The herald., 1894-08-15
BOB SLAPPED M|LLARD'S FACE
But the Candidate for Lieut.
Gov. Preserved His Dignity.
A Personal Encounter With Ele-
ments of Public Interest.
The Trouble Grew Out of Matters Con-
nsc.ed With tho Estate of the Late
4. j. Carran-A Blow which
Was Not Resented.

"Yes, slapped his face, and slapped
it hard" said Bob" or, as he is for
mally known. R. ]. Widnsy. jr., to {
HERALD reporter yesterday.
The face referred to is that OF s. G.
Willard, who hopes to be lieutenant- gov.
ernor Of the state, as he is the Republic
can nominee, But il he does not make
better political fight than he did with
the man who slapped him, he will moi
be in the contest at all.
The affair referred to occurred on
Monday. Yesterday q HERALD reporter
heard of the affair, which had been kept
surprisingly quiet, and procured the fol-
lowing versions:
According to Mr.. Widney's story, the
circumstances were as follows:
"Ths trouble dated back to Senator T.
J. Carran's death at Sacramento, where,
by the way, he went to work for Mr..
Millard's nomination. You remember,
he was found dead in his bed at his
hotel. AS he was Mason and Knight
Templar, number OF mis- friends, mem
bsrs Of the order, took charge of affairs
when his death was discovered. Mr.. H.
u. Osborne, George Arnold and Frank
House were among them.
"Houee knew that MIR. Carran had
some money on his person, and these
friends found in bis pockets about $185,
which after some consultation they de.
cided to send to Mrs. Carrsn, as it
was surmised that che would find her.
self rather short OF funds for her imme-
date use. Some proposed that Frank
House, who had been q warm friend Of
the senator's, should take charge of the
money and give it to Mrs. Csrran and it
was turned over to him.
"Mr. House paid out some OF the
money for sending the remains here,
but when he got here. instead of sending
the money, about $3.50 think, to Mrs.
Carran. he handed it to his attorney,
Mr.. Willard. and claimed 500 of it as
due him from MIR. Carran. 1t happened,
though l did not know it at the time.
that Mrs. Carrsn did need the money
was letter from Mr.. Willard to Mrs.
Carran, stating Mr.. Houses claim and
advising that it be paid at once. He went
on the principle that the probate law
should be disregarded. AS l am the
lsdy's son.in-law, and one of her bonds
men as executrix, L assisted in the de-
tails of the estate. Mr.. Willard was
informed that if Mr.. Houses claim was
just one it would be paid, but that it
must take the same course as other
claims and be legally presented, but he
did not seem to think that the provis-
ions of the law on such matters should
be observed.
$50 last week went to see Mr.. Mil
lard at his Office. 1 stated my case po-
litely and with no idea of receiving an
afrort. To nay surprise he grossly in
suited me by his erpercilious, arrogant
words, and refused to discuss the matter
with me. There were several ladies in
the office ct the time, and l could not
then resent the matter.
"On Monday 1 called on my friend,
Mr.. Boyle Workman, and asked him to
take little walk with me. went to
Mr.. Millard's Office. and walking up to
him said, You ineulted me the other
day when the presence of ladies pre-.
| vented me from resenting it, but have
come to show you what think of you,
and it is this and l gave his face slap
with my open hand that rssounded
through the room.
He Jumped up and got back OF his
chair and said:
care You through
~ said, Yes, Pm through
"He then turned to Mr.. Workman
and said: Did you come here to wit
ness this act?'
"Mr. Workman answered that he had
come at my request and did not know
what he was to witness. Mr.. Willard
then asked us if we would leave, and as
he seemed to accept the situation and
made no demonstration, and as had
accomplished my purpose, Mr.. Work
man and | withdrew.
"Now, as to this claim of Mr.. House,
the facts appear to be these. Mr..
House employed Mr.. Carrsn to take
charge OF a suit he wished brought in
Cleveland, and be paid Mr.. Carran 500
for costs. Mr.. Csrrsn sent his check
for this amount which his bank book
shows was good from the time it
sum. There were some differ
ences as to the amount needed
by the Cleveland lawyers, and the check
came back and the matter remained in
statu quo until Mr.. Carran died. We
have the check; we have Mr.. Carran's
bank book showing it was always good.
The only proper legal way, however,
for Mr.. Willard to proceed to collect the
claim was to have done with it as the
law requires must be done in all such
matters. through the probate court.
II need not draw your ate ntion to
the questionable procedure of trying to
take money intended for the immediate
wants of widow"
MR.. HOUSES STATEMENT.
| W. H.