 10
justify such an indignity and requested
81. L.
sir, explain my official conduct to any
man."
In a moment had slapped him on the
face with my open hand. BY some acct
dent claw hammer had been left on
the floor near by; he seized this and
struck at me violently, while got from
my pocket the broken knife and opened
it. The blow Of his hammer fell upon
my head, cutting through my hat and
several files Of paper 10 the bone. / made
another stroke at his jugular with the
corner Of my knife blade. This blow
fell upon his jaw and seized him with
my left hand by the collar and pushed
my head into his face. lie struck again
with the hammer, breaking and depress-
ing the outer plate Of my skull bone, but
not until I had inflicted three more cuts
upon his Jaw. AS we were pulled apart
he gave me the third blow. | went TO
my room and sent the judge message
not 20 leave his room unarmed, az /
would attack him on sight.
The court met again that evening. /
had put on fur cap, with the back part
before, 10 conceal my wounds, and the
judge wore his overcoat, with the collar
well drawn up, 10 hide the tokens Of
combat on his person. did not meet
Judge Howry for seven years after this
affair. / had gone TO Pontotoc 70 attend
the Federal court and was sitting In a
room with Roger Barton and Chancellor
Chalmers was sent for from below. He
soon returned and said 20 me; II sup
pose, Davis, you care nothing about that
affair between you and Judge HowryP'
| promptly replied that thought moth
ing Of it, that Howry was a gentleman,
and that our difficulty was casual and
without malice. Chalmers then said
that Howry was below and would be glad
TO come up 10 Barton's room. He did 80,
and | met him at tho door and we
greeted each other in the most cordial
manner. Until his death no two men
could be more sincerely friendly than we
continued 10 be. Ishall always believe
that he went down to his grave without
finding out what led 10 our quarrel that
day, and | am perfectly certain that
shall 20 down TO mine in equal ignor-
ance, unless he comes back 10 tell me.